Types of uPVC Door Hinges

While you may not have given it a great detail of thought before, your door’s hinges are extremely important. 

Hinges are an important feature of every kind of door, but this is particularly the case for front doors. This is because they are the things that help your door correctly open and close, and if any damage has been sustained to the hinges it could mean your property is less secure than it should be. 

While door hinges are often made from metal, in some instances they are made from uPVC.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the different types of uPVC door hinges available, outlining the benefits of each kind and how you can install them to doors in your property.

Read on to find out more.

What is uPVC?

Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride, more commonly known as uPVC, is a common building material that is regularly used for a wide range of applications. 

The material is favoured because it is extremely low-maintenance, lightweight and durable. It is perhaps mostly associated with window frames and sills due to the fact that is a popular substitute for hardwood timber and aluminium. 

uPVC is remarkably strong and versatile, most notably because it is manufactured using vinyl polymer that is then bound together with chlorine atoms. This results in a material that is commonly mistaken for plastic but which is cheaper and often performs better.

And, because it is fairly low maintenance, it requires little repairs or ongoing work in the future. This can help save homeowners money on future maintenance which may be required if other materials are used.

uPVC is also commonly used as door hinges, and in the sections below we’ll explore the different types on offer.

Types of uPVC Door Hinges 

uPVC is often used to manufacture doors, particularly front doors. This is largely because it is a cheaper alternative to wood and it is also excellent when it comes to insulation. This is because the material is great at trapping heat and repelling cold air.

There are several different types of uPVC door hinges available including:

Butt Hinges 

These are the most common uPVC door hinges you’re likely to come across. A butt hinge is made from two flat hinge leaves (also referred to as plates), hinge knuckles and a hinge pin. The hinge leaves include holes where screws are fixed to. One leaf is then attached to the door and the other to the door frame. Then, the hinge pin is fitted through the knuckles ensuring both remain in place.

There are several types of butt hinges you can choose from and while they can be used for doors, butt hinges are mainly found on uPVC doors at older properties.

Benefits of butt hinges include:

• Durability – These hinges are extremely robust and can handle the weight of uPVC doors.
• Easy to use – Butt hinges are very easy to use and can be installed and maintained with ease. 
• Cost-effective – More often than not, butt hinges are very cost-effective and cheap to purchase. 

While there are plenty of advantages to butt hinges, the main disadvantage is that they are easily visible which can ruin the aesthetic somewhat. Furthermore, because they can be easily seen, they can be targeted by thieves or intruders.

Flag Hinges     

Alternatively, flag hinges can be used for uPVC doors. 

These hinges come with a male leaf and female leaves with a hinge pin that is permanently attached to the male section that gives it the appearance of a flagpole. Sometimes, these hinges are referred to as lift-off hinges or double-acting hinges that are specifically designed to offer 360-degree rotation. 

Uniquely, flag hinges have knuckle plates that have a flag-shaped cutout which allows for full movement and rotation. These hinges are also compact, and now as visible on the door’s edges as butt hinges.

Advanatges of flag hinges include:

• Security – Flag hinges are more secure than other hinge types, which is why they’re often used when manufacturing modern doors.
• Easy to dismantle – If you need to adjust or change the hinges, flag hinges can be easily dismantled. 
• Adjustable – Due to the 360-degree rotation flag hinges provide, they’re extremely easy to adjust.

Unfortunately, flag hinges are not very strong which means they are not suitable for heavier doors. However, as uPVC doors are often lightweight, this makes them a perfect choice for the material.

Rebated Hinges 

Also known as Eurogrooves, rebated hinges are bespoke to uPVC doors that feature a rebate. A rebate is a step or groove in the door frame where the door sits when it has been closed. They’re similar to butt hinges, as the leaf often fits nicely against door sashes. This means that when doors are closed, rebate hinges are almost invisible. These days, rebate hinges are fairly rare.

Advantages of rebated hinges include:

• Limited visibility – Because rebated hinges are compact, they are not visible on doors. This makes them aesthetically pleasing and hidden from intruders. 
• Adjustable – Rebated hinges are easy to adjust laterally or vertically, which makes them easy to install and change at will.

As previously mentioned, rebated hinges are very hard to find these days, so if yours breaks or becomes damaged it’s hard to source replacements.   

How To Install uPVC Door Hinges 

If you need to install uPVC door hinges, it is a task that can be performed by most competent DIYers. 

Follow the steps to below to complete the task:

1. Start by removing the old hinges. Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws on the old hinges. Take off the hinges slowly and do not force it as this could risk damaging the door frame or door itself.
2. Now it’s time to adjust the new hinge as you install it. Hold your chosen hinge in place, and screw it tightly to the door and the door frame. If you need to adjust types of uPVC door hinges later on, you can also do so. Flag hinges are the easiest type to adjust as you go along.
3. Once this has been done, repeat the process across all of your other door hinges.