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According to Hackett, the demand for stylish retro hardware is only increasing. He’s found that “Even in new housing construction there is a trend for a forties-type look and feel with porches and decorative doors and hardware.” One of the more popular accents on doors right now are clavos, a 1 inch or 1 3/4 inch circle with a hammered finish or diamond shapes on planked-style doors. What’s behind this move towards retro styles? “Individuality,” says Hackett. Everyone wants their house to look unique and a door makes a big impact.

When specifying custom hardware for the outside, think about using them inside the house as well. Hackett suggests architects use similar hardware on windows, in kitchens and bathrooms, noting, “Carrying the hardware theme through the entire house is a new design theme that is really catching on.”

On the commercial side, the majority of swinging doors with full mortise hinges are 1 3/4 inches thick and use 4 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch hinges. Commercial hinges of the same application offer a greater variety of finish choices. In choosing hinges for commercial applications, it is important to know the usage of a door prior to specifying a finish. The fire rating of the door will influence the base material used in the hinge. Only ball bearing steel or anti-friction bearing hinges can be used on a fire-labeled door, as indicated in NFPA 80 Standard for Fire Doors and Fire Windows. Commercial hinges are also available electrified. They serve as a means to conceal and transfer wires through a door and frame. Door monitoring is another function of electrified hinges, used as indicators of whether a door is open or closed. However, it is important to note that electrified hinges are not intended to be load-bearing and are primarily used in the intermediate middle hinge position.

 

Solid bronze, cast pull. Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas. Courtesy of Trimco.

A common problem discovered after installation of a door is that the hinges were not mounted properly. Robert Commons worked in the construction industry for years and felt there wasn’t enough attention to detail when people were installing hardware. “There were these beautiful, custom made doors that people would have installed on their houses, but then the hinges wouldn’t work properly because they weren’t installed correctly,” his daughter Aimee Commons explains. So, to try and alleviate the problem, Robert set about inventing an adjustable hinge that could compensate for mistakes made by installers. He was successful and in April of 2001 he was awarded a patent for his adjustable hinge. In addition to fixing installation errors, Aimee explains, “It’s also designed to allow for adjustment when a door will eventually sag or provide equal load distribution so a door is not just riding on one hinge.” Manufactured from top-quality stainless steel, the hinges can be used on both interior and exterior doors and are available in numerous sizes and finishes.

When dealing with an exterior door, a stainless steel hinge is often a good option. If the door swings out, a hinge function known as non-removable pin, or NRP, can help secure the door. This prevents the hinge pin from being removed, making it impossible to take the door off the frame.

Knowing finishes and their base materials is important when choosing hinge application and finishes. BHMA has a standard called A156.18 Materials and Finishes which explains the finish symbols and base materials. This is a good reference standard to have in a library. Also available from BHMA are physical finish sample boards. These finishes are used for all hardware finish descriptions in addition to hinges.