Question about recalcitrant door hinges
 

Folks,

the french doors in my new house have a set of hinges I just can't
relate to. The hinges have very wide flaps (as opposed to along the length
of the door), which are screwed at the end to the door and jamb.
The actual hinge pin sticks out the door into the outside of the house
by about 4".

The effect is that when the door opens, the hinge side goes out and
sort of "rolls" around the outside wall of the house, so the doors
can lie flat against the wall when open.

The problem is: the hinges are not strong enough to hold the doors
(three of them for each door!) so the doors have sagged.
Not much, but enough to look unsightly and the bottom edge
to drag a bit on the floor.

I'm trying to figure out what can I do to fix this problem:

1- Pack up the bottom hinge and dig the top one a bit more to
"lift" the door against the hinge side?

2- Take the hinges out, bend them a bit and screw them back in?

3- Both of the above?

4- None of the above, something else?

The material is galvanised steel plate, about 1/4" thick.
The hinges are about 4" long and 4" wide, which when open
turns into a 8" wide gap.

TIA for any help.
--
Cheers
Nuno Souto
in sunny Sydney, Australia
am

"Noons" wrote in message
...
Folks,

the french doors in my new house have a set of hinges I just can't
relate to. The hinges have very wide flaps (as opposed to along the
length
of the door), which are screwed at the end to the door and jamb.
The actual hinge pin sticks out the door into the outside of the house
by about 4".

The effect is that when the door opens, the hinge side goes out and
sort of "rolls" around the outside wall of the house, so the doors
can lie flat against the wall when open.

The problem is: the hinges are not strong enough to hold the doors
(three of them for each door!) so the doors have sagged.
Not much, but enough to look unsightly and the bottom edge
to drag a bit on the floor.

I'm trying to figure out what can I do to fix this problem:

1- Pack up the bottom hinge and dig the top one a bit more to
"lift" the door against the hinge side?

2- Take the hinges out, bend them a bit and screw them back in?

3- Both of the above?

4- None of the above, something else?

The material is galvanised steel plate, about 1/4" thick.
The hinges are about 4" long and 4" wide, which when open
turns into a 8" wide gap.

TIA for any help.
--
Cheers
Nuno Souto
in sunny Sydney, Australia
am

Try removing a screw in the top hinge and replace it with a 3 inch screw
that will go into the stud behing the jamb. Be sure the screw head is sized
to sit flat in the countersink. If the door is very heavy add another 3 "
screw.
Other than this your #1 suggestion would be the way to go, as long as the
door won't bind at the hinge if you let it in too much.

TaskMule wrote:

Try removing a screw in the top hinge and replace it with a 3 inch
screw
that will go into the stud behing the jamb. Be sure the screw head is
sized
to sit flat in the countersink. If the door is very heavy add another
3 "
screw.

Ah yes. Good one. Thanks a lot, will try this.

Other than this your #1 suggestion would be the way to go, as long as
the
door won't bind at the hinge if you let it in too much.

Yeah, I see what you mean.

Thanks heaps for the help.

TaskMule apparently said,on my timestamp of 5/02/2005 5:57 AM:

Try removing a screw in the top hinge and replace it with a 3 inch screw
that will go into the stud behing the jamb. Be sure the screw head is sized
to sit flat in the countersink. If the door is very heavy add another 3 "
screw.
Other than this your #1 suggestion would be the way to go, as long as the
door won't bind at the hinge if you let it in too much.

Just found out a bit more info on this.

This type of hinge is called locally
"parliament hinges"

Comes from them being used in traditional govt house
doors to allow them to open to the outside all the
way against the wall.

And I just found alternative ones made of brass,
much heavier duty than the rubbish the builder left here.
These are called "broad butt hinges" and are used for boat
doors and other heavy duty uses.

So I'm getting the new ones as well, besides realigning
the doors.

Ah, the joys of incompetent builders...
--
Cheers
Nuno Souto
in sunny Sydney, Australia
am

TaskMule apparently said,on my timestamp of 5/02/2005 5:57 AM:


Try removing a screw in the top hinge and replace it with a 3 inch screw
that will go into the stud behing the jamb. Be sure the screw head is sized
to sit flat in the countersink. If the door is very heavy add another 3 "
screw.
Other than this your #1 suggestion would be the way to go, as long as the
door won't bind at the hinge if you let it in too much.

Just found out a bit more on this.

This type of hinge is called locally
"parliament hinges"

Comes from them being used in traditional govt house
doors to allow them to open to the outside all the
way against the wall.

And I just found alternative ones made of brass,
much heavier duty than the rubbish the builder left here.
These are called "broad butt hinges" and are used for boat
doors and other heavy duty uses.

So I'm getting the new ones as well, besides realigning
the doors.

Ah, the joys of incompetent builders...
--
Cheers
Nuno Souto
in sunny Sydney, Australia
am