Are you looking out for the right hinge for your gate? It is important to find the accurate size hinge for the gate. But finding a gate hinge of the right size and with good strength is a very difficult task. While purchasing the gate hinge, you have to consider various important factors such as the weight and width of the gate door.
Here, in this write-up, I am going to discuss different types of gate hinges available in the market.
1.Surface Mounted Hinges
The surface mount strap hinges are good for those gates that have light to medium weight gates. These types of hinges are easy to install and are available in different decorative styles.
The heavy-duty strap hinge is a good choice for large size gates. The biggest benefit of this strap is that the strap part of the hinge can be fixed with nuts and washers. It will help in strengthening your gate and barn door.
2.Spring Hinges
This hinge is good for those gates that swing in one direction only. If you want to make your gate self-closing then you can use a single-acting spring butt hinge. Based on the weight and size of your gate, you have to select one or more spring butt hinges. You can use the single-acting spring butt hinge along with the non-spring butt hinges of the same size.
This combination is perfect when you want desired closing strength for your gate. If you want to have a gate that swings in both directions, then you should consider the installation of a double-acting spring hinge. The double-acting spring hinge will help in automatically closing the gate.
3.Heavy Duty Bolt-on Hinges
The metal gates are heavy and large. Therefore, the metal gates need heavy-duty bolt-on hinges. It is the best choice because heavy-duty bolt-on/weld-on hinges are perfect. The heavy-duty bolt-on hinged are heaviest and usually increase the 1000lb per pair. These hinges are not just sturdy, but they are also cost-efficient and durable.
The installation process of these hinges is a little bit difficult. Thus, the homeowners who want to DIY may not find it easy. The heavy-duty hinges also leave a large gap between the gate and frame. Therefore, heavy-duty hinges are not the perfect choice if you are looking for a concealed appearance.
4.Pintle Hinges
If you want to have a gate that swings in both directions, then these hinges are perfect. The pintle hinges can hold a lot of weight on the gate. If you want to mount a gate to the masonry wall, then you should choose the pintle hinges.
If you want to fix these types of hinges in the masonry wall, then you should drill proper size holes. After that, insert a lag anchor in these holes and finally screw the bolt. The biggest advantage of pintle hinges is that once installed then they can be easily removed. You just need to lift the gate out of the bolt hook.
5.Butt Hinges with Dummy Straps
The best way to hang a big size gate is to use the butt hinge along with the dummy straps. The installation process of butt hinges is quite easy and similar to the installation process of hinges in the front door. But it is not important to mortise the butt hinges.
You have to install dummy straps on the surface of the door. This installation process can make it look like a strap hinge. The number of hinges required for your gate is based on the size of the gate and where it is mounted.
For instance, if you place the order for the prime coated butt hinged, then you can easily match them with dummy straps by just painting the butt hinges with black color paint. It is recommended to use a large size hinge that fits perfectly.
Gate Accessories:
After reading these different types of hinges, you may have an idea what kind of hinge is perfect for your gate. Once you have selected your gate hinge, then you should move on to the next step. Now, you have to choose another gate hardware– gate wheel.
This gate accessory needs to be installed on the unhinged end of the gate. The gate wheel provides support to the gate and helps in making your hinges last longer. The gate wheel reduces the weight on the hinges and increases their lifespan.
After the installation of gate hinges and gate wheel, you should make sure that your gate swings properly. The gate latches help in keeping your gate in the right position. The most common material for the gate hardware is steel plated with zinc chromate. It is so because this material resists corrosion.
