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Pivot Hinges

postandbeam | Posted in Construction Techniques on January 3, 2008 09:10am

I have built a new custon wood exterior door for my home and am ready to remove the old one and install the new one.  In tearing into the existing door jambs, I have discovered that the hinge side of the opening is not very sturdy and in fact twists and flexes a bit when the existing door is opened and closed.  It would be difficult for me to reinforce the jamb because I have a glass block side lite immediately adjacent to this.

So, rather than hang my new door on a flimsy jamb with conventional hinges, I am thinking about using a pivot hinge. 

Has anyone done this?  Does any one know of a good, adjustable, heavy duty pivot hinge?  How have you solved the weatherstripping of this door?

Thanks.

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  1. mike4244 | Jan 03, 2008 09:43pm | #1

    I have used heavy duty pivot hinges ,not in a home though. I doubt that it would work on an exterior door because of the margins. The lock side is not a problem but the pivot hinge side is.If the hinge side is rounded over,a bullnose in fact,you can reduce the margin. This causes problems in sealing the hinge side to the weather.

    A thicker door stop helps but you still see a roundover from the outside,this makes the margin look too wide especially when viewing both door edges when the door is closed.

    I think it would be better to reinforce the jambs with a flat steel member bolted to the studs.Can you install steel behind the studs? If not , possibly replace the studs with engineered lumber.

    One other possibility is to remove the jamb stud, lag screw a 3 1/2"x 1/4" thick steel channel to the existing stud. Then fasten a nailer to the open web of the channel.

    Make sure the channel is well fastened to the bottom plate and header above.

    mike

    1. postandbeam | Jan 03, 2008 10:40pm | #2

      Mike:  Thanks for your thoughts.  Great ideas.

  2. reinvent | Jan 03, 2008 11:55pm | #3

    You might try using expanding foam on the hinge side of the jamb. Do the entire length of the jamb. You would be surprised how much the foam will stiffen it up and lock it together.

  3. Jamie_Buxton | Jan 04, 2008 04:44am | #4

    Rixson is a major manufacturer of pivot hinges, and their web site has lots of info.  http://www.rixson.com/

     

     

    1. postandbeam | Jan 04, 2008 05:28pm | #5

      Jamie, Wow, thanks.

  4. rlrefalo | Jan 04, 2008 06:31pm | #6

    Like Jamie said, Rixson. But use offset pivot hinges, where the pivot point is inside the face of the door.  Weatherstrip as normal. Is the door strong enough that you're not concerned with bowing?   Rich

    1. postandbeam | Jan 04, 2008 10:24pm | #7

      Rich:  Thanks.  Oh yeah, it's strong enough.  Reason I built this one myself is the one my builder put in bowed an inch in the first year!  It was inferior construction and I'm pretty certain my rail and style version with qrtr sawn oak should stay flat.

      1. Piffin | Jan 04, 2008 11:29pm | #9

        Let me guess - Thermatru?Is your new door white oak or red? 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  5. Piffin | Jan 04, 2008 11:26pm | #8

    do some googling to find what you need.

    You can spend as much as two grand for a pivot hinge setup depending ion finish, weight ofdoor, etc, etc, etc.

    You will be looking for an offset type

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  6. Lansdown | Jan 05, 2008 01:02am | #10

    I have used Rixon offset hinges before for fairly heavy exterior breezeway doors (full glass lite Simpson fir doors). I have also use their center pivot for an interior bathroom door (4' x 8'). Makes for some entertaining moments at parties ;-)

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