How to Install Hinges on Accordion Room Dividers

Hinges attach accordion room divider panels.

Accordion room dividers often consist of three panels that fold up into a flat single panel when not in use. To use, open the room divider and bend the panels so the divider stands up. Each panel is attached with hinges to allow for flexibility and movement. Attaching the hinges, whether building your own accordion room divider or replacing a broken one, is a fast process.

Things You'll Need

• Carpenter’s pencil
• Drill
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Lay the three panels out on the floor and line them up evenly. Use a straightedge pressed against the bottom for greater accuracy.

2. Open a pair of hinges and set them so the center falls along the dividing line between the two panels. Place additional hinges along the panel dividing lines at an even spacing as needed.

3. Mark the location of the hinge screw holes by drawing a dot with a carpenter’s pencil onto the wood beneath.

4. Remove the hinges from the location and use a drill to form starter holes for the screws, using your pencil markings as a guide.

5. Place the panels back onto the floor, lined up as before. Place the hinges over the pre-drilled holes and use a screw driver to attach them to the accordion room divider panels. Repeat the attaching process on each hinge.

References

• This Old House; How to Make a Folding Screen Using Old Hinges and Shutters; Amy R. Hughes