How to Install or Replace Door Hinges

Replacing worn hinges or putting in new ones doesn't have to be difficult. Here's an easy way to get it done when hanging a new door.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Utility knive
• Drill bits
• Variable-speed drill
• Chisel
• Hammer
• Screwdriver set

1. Leave half of the hinge on the doorjamb.

2. Set the door in place, using shims to wedge it exactly in place. Make sure the gaps at the bottom and the top of the door are even. With a pencil or a knife, carefully mark for the location of the hinges by marking the bottom and top of each hinge on the door and the jamb. Remove the old hinges.

3. Mark the outline of the hinges by holding the new hinge in place as a template. Use a utility knife to make a light mark around each hinge. With a knife or a chisel, deepen the lines marking the outside edges of the hinge until they are the full depth of the mortise.

4. Hold the chisel with the beveled edge down and cut away enough material so that the hinge half sits flush with the surface of the door edge. Repeat for each hinge.

5. Remove the pin from a new hinge and install one half of each hinge on the jamb after removing the old half that was used as a guide.

6. Position a hinge half in the mortises cut into the door edge and mark it for drilling with a center punch. Be careful to drill straight pilot holes or the screw heads won't sit flush. Tighten screws into all the holes.

7. Hang the door by aligning the hinge sections and reinserting the pins.

Tips & Warnings

• Work slowly and carefully when chiseling out the mortises to avoid going too deep or splitting outside the marked area.
• If you do go too deep, make thin cardboard shims to level the hinge with the surface of the door edge.

[jbrown13]

on 11/5/2009 check out www.hingedummy.info as well, great step by step with picture instructions