Hardware For Glass Doors: What You Need To Consider When Choosing Components, And How To Install And Repair Them

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Perfect fittings for glass doors: how to choose and install

Glass door fittings are an important part of the door leaf kit. The ease of use of the product depends on the quality of the hinges, handles, lock and other elements. Therefore, you need to choose the right fittings in accordance with the parameters of the door.

Content

• 1 Hardware for glass doors: what it is and the features of the elements

  1.1 How to choose accessories for glass doors

• 2 Locks for glass doors

  2.1 Video: the principle of the lock in the door handle

• 3 Latch for glass doors

• 4 Hinges for glass partitions

  4.1 Video: features of glass swing door hinges

• 5 Door handles: options and their features

  5.1 Video: installing a fixed handle on a glass door

• 6 Roller mechanism

• 7 Self-adhesive foil for glass doors

  7.1 Video: features of attaching the film to glass

• 8 Rules for installing components

  8.1 Video: Installation of glass door fittings

• 9 How to repair fittings

Hardware for glass doors: what it is and the features of the elements

Glass doors are canvases with a thickness of 8 to 14 mm, which can be installed in a box or without it, but in any case require a certain set of components. These elements provide functionality, ease of use and durability of the door.

For doors of any type of movement, fittings are required

Details in the form of a lock, hinges, handles, gaskets, guides are accessories for doors. Ready-made kits provided by manufacturers already include everything you need. If the door is made independently, then the elements are acquired depending on the type and parameters of the canvas.

How to choose accessories for glass doors

The set of elements for glass doors is selected depending on the type of construction. Cloths can be sliding, swinging, with a pendulum mechanism. And in each case different details are required. The installation location of the door often determines the characteristics of the hardware. For example, for rooms with high humidity, parts with an anti-corrosion coating are selected.

Swing doors are equipped with special hinges for easy opening

The choice of fittings for any type of door is based on the following features:

• the quality of the material from which the parts are made. For example, reliable hinges are always made of steel, and sealing strips are made of elastic rubber with additives;
• compliance of the parameters of the components with the characteristics of the door. The hinges must support the weight of the glass sheet, and the door handle must be comfortable to operate the structure;
• the color, shape, design of the fittings correspond to the style of the door and the general interior of the room;
• the method of fastening the components affects the method of processing the canvas. Many handle options, for example, require holes in the door, and making them in glass is difficult.

For the correct fastening of the handle, lock, hinges, the thickness of the canvas often matters. Therefore, when choosing fittings, you should pay attention to their characteristics.

Glass door locks

Lock mechanisms intended for wooden, veneered or other doors must not be installed on glass sheets. There are special models of locking devices that will not damage the glass and provide easy fixation of the canvas.

Locking devices can be attached to different areas of the door

Glass door locks consist of two parts: main and counter. The first part is the main movable mechanism, and in the counter element there is a groove that serves to accommodate the movable parts of the lock. The main part is always mounted on the door leaf, and the counterpart is located opposite the main part, but it can be on the wall, ceiling, or other glass. Depending on the place of attachment, the locks are divided into four types: corner, upper, lower and central.

Center locks are suitable for double doors

Locking mechanisms are also divided into two types, depending on the installation method: mortise with installation by drilling holes and overhead, attached to the canvas without creating holes. The first option consists of two outer parts, located on both sides of the canvas, and a core. Overhead models have a U-shape, the canvas is located between two parts connected to each other. Manufacturers also produce electronic, magnetic locks, which are installed in offices, offices.

Video: the principle of the lock in the door handle

youtube.com/watch?v=TC6w204FrCA

Latch for glass doors

Special clips are placed on glass doors to ensure easy control of the curtain. Latches can serve to fix the door in the desired position, as well as perform other functions.

The latch can complement the door lock, since it has a tongue and a movable mechanism

Of the many types of latches, the following options are especially in demand and convenient to use:

• latches for locking the bolts of mechanical locks have a bolt or tongue with an oblique edge. The devices are mounted on canvases with a thickness of 8-10 mm, when unlocked, the bolt releases the main lock mechanism. Such latches can be electromagnetic and work automatically;
• moisture-proof parts are intended for glass entrance doors and their installation in rooms with high humidity. Elements are made of metal with anti-corrosion coating;
• the lock for sliding doors consists of a mechanical lock with an L-shaped tongue, as well as a counterpart with an electromechanical latch. This element provides door control by vertical movement of the lock;
• a latch of a special configuration is used to control the movement of blades on pendulum hinges. The designs differ depending on the manufacturer and are capable of opening the door under a load of up to 500 kg.

The variety of clamps makes it easy to choose an option for any type of glass structure. But it is worth considering the location and principle of the mechanism.

Glass partition hinges

Glass canvases are fixed in the opening using special hinges, the parameters of which must correspond to the weight and thickness of the door. They can be hidden, that is, they are invisible visually, but classic options are also in demand.

Hinges can be of different shapes and sizes, but they must always match the design

Among the diverse assortment of door hinges for glass structures, the following options are often used:

• four-hinge hinges allow opening the door at an angle of 165 °, withstand significant loads. According to the method of installation, the elements can be internal, overhead;
• pendulum parts allow swing doors to be opened in both directions. The maximum load on such loops often does not exceed 30 kg, so they are not suitable for every type of canvas;
• universal models can be installed on either side of the canvas. Products are often used for glass doors in a sauna;
• vertical hinge options can move both horizontally and vertically. They are compact and can be easily mounted even on heavy doors.

Hinges can be attached without drilling, but such options are not reliable and durable enough. Therefore, models that require holes in the canvas are in demand.

Video: features of glass swing door hinges

Door handles: options and their features

The door is controlled using handles, which are presented in various versions. They can be made of metal, plastic, glass, wood. The shape of the products is also varied, for example, options in the form of staples, long straight handles or pressure devices are in demand.

Glass handles are concise and easy to use

There are many models of handles, but options such as are relevant and easy to install:

• stationary, they are attached to the canvas in specially created holes and are not mobile;
• lever handles are two elements connected through a hole in the canvas by the core of the moving mechanism;
• handles-staples are not mobile and have an elongated shape with bent ends, which are fixed to the canvas.

The fastening method depends on the type of handle, most of which require a hole in the canvas. Temporary options are small handles that simply stick to the door with the adhesive side. They are often flat in shape and are suitable for sliding structures.

Video: installing a stationary handle on a glass door

Roller mechanism

Glass sliding doors require high quality rollers in the movement mechanism. These parts are made from durable materials that are resistant to abrasion. The design includes a wheel, bezels, fasteners. The bezel plays an important role as it is subjected to the greatest stress. It can be made from steel, Teflon, rubber, plastic, or tarmonide, which is a hardened composite.

The rollers must be made of durable material that can withstand loads

The rollers can be of rack and pinion type, when the part wraps around the sash over its entire width. Such systems are characterized by reliability and practicality in operation. And also in demand are rollers mounted using point technology, for example, as at the doors of shower cabins. Any driving mechanism is complemented by guides that ensure the movement of the web along a certain line.

Self-adhesive foil for glass doors

A simple clear glass door is a good basis for a decor that is easy to do with your own hands. To do this, use a self-adhesive film, which is a strong and thin polymer material.

The film can be of any color, but it always requires careful fixing.

This material is diverse, characterized by strength, long service life and resistance to chemical attack. Fixing the foil is difficult as it is important to avoid air bubbles underneath. Finishing the glass with a film allows you to protect the product from scratches, protect users from fragments if the door is damaged.

PVC film can be of the following types:

• matte plain, with a pattern;
• glossy with a pattern;
• stained glass in the form of a mosaic of multi-colored glass;
• glossy tinted.

Any film should be chosen depending on the purpose of the door. For example, a dark or colored structure will not provide high light transmittance where needed.

Video: features of attaching the film to glass

Component installation rules

Installation of component parts is carried out before installing the door in the opening. The necessary holes are made for hinges, a lock, a lock, a handle and other elements. To work, you need a drill with a set of diamond drills, a tape measure, a building level, a marker, a screwdriver. The main stages of hardware installation are as follows:

1. Placing the glass sheet on a flat surface and creating holes with a drill and diamond drills of the required diameter. Places for the hinges are marked on the door frame, the distance from the floor or the upper edge of the box to the hinge zone is measured and measured on the canvas.
2. Installation of hinges, if models are used, one part of which is pre-attached to the canvas.
3. Next, fix the lock, the necessary latches on the screws and nuts that are included in the kit.
4. The door is hung on hinges, every detail is checked for functionality.

Installation of accessories in the form of door corners can be carried out with glue

Additional details in the form of slats and corners, which increase the strength of the door, are fixed with glue, since there is no need to install bolts and create unnecessary holes.

Video: installation of accessories for glass doors

How to repair fittings

During operation, the component parts of glass doors are no less susceptible to breakage than the fittings of wooden or plastic structures. Therefore, it is important to inspect the product every few months to identify faults in a timely manner.

Of all the fittings, hinges are especially prone to breakage

The repair technology depends on the type of breakdown, the model of the mechanism and the door. In common cases, the following actions are taken:

• if the lock or lock is broken, then it is carefully removed, avoiding damage to the glass. A new mechanism is mounted in place of the old one, but its dimensions must correspond to the parameters of the broken product. In this case, there is no need to remove the canvas from the hinges;
• in the event that the hinges creak, they should be treated with solid oil, applying the composition to the mechanism. If they are cracked or turn with a clicking sound, then it is best to remove the canvas, dismantle the old hinges and install new ones:
• the damaged film on the glass door is replaced with a new one, and if there are minor scratches on the coating, they can be hidden with transparent adhesive tape;
• door handles in most cases cannot be repaired, as their main parts break. Therefore, replacing the old element with a new one is the best solution.

To reduce the risk of damage to the door, you can use a rubber strip seal, which is fixed with the adhesive side around the perimeter of the box. When closing, the door gently touches the box, and does not knock, which reduces the risk of damage, even if there is a door closer.

Not only the ease of use of the glass door, but also the ease of installation of fittings depends on the correct choice of component parts. This avoids frequent repairs and damage to the glass sheet.