Hardware 101: Gate Hinges - Gardenista
At their best, gate hinges are both smooth operators and performance players.
Though all of a gate’s construction fundamentals need to be sound—from wood choice and grade selection to design, framing, groundwork, and post installation—if you take the time to choose your hinges wisely, the rest of your hardware will play nicely together.
What is a gate hinge?
For more of this garden, see LA Confidential: A Private Courtyard Garden Goes Luxe on a Budget.
Photograph courtesy of Naomi Sanders Landscape Design.
What are the types of gate hinges?
For exterior gates, two types are typically used—butt hinges and strap hinges—with a few hybrids thrown in.
The Strap Hinge
Strap hinges—also called band or tee hinges—can be used for heavy applications and/or if the architecture of your house calls out for a particular style, such as Old World, Tudor, or Arts and Crafts.
A 36-inch Hook & Band Hinge strap hinge designed for a heavy garage or barn door has a pewter patin; £119.50 from From the Anvil. Other hardware manufacturers say from one-quarter to one-third the width of the gate should do the trick.
For gates wider than 48 inches, Lombardi recommends straps or hybrids.
The Butt Hinge
Butt hinges are the style typically found on interior doors, where the only visible element when closed is the cylindrical barrel. In fact, butt hinges are often available pre-primed, which means you can paint them black and they’ll blend right in.
Black butt hinges are barely noticeable in this minimal black gate surrounding a Sydney home. Butt hinges tend to be the most affordable hinge available and are sold in pairs or sets of three.
Photograph courtesy of Anthony Wyer + Associates.
“There’s a lot of moving around with wood,” he says, “and when the hinge becomes part of the plane of the material, it’s more structurally sound.” Though the butt hinge seems straightforward, Sampietro says it takes experience to install one correctly.
Photograph by Caitlin Atkinson.
Two butt hinges are welded to a metal post in this modern gate in Sonoma County, designed by Terremoto.
Hybrids of butt and strap hinges abound, such as the H hinge, a strong but slim option.
Hybrid Gate Hinges
A Dark Bronze Heavy Duty “H” Hinge from 360 Yardware is strong but subtle.
What size gate hinge do I need?
When choosing a gate hinge, size matters. Use common sense: a 55-pound, 5-foot door would be considered average whereas a 130-pound, 6-foot door is obviously heavy.
What are the best materials for gate hinges?
This gate has stainless gate hardware, including eight Stainless Steel Butt Hinges ($98.14 from 360 Yardware). Lombardi says gates this size typically have three hinges on each door, but because this gate was thicker and heavier the builder opted for four.
Sometimes a simple, Heavy Duty Zinc-Plated Tee Hinge will do the trick; a 6-inch model from Everbilt is $5.22 at Home Depot.
Van Dyke’s Restorers sell an iron Whale Tale Strap Hinge, perfect for nautical-themed projects.
What makes a quality hinge?
Hinges can vary enormously in price. The good news, however, is that a sturdy, attractive butt hinge can usually get the job done, last a long time, and set you back only about $75 for a set of three.
Pool gates should be spring-loaded and self-closing. Lombardi says for small- to medium-sized gates, one one of the three hinges needs to be spring-loaded unless local regulations have a different requirement.
What kind of hinges do pool gates need?
How are gate hinges installed?
Sampietro always mortises butt hinges for added stability. Be sure you’ve nailed your gate fundamentals: wood and grade choice, design, groundwork, post placement, and relationship to ground.
Photograph courtesy of Seaview Fences and Gates.