Imagine walking into a store and being able to purchase a $2,000 designer bag for only $150. You would be thrilled, right? But what if that same purse was made with cheap materials and stitching that quickly began to unravel? Oh, and the handles feel like they might fall off at any moment. You would probably feel disappointed and ripped off, and rightly so. It’s the same with using cheap building materials — like low-quality concealed door hinges.
Yes, you might save a few bucks up front, but eventually, you’ll end up regretting it.
If you are an architect, builder, contractor, or DIYer, then you know how important it is to use high-quality concealed hinges. Not only do they provide a sleek and elegant look, but they also ensure that doors open and close smoothly and quietly.
These quintessential door hardware pieces provide support and stability for both light and heavy, frequently-used doors. But what happens when you try to save money by using a knock-off or cheap version of these hinges?
Well, the truth is, it’s not worth it!
Cheap hinges are usually poorly designed and made from inferior materials that are more likely to break or become damaged over time. In some cases, they might even cause doors to sag. Let’s take a closer look at some of the potential problems that can arise from using cheap concealed hinges.
7 Things That Can Happen If You Use Knock-Off Or Cheap Hinges
1. Your Doors Won’t Close Properly
Concealed hinges are designed to hold your doors in place and ensure that they close properly. But if you use cheap hinges, then there’s a good chance that your doors won’t close properly.
You see, cheap hinges are made with lower-quality materials and are not always designed to fit perfectly. As a result, your doors might refuse to latch or may start rattling on contact.
Not only is this incredibly frustrating and unsightly, but it can also be dangerous if your doors are closing too hard and could potentially slam shut on your fingers.
Sometimes, the door will simply not latch at all because the hinge’s crappy quality cannot provide a snug fit. So, if you want to avoid any potential problems, then it’s best to steer clear of cheap concealed hinges.
2. Your Doors Won’t Open Properly
Just as important as it is for your doors to close properly, it’s also important for them to open properly. Concealed hinges are used on entry and interior doors, both for their aesthetics and security. They are meant to remain concealed to avoid tampering and be practical enough to serve their main functions without fail.
Cheap hinges will often not hold up to regular use and can cause your doors to open unevenly or not open at all. If you have to use a lot of force just to get your doors open, then that’s a clear sign that you need to upgrade to better-quality hinges.
Another issue would be your door swinging open unevenly, so one end is hitting the wall. This could cause damage to your walls, as well as create a safety hazard if someone were to walk into the door.
Or perhaps, your door is completely stuck shut, and you can’t seem to get it open no matter how hard you try. This could be due to the hinges being made from cheap materials that have warped or become damaged over time.
3. You Have a Squeaky/Rattling Door
Have we talked about how annoying squeaky doors that make a terrible grinding noise because of cheap hinges can be? Because that is definitely another issue. No one wants their doors to make loud and annoying noises every time they open or close them.
Concealed hinges are often a premium choice for many homeowners and contractors because they provide a sleek and elegant look. That’s why you’ll find them in high-end homes, office buildings, hotels/BNBs, and clean rooms.
But if you try to use a cheap knock-off, then you might end up with a door that creaks and rattles every time you open or close it. This is often caused by the lower-quality materials used to make the hinges. Metals are not made equal, and cheaper metals are more likely to warp or damage easily over time.
As a result, your door might start to make strange noises as the hinges become loose and start to grind against each other when you open and close them, which can be quite annoying. Not to mention, it can also be embarrassing if you have guests over and they have to listen to your squeaky doors every time they use the bathroom.
4. Your Door is Drafty
Another common issue with cheap concealed hinges is that they often don’t provide a snug fit. This can cause your doors to be drafty and let in cold air gusts even when closed.
Concealed hinges are supposed to be invisible, but they also need to provide a tight seal so that your doors close properly. If the hinges are poorly constructed, they might have a loose fit and leave gaps between the door and the frame, which can let in drafts.
Not only is this a waste of energy (and money), but it can also be quite uncomfortable if you’re trying to sleep or enjoy a warm and cozy atmosphere in a room constantly being bombarded by cold air.
5. Your Doors Might Sag Over Time
“My house is settling, and the doors won’t close!” If you’ve ever heard someone say this or something similar, then they were likely referring to their doors sagging over time.
It is extremely frustrating whenever you need to tug on a door just to get it to close properly or find yourself slamming it closed because it won’t budge. Not only is this a pain, but it can also make your doors more likely to come off their hinges entirely.
One of the main reasons why doors sag is because they were hung with cheap or inferior hinges in the first place. These types of hinges can’t handle the weight of a door over time and will eventually cause it to sag. Their construction, materials, and finish are not made to last and will not hold up over time.
6. Your Doors Might Come Off Their Hinges Entirely
Have you ever tried to open a door only to have the entire thing come off its hinges? If so, then you know how dangerous and inconvenient this can be.
Doors that come off their hinges are usually the result of using cheap or inferior hinges. These hinges can’t handle the weight of a door and will eventually cause it to come off entirely.
Not only is this dangerous, but it can also damage your door and frame. In some cases, you might even need to replace the entire door!
7. You’ll Have to Replace Your Hinges More Often
If you use cheap or inferior hinges, then you can expect to replace them more often than if you had used higher-quality hinges. This is because these hinges are not made to last and will eventually break down over time.
Not only is this a pain, but it can also be expensive. Higher-quality hinges might cost more upfront, but they will save you money in the long run because you won’t have to keep replacing them.
Why Using Quality Concealed Hinges Is Important
Invisible hinges matter to a design and build. The durability of these hinges impacts how long the doors will stay operational, how much wear and tear they’ll experience, and how often they need to be repaired or replaced.
If you don’t know any better, you might be tempted to just choose the cheapest invisible hinge you can find and call it a day. Unfortunately, that’s a huge mistake. Not all concealed hinges are created equal, and going with a knock-off or cheap option can end up costing you a lot more money in the long run.
Concealed door hinges are one of those things where you really do get what you pay for. If you want to experience all the benefits that come with using concealed hinges, then you need to be willing to invest in a quality product.
Investing in higher-quality concealed hinges may cost you a bit more upfront, but it will save you money in the long run because you won’t have to keep replacing them. Besides, high-quality hinges provide additional benefits that are well worth the investment.
Some of the benefits of using high-quality concealed hinges include:
- They’re More Durable
- They’re Smoother
- They Look Better
- They’re Easier to Install
- They Look Better
- They Make a Door More Secure
- They have a nice, tight, snug
- They are silent
- They are draft proof
- They require less maintenance or repair
Really, there are many benefits to using high-quality concealed door hinges. If you’re looking for the best possible results, it’s definitely worth the investment to go with a higher-quality option such as SOSS concealed hinges.
For well over 100 years, we have been perfecting the art of the concealed hinge, pioneering breakthrough technologies that have set the standard for quality and performance.
Our invisible hinges are the best in the business. We have hinges that have been UL certified and tested at over 100,000 cycles and are still going strong.
When you choose SOSS, you can be confident that you’re getting the best possible product on the market. They’re made from quality materials, designed to last, and never need adjustments.
Looking for the best possible concealed hinges for your next project? Be sure to check out our variety of SOSS hinges. We’re confident that you’ll be impressed with our products’ quality, durability, and performance.