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The Difference Between a Pivot Hinge and a Side-Mount Wall Hinge

The Difference Between a Pivot Hinge and a Side-Mount Wall Hinge

Dulles Glass

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Wed Jun 07 2023

Polished chrome shower door hinges featuring sleek designs for custom glass installations, ideal for tempered glass and beveled glass edge applications.

Pivot hinges and side-mount wall hinges are two types of hinges commonly used in glass doors, glass shower doors, and cabinets. The main difference between them lies in their mounting and pivot points.

Pivot hinges are mounted at the top and bottom of a door or cabinet and allow it to pivot on a central point. They are often used for heavy or large doors and cabinets as they distribute the weight evenly and provide extra support. It's this hinge type that allows a door revolving door to spin while staying in place. Only most pivot-hinged shower doors mount top-to-bottom at the corners of the door, allowing the door to swing 180 degrees in each direction. (Pivot hinges that are center-mounted create a true revolving door). Pivot hinges come in a variety of sizes and styles to suit different applications.

Custom glass shower door hinge

 

Shower door hinge

 

Polished chrome shower door handle bracket

 

Shower door hinge with polished chrome finish

 

 

Pivot Hinge ProsPivot Hinge Cons
  • Pivot hinges are mostly attached at the far corners of the door, creating an uninterrupted frameless view.
  • Pivot hinges can't be sealed for extra water protection.
  • Pivot hinges that mount floor-to-ceiling can reduce the cost of glass fabrication.
  • If your pivot shower will not run floor-to-ceiling, then a metal header is required for the pivot to attach to a top structure. ** Ask your Dulles Glass project manager for alternative options.
  • Pivot hinge doors carry the weight at the bottom of the door, and are thus very stabilized by a structurally sound floor.
 

Dulles Glass' pivot hinges come in various sizes and styles suitable for heavy or large glass shower doors and cabinets, ensuring optimal weight distribution and support. Explore our selection here

Shower door hinge in polished chrome

 

Shower door hinge

 

On the other hand, side-mount wall hinges are attached to the side of the glass door or cabinet and mounted to the wall. They allow the door or cabinet to swing open and close like a traditional hinge but with a smaller profile. One side of the hinge is anchored on the side of a frameless glass door. The other side of the hinge is mounted to a wall or another glass panel. Side-mount wall hinges are typically used for lighter-weight applications such as small cabinets, doors, and furniture.

Side-Mount ProsSide-Mount Cons
  • Side-mount wall hinges avoid the need for a header or top support bar, which detracts from a frameless look.
  • Using side-mount hinges to mount a glass door to another glass panel (b/c no wall is available), may require a top header.
  • Side-mount hinges can be sealed to improve water tightness.
  • Using glass-to-glass side-mount hinges means a second glass panel gets precision cuts to hold the end of the hinge. This adds to the total project cost.

Dulles Glass' side-mount wall hinges are ideal for lighter-weight applications such as small cabinets, glass shower doors, and furniture, and offer a smaller profile compared to traditional hinges. Explore our selection here.

In summary, the main difference between pivot hinges and side-mount wall hinges is their mounting and pivot points. Pivot hinges pivot on a central point at the top and bottom of a door or cabinet, while side-mount wall hinges are attached to the side of the door or cabinet and mounted to the wall.

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