How to install a door closer to a kitchen cabinet

Kitchen furniture is subjected to daily active use, which requires its serviceability and ease of use. For these purposes, closers are provided that ensure smooth closing of doors, they avoid sharp sounds and bumps, thereby prolonging the life of lockers. In addition, the arbitrary opening and skewing of the doors is prevented, and most importantly, the work on their installation can be performed independently. How to install a closer on a kitchen cabinet and what is needed for this?

Types of closers for kitchen furniture

Closers are characterized by high reliability and durability, subject to competent installation and appropriate attitude. There are two types of them:

• Gas. More affordable, they slow down the closing door at the very end of the turn. The main advantage is that it is almost impossible to damage such a mechanism.
• Oil. Represented in a wide price range and provide a smooth door closure.

As for the design of the device, it can be different - from stylish miniature to not very attractive in appearance. Both varieties confidently withstand significant loads without losing their performance.

How to choose the right option?

When choosing a door closer, you should pay attention to the manufacturer of the product, its installation method and variety. As for manufacturers, there are a lot of them on the market, but most produce quite good products, so the choice can be based on personal preferences. More expensive and high-quality products, even if broken, will not release gas or oil and will not harm your furniture. The service life is higher for oil closers, as well as their cost. Along with this, given that the viscosity of the oil increases under the influence of low temperatures, it is worth giving preference to them only if the room is properly heated.

Choosing furniture hinges

Fasteners should be selected based on the thickness of the doors, their weight, as well as the material of the hinges. The most popular are 4-hinged overhead devices that are suitable for any furniture with hinged sashes. There are several varieties of them:

• heel;
• waybills;
• galleries;
• half waybills;
• piano;
• inset and others

The solution is selected according to the dimensions of the furniture, the material of its manufacture. It will also be advisable to purchase hinges that are appropriate for the cabinet design.

Self-installation of hinges on the kitchen cabinet

Before you start work, you should prepare a drill with drills, a screwdriver, tape measure, pencil, screws and screws (usually come with loops). The kitchen cabinets should be fixed correctly.The fixing method is selected based on the material of the doors, as well as their weight - heavy parts or whose height exceeds a meter, require at least 3 loops, while 2 are usually used. The process is as follows:

1. A tape measure of at least 10 cm is deposited from the upper and lower edges of the doors, which will prevent the quick opening of the sash.
2. Hinges are applied to the place of future fixation and marking is applied with a pencil for a more accurate connection.
3. The holes for the cups are drilled - 1.2 cm deep enough, after which they are inserted and screwed on. It is important to keep the screwdriver strictly perpendicular to avoid uneven installation.
4. The door is hung on the body. It is better to do this on a flat surface, while the side of the furniture on which the hinged bar is fixed should be horizontal.

No need to be scared if the doors at the first opening will not move easily - after a while the hinges will be developed, which also contributes to their lubrication with machine oil.

Alignment and adjustment

At the end of the installation of the loops, they should be adjusted in 3 planes:

• horizontally - necessary for the normal movement of the door from right to left or vice versa, so that there are no gaps between it and the furniture;
• vertically - movement in a vertical position, which is also regulated during operation, since the doors sag over time;
• relative to depth - required to strengthen or loosen the pressure against the body.

Modern hinges are very easy to adjust - they have oval holes that allow you to easily move the product, slightly loosening the screws with a screwdriver.

Gas lifts - what are they and what are their features?

Gas lift - a shock-absorbing mechanism, the purpose of which is to open the doors and keep them in this position. Thanks to him, this does not require much effort. The design is completely tight - nitrogen is placed inside during the manufacture of the product, and if it is damaged, then it can no longer be repaired. The advantages of gas lift include:

• reliable fixation and smooth running;
• easy opening even in the absence of a handle;
• long service life;
• compatibility with any door material.

They give kitchen cabinets a stylish look, allow you to use them without noise, while maintaining the integrity of the elements and prolonging the life of the furniture.

How are they installed?

Installation of a gas lift is carried out in strict accordance with the instructions, which is the key to its uninterrupted operation. It is important to understand:

• for each facade, 2 gas lifts are required, which avoids its distortion;
• 100N marking indicates the need to mount the cabinet to the wall and is used only for heavy and massive doors;
• installation of products is carried out at the very end, when other accessories are already installed.

The installation process is very simple - you should fix the mounts for the gas lift, then put the product on them and press until they click.

Adjustment is necessary for comfortable and proper operation of the door, as well as to avoid touching the ceiling when opening upwards. To do this, a special screw is located on the gas lift housing, which allows you to vary the tightness of the door to the housing, closing it due to a change in the speed of movement of the working material in the sleeve.

Do-it-yourself installation of closers and hinges is not particularly difficult and requires only simple rules. Their design is simple and coupled with patience and accuracy will quickly achieve the desired result.