How to Install a Piano Hinge

A continuous hinge, or as it is more colloquially known, a piano hinge, is a long, narrow hinge that runs the full length of the two surfaces being connected. It’s made of two leaf plates and a pin that connects and pivots them. The design allows for a secure and smooth pivoting action across the entire length of the hinge, providing better weight distribution and stability compared to other hinges. 

It’s easy to see why they might have been used on piano lids for centuries. Silent and smooth operation is a given. The way that they distribute weight evenly along their whole length means that they will prevent warping or strain on the precious instrument. They also make a pleasing edge to the lid that ties in beautifully with the craftsmanship of the piano itself. This is also the case for traditional cabinetry for the same reasons. And these characteristics make continuous hinges perfect for designs where a door or panel needs to be flush with the frame for a clean, unobtrusive look.

What is less well known is that as well as good looks, these hinges’ inbuilt robustness and security make them a great choice for settings where strength and safety are important – even in places where the door will be used continuously. This is because the hinge supports the door along its full length, increasing the weight-bearing capacity of the hinges so that heavier doors and or ironmongery can be used and giving the door and door frame added stability, strength and longevity. 

For high traffic or healthcare settings, these continuous hinges are virtually tamper-proof, resisting vandalism because the continuous knuckle provides very little purchase for the tools that any would-be thieves and vandals might use. And they offer reduced ligature properties for secure or health facilities. This is particularly the case for our interleafed versions: they need no rebating and reduce the gap between the door and the frame to just 3mm instead of the standard 12mm. With fewer individual knuckles, these hinges provide improved safety and reduced ligature, as well as a sleek and modern aesthetic.

Another advantage of continuous hinges is that they will last and last. Unlike traditional butt hinges, where the slightest misalignment between the top and bottom hinge can introduce friction and resistance to the door action, continuous hinges provide a single, perfectly aligned mechanism and a smooth operation no matter what.

As you might expect from the UK’s most prolific continuous hinge manufacturer, we manufacture a wide range of different types:

• Light-duty Continuous Hinges for cabinetry, DIY projects and small storage spaces. These delicate hinges look great on smaller projects – you might have seen them on many social media posts where enthusiasts are upcycling furniture.
• Medium Duty Continuous Hinges: thicker and more rigid than their light-duty counterparts, these hinges can handle bigger doors or lids. 
• Heavy Duty Continuous Hinges are robust and made from thicker raw materials. Their added strength makes them a great choice for architectural applications in secure and arduous environments, including secure facilities, hospitals, schools and workplaces. For doors that need to be highly resistant to attack or in situations where the door needs to be able to withstand high impact, our 56015 and the 56016 continuous hinges offer the highest levels of security: they have been fire-tested and are BS EN 1935-approved.
• Polymer continuous hinges are lightweight, corrosion-resistant hinges that are ideal for lightweight but demanding applications. These hinges have excellent resistance to oils, seawater, solvents and numerous other chemicals, making them ideally suited to commercial and industrial environments.
• Phoenix Interleafed Continuous Hinges bring a distinctive mounting technique that reduces bulk without compromising aesthetics or functionality. They require no rebating and reduce the gap between the door and the frame to just 3mm instead of the standard 12mm for an ultra-narrow, unobtrusive sightline between the door and frame. 
• Custom lengths and fixings: because we make these hinges ourselves, we can cut them to your exact length and make fixing holes to suit your door and frame exactly.

One of the beauties of continuous hinges – and one that makes them especially attractive as cabinet hinges – is that they are easier to fit than butt hinges because there’s no need to cut recesses in the door frame. So unlike butt hinges, it is easier to match the entire length of any door or lid that needs to be hinged. 

So, how do you fit continuous or piano hinges?

• Place the piano hinge on the edge of either the lid or body and fold it 90 degrees over the edge of the furniture to ensure it is in line and level.
• Measure and Mark the Placement: Use a measuring tape to find the length and positioning of where you’ll place the hinge on the cabinet. Mark this carefully with a pencil.
• Align the Hinge: Line up the hinge with the marks you’ve made, ensuring that it is perfectly straight. You should use a level to confirm that the hinge is aligned correctly.
• Put the first pilot hole in, ensuring there is a space between the end of the hinge and the first screw. Repeat this procedure until you have reached the other end of the hinge.
• Keep the hinge at a 90-degree angle to ensure it stays lined up for each hole.
• Remove the hinge and do the same for the opposing piece of furniture / the frame.
• Clamp or fasten the two pieces of furniture together, ensuring they are level and inline
• Fasten the Hinge: Begin by fastening one end of the hinge to the cabinet using screws. Make sure the screws are tight but don’t overtighten, as this could strip the wood.
• Attach to Door: With the hinge secured on one side, you can now align and attach it to the other.
• Test the Door: Once the hinge is securely attached to both the cabinet and the door, carefully open and close the door several times to ensure smooth operation. Adjust as necessary.
• Final Tightening: Once you’re satisfied with the fit and movement, you may want to go back and give each screw a final tightening for security.

If you would like to know more about continuous or piano hinges, you can watch our YouTube video that gives a complete guide or read our Ultimate Guide to Continuous Hinges on our website. 

If you’d like any help with piano hinges– or indeed anything hinge-related, get in touch with our experts for advice and guidance. At Cooke Brothers, our qualified staff are well-equipped to guide you through the process of choosing and fitting continuous hinges. As well as continuous or piano hinges, we offer a comprehensive range of other high-quality hinges designed and rigorously tested in the UK, making us the go-to professionals for all your hinge requirements.