Pivot doors are perhaps the hottest item in modern and contemporary home design. Whether they are used in exterior or interior applications, pivot doors add an air of elegance and modern style that no other door can possibly bring to your home. Exterior pivot doors are a classy way to make a grand entrance while interior pivot doors are suitable for many indoor applications. But how does a pivot door work and why should you opt for it over a regular hinged door?

In this article, you can learn about functions and advantages pivot doors as well as different types of pivot systems and decide if pivot doors are the right choice for your home.

How Does a Pivot Door Work?

Unlike hinged doors that are restrained by hinges on the side, a pivot door swings on a single vertical point of axis which is called a spindle. A pivot door functions on two pivot hinges; one is mounted on the top side of the door and to the head of the frame and the other is mounted to the bottom side of the door and the floor.

These two pivot hinges allow the door to pivot from a single point of axis. Pivot hinges can be placed at any desired position in the entryway. This determines the location of the vertical axis and divides the entryway into two distinct spaces when the pivot door is in its open position.

When the hinge is placed a few inches from the side of the door, it creates the pivot door’s tail when the door is swinging open or close. The pivot door’s tail swings inward for an outward swinging door and outward for an inward swinging door. This dual movement allows for a contemporary look and a beautiful and elegant door movement.

Types of Pivot Hinges

There are several types and brands of pivot hinges out there in the market. The hinges inside a pivot door can provide extra features which are dependent on the pivot hinge’s brand and the type of pivot hinge system you choose.

Primarily, there are two main types of pivot hinges: offset and center hung. An offset pivot hinge is a type of hinge that is offset from the face of the door while a center-hung hinge is installed at the center of the door thickness. Here are the main categories of pivot hinges based on their functionality:

Regular Pivot Hinge

A regular pivot hinge acts as a single pivoting point without offering hold positions or self-closing features. The simplicity of this type of pivot hinge makes for a great application in both single and double acting pivot doors.

Pivot Hinge with Hold Positions

This type of pivot hinge offers various hold positions and allows the pivot door to automatically rotate towards its hold positions at 0°, 90°, 180° or 270°. This makes this type of pivot hinge a great choice for pivoting walls.

Self-Closing Pivot Hinge

A self-closing pivot hinge offers damper control which allows for adjustable soft-close and hydraulic backcheck. This type of pivot hinge usually has hold positions at 0°, 90°, 180° or 270°. A self-closing pivot system is suitable for any type of interior and exterior application.

Pivot Hinge with Latch Control

This type of pivot hinge offers damper control, speed control, and latch control to ensure the pivot door always closes properly. This type of pivot system is ideal for oversized and heavy exterior pivot doors.

How to Install a Pivot Door

The installation of a pivot door is done in four simple steps:

1. Mounting the Floor Plate

First, the milling has to be made in the seal in the correct location. Then using the right size and type of drilling template, the holes for the floor plate can be drilled and glue can be added to the holes and the bottom of the floor plate.  Now using a rubber hammer the floor plate can be put in place.

2. Mounting the Ceiling Plate

The ceiling plate position can be determined by using a point laser. Then the holes for the ceiling plate can be drilled and glue can be added to the holes and the top of the ceiling plate. Now the ceiling plate can be affixed by using screws.

3. Installing the pivot door

The door can easily be placed on the floor plate while making sure that it’s in its open position. Then the top pivot can be extended, and spindle is rotated downwards to sit onto the receiver in the top of the door.

4. Adjusting the pivot Door

Depending on the type of the pivot system used, the placement and movement of the door could be adjusted.

Advantages of a Pivot Door

1. Pivot hinges are invisible on pivot doors. This allows for a beautiful aesthetics where the main focus is on the design of the door.
2. A pivot door can be made out of a variety of materials as long as the hinges can be mortised inside the door.
3. Pivot hinges allow architects to specify doors that are made out of heavy materials or that are very large in size. The hinge placement allows the weight of the door to be transferred vertically to the ground so by using the proper pivot system, a pivot door can also weigh up to 500 kgs.
4. Pivot doors are easy to install in both new and renovation projects.
5. Pivot doors can be used in both interior and exterior applications to complement modern and contempory architecture.
6. Pivot doors can be frameless and blend seamlessly with the interior architecture.
7. A pivot door can offer a variety of features such as self-closer, hold positions, damper control, and latch control.
8. No matter how large and heavy, with the right type of pivot hinge, a pivot door can be opened and closed with the touch of a finger.
9. Pivot doors provide a high level of resistance to forced entry since they don’t have exposed hinges.
10. Pivot doors can be equipped with multi-point locking system to further enhance their security.

Pivot Doors in Modern Architecture

Pivot doors have been favored by the Modern Movement. Architects like Le Corbusier and Josep Lluís Sert used them to bring art and functionality together in several outstanding pieces of modern architecture. Nowadays, pivot doors can be installed with ease because all the technique is now mortised inside the door, making it way easier to install oversized and heavy pivot doors.

This gives architects the freedom to bring their creativity to new heights. Today, many famous and influential architects combine their creativity in design, impeccable use of material, and refinement to create pivot doors that are a true masterpiece.

Conclusion

With so many benefits to offer, it’s no wonder that pivot doors are becoming increasingly popular with designers and homeowners who are looking for an aesthetically beautiful and functional exterior and interior door.  Contact us to learn more about innovative pivot door solutions.