Until now, you may have thought the options for hinge finishes were black, brass or silver. You havent even scratched the surface of the kinds of hinges that are available to put on the doors and cabinets in your home.

Whether you know it or not, the making of hinges has a long history that varies in design, color and finish as much as clothing and furniture. You may be amazed to see the kinds of hinges that are really available if you do a little looking.

Lets start with the pros and cons of what you know

Brass Hinges

These are those brassy colored hinges that you most commonly see. But did you know there are two kinds of brass hinges that you will find at most hardware stores? There are hinges that are completely made of brass, and others that are brass plated. The major difference between them is strength. Brass is a relatively soft metal, so a hinge made of all brass is going to be a little weaker than a hinge made of stronger metal. Brass plated hinges are usually steel hinges underneath that have the look of brass, but still retain the steel strength. Also keep in mind brass and saltwater dont mix, so if youre near a beach, you may want to avoid it.

Iron Hinges

When you think of strong black hinges, these are iron. Wrought iron is a metal that is heated and bent into shape, and will then retain that shape. Wrought iron hinges are very strong pieces that can handle a door of any size and weight, and will hold up to a lot of pressure.

Simple Steel Hinges

Many of those silver hinges you see out there are steel hinges. They are meant to do a job, at a lower price. Steel is a strong metal, but will only stand up to the weather for so long before it starts to corrode.

Other Hinges To Consider

Bronze Hinges

Much like brass, bronze hinges can be solid bronze or bronze plated. Unlike brass, the properties of these two hinges are the opposite. Bronze is a very strong metal, so solid bronze hinges will hold up to nearly anything you put them through. On the other side of the coin, the bronze coated hinges are weaker than the real thing, and also cannot withstand the elements, as pure bronze can.

Chrome Hinges

Looking for something a little flashier in your hinges, chrome is the way to go. These hinges have been given a chrome finish to make them shine and sparkle from a distance. They will put up with the weather, inside or out, and go perfectly well with a modern and contemporary home design.

Galvanized Steel Hinges

Instead of those plain simple steel hinges, you should look into galvanized steel hinges if you want a set of hinges that are going to last year after year. Galvanized steel is steel that has been treated and coated in a way where it will be as strong as regular steel, but also weatherproof.