U.S. General Services Administration
Technical Procedures Disclaimer
Prior to inclusion in GSA’s library of procedures, documents are reviewed by one or more qualified preservation specialists for general consistency with the Secretary of Interior Standards for rehabilitating historic buildings as understood at the time the procedure is added to the library. All specifications require project-specific editing and professional judgement regarding the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers are to serve as a general guideline and do not constitute a federal endorsement or determination that a product or method is the best or most current alternative, remains available, or is compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards. The library of procedures is intended to serve as a resource, not a substitute, for specification development by a qualified preservation professional.
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We’ve reviewed these procedures for general consistency with federal standards for rehabilitating historic buildings and provide them only as a reference. Specifications should only be applied under the guidance of a qualified preservation professional who can assess the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers serve as general guidelines and do not constitute a federal endorsement nor a determination that a product or method is the best alternative or compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards.
PART 1–GENERAL
1.01 SUMMARY
- This procedure includes guidance on silencing squeaky door hinges.
1.02 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
- A door assembly in good working condition is free from decay and structurally sound. It is quiet, non-binding, and smooth swinging. The door latches crisply and should not rattle between latch and stops when closed.
PART 2–PRODUCTS
2.01 MATERIALS
- Light household oil
- Wood, plastic, or metal shims (if needed)
2.02 EQUIPMENT
- Screwdriver
- Utility knife or hacksaw to cut shim
PART–EXECUTION
3.01 EXAMINATION
- To discern door problem, observe the door open and close a few times. Note the location of any binding or rubbing. Note also if doors binds inconsistently from top to bottom or hinge side to latch side.
3.02 ERECTION, INSTALLATION, APPLICATION
- If the pins can be removed one at a time on simple hinges, lubricate them with graphite before reinstalling them. If oil has been used before, continue to lightly lubricate hinges with household oil. In either case, work hinge back and forth to assure penetration of the lubricant to all areas. This is particularly important with ball-bearing hinges, found on large or heavy doors, and on code-compliant fire-doors.
- Use light oil sparingly to avoid staining adjacent materials; wipe off excess.
- If lubrication does not solve the problem, the hinges may be improperly installed, out of line or damaged.
- Observe the hinge knuckles closely with a flashlight to check for any hinge injury from being struck with a blunt object such as a cart. Check the inside of the frame and the hinge fittings for alignment problems or deformation caused by an object being placed between the hinge and the door jamb (improper chocking). These kinds of hinge damage are difficult to remedy outside of the workshop, and the final solution may end up being the replacement of a single hinge or a complete set with an exact match. Consult the RHPO before replacing hinges on heritage doors.
- It may be necessary to shim or re-mortise one or both of the hinges so that they are plumb and in line with one another (this is seldom the case with steel doors and frames as the mortises and alignments are factory set). See 0871201R, “Resetting A Hinge Mortise”, for guidance.