How To Adjust Grass Hinges

Grass hinges are also often referred to as European hinges. Both terms describe a hinge that sits on the interior of a cabinet or closed storage space, offering a clean exterior look very popular in contemporary interior design. Grass or European hinges are also unique in that they are easier to adjust. Three separate adjustment screws help to adjust the door alignment. This makes them much more dynamic than traditional hinges and allows you to fine-tune the fit and closure of a door or cabinet.

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Once you've got the Grass hinges that you want to use, you're ready to begin the installation process.

With a pencil, mark a line running from the top to the bottom of the cabinet door, about 7/8 of an inch from the edge. Make sure the line runs parallel to the edge of the door. Mark perpendicular lines 3.5 inches from the top edge and bottom edge of the door. The places where these two lines intersect will be the location of the center of the hinge cup that will recede into the door. Using a 35 millimeter Forstner drill bit, drill a flat-bottomed hole about a half an inch deep. Push the hinge cups into the holes, fitting them snugly. Next, secure the hinges by drilling 7/64-inch holes into the screw holes in the flanges on either side of the cup and screwing in 5/8-inch #6 wood screws as anchors.

Now, it's time to mark the inside of the cabinet. Measure 2 1/4 inches from the front of the cabinet and mark a vertical line running parallel to the cabinet's front edge. Then, mark your perpendicular line running across the first line 3 1/2 inches from the top and the bottom of the cabinet. Take the mounting plate off of the hinge and lay it on top of the intersecting lines in the cabinet's interior. Drill pilot holes through the holes in the plate and secure it to the cabinet's interior with the same #6 screws you used on the door.

Repeat steps 1 through 9 for each of the hinges you need to install inside the cabinet door. With the interior of the cabinet door aligned with the open cabinet front, hook the hinge onto the mounting plate. Snap the bars into place by pressing on them. Close the door and you're done.

Aside from not interrupting the outer appearance of your cabinetry, one of Grass hinges' great benefits is their ability to be adjusted from the inside.

All you'll need to adjust the cabinet hinges is a #2 Pozidriv screwdriver. A Phillips screwdriver may seem like the right choice here, but the angle on the driver's flanks can strip the screws. Pozidriv screwdrivers have straight flanks, which allow for more torque to be applied without the risk of stripping.

If the vertical alignment of the cabinet is a problem, you'll need to adjust the first screw. Turn the screw clockwise to bring the door closer to the hinge-side of the cabinet and counterclockwise to pull the door further away from the hinge-side of the cabinet.

If the horizontal alignment is an issue, you need to make an up or down adjustment. Using your screwdriver, turn the middle screw clockwise to move the door upwards and counterclockwise to move the door down.

If the gap between the cabinet and the door is too wide or too narrow, you'll need to make a side-to-side adjustment. Using the screwdriver, turn the third screw in a clockwise motion to move the door closer to the cabinet and turn it counterclockwise to push the cabinet further out.