Pivot Door Guide

Pivot Doors provide a grand entrance to modern Sydney homes.

What is a Pivot System?

Pivots are door hardware that is installed at the bottom and top of your door and into the top of the door frame and floor. They are an alternative to using hinges. Any door used with a pivot system must have solid construction and a minimum thickness of 40mm at its thinnest point. Most manufacturers will require use pivots be used on doors with over 40mm in thickness.

Why use a Pivot system?

We like using pivot systems as they provide a seamless look to your home's entrance. They can also be used to install heavier and wider doors than hinges can. If you want a grand door for your home then a pivot system is a must.

Benefits of Pivot Systems

• They allow for wider, taller and thicker doors to be installed.
• They support heavier doors than hinges do.
• Pivots provide a seamless look as they do not require rebated door frames.

Drawbacks of Pivot Systems

• Cost: Pivots cost considerably more than Hinged systems in both the hardware and installation.
• Some unusable space on side of door when opening the door
• Door seals are required around all sides of the door to prevent dust from entering your home.

Important Information

People use pivot systems for front doors that are thicker than the standard size of external doors in Australia (40mm). Pivot systems are more expensive than hinge systems. Door manufacturers do not suggest using pivots on doors that are 40mm wide. This is because the pivot will leave too little material inside the door, which can lead to failure.

Pivot systems allow for oversized doors that are thicker, wider, and taller than Australian standard door sizes. The main drawback is that they leave an unusable space on the side of the door. This happens when you open the door, making your opening smaller. This may offset the benefit of a wider door.

At Natural Doors, we provide Lockwood pivot systems for our pivot doors. We trust their quality and reliability after over 20 years of use.

A pivot door also needs careful planning of the frame and floor. The floor needs to be level so the door does not rub against the flooring and the gaps at the bottom are consistent. You must ensure there is no furniture, stairs or other possible obstacles so the door can open and close properly

If you are considering a pivot door, confirm the door thickness, weight, and overall size first. Then select a pivot set that fits. This ensures the door operates correctly and stays stable over time.

Our pivot doors allow for a wide range of custom door sizes. All the pivot doors at Natural Doors have a solid timber construction to ensure they last a long time.