Arched wooden doors have a way of making architecture feel instantly charming, adding personality and a sense of timeless elegance.

“I really love arched doorways, having grown up in a house that had them. And I like the unique design element they have.”

That charm also needs to be matched with controlled door movement. Arched wooden doors place uneven loads on hinges, and standard spring hinges often become misaligned, fail to self-close properly, or cause slamming. That is why choosing the right hinges for an arched wooden door is not just about looks. It is a practical decision that helps protect the door, the frame, and the people who use it every day.

black spring hinges for arched wooden door

Why Arched Wooden Door Spring Hinge But Not Door Closer

Self closing is a constant challenge for arched wooden doors because their curved shape leaves no room for an overhead door closer. While standard spring hinges can provide basic self closing, they lack controlled closing and often lead to slamming.

Moreover, unlike rectangular doors, the arched top also changes hinge placement. It forces the top hinge to be mounted lower on the jamb, which further complicates smooth and reliable door movement. That is why choosing a reliable self closing spring hinge for an arched wooden door is essential to achieve controlled movement, prevent slamming, and maintain long-term alignment.

Keystone Church
Credits to Keystone Church

How to Stop Slamming Arched Wooden Doors?

Standard spring hinges without a closing mechanism offer no control over the movement of arched wooden doors, causing them to slam shut. Slamming creates a loud noise and increases the risk of injury for people passing through, especially children and elderly users. Over time, repeated slamming stresses the hinges, leading to alignment problems.

“I’m working with an arched wooden door and I want to stop it from slamming.”

To stop slamming, soft closing arched wooden door hinges are an effective option. An integrated hydraulic damper slows the door’s movement as it reaches a certain closing angle, allowing the door to close smoothly.

arched wooden door hinge

No Door Closer, No Slamming, No Free Swing: Is It Possible?

Not every first application works, just like this application from Ottawa that needs to stop the slamming arched wooden door. They reached out to us looking for anti slam solution:

“I’m working with an arched wooden door that weighs 110 lbs, 10ft tall, and 1-3/4″ thick. I want to stop it from slamming. Looking for a brass finish. Location in Ottawa, Ontario.”

This project required replacing 4 hinges on a standard 4-½” template. Waterson provided the reliable solution; it was an easy retrofit that immediately solved the slamming issue. Moreover, we have been trusted in many applications in different environments, including church arched front doors.

brass spring hinge for arched wooden door

When Soft Closing Hinges for Arched Top Doors Make Sense

Waterson specially designed soft closing hinges with a hydraulic damper for arched wooden doors. No door closer needed. No more slamming. Prevent misalignment and sagging. Controlled self closing every time with advanced features while maintaining charming aesthetic.

  • Self Closing: closes arched wooden doors every time without a bulky door closer
  • Soft Closing: Anti slam closure with a hydraulic damper to slow down door movement towards the end and controlled swing speed.
  • Heavy Weight Capacity: Three hinges support up to 260 lbs; four hinges up to 330 lbs.
  • Easy Installation: Check the spring hinges’ alignment and follow our step-by-step installation guidelines. Easy for hinge replacement too.
  • Stainless Steel: Built in 304 or 316 SST for high durability
  • Adjustability: Designed with a numerical panel that allows users to adjust easily.
  • ANSI/BHMA A156.17 Grade 1: Proven durability with over 1,000,000 cycles, guaranteed to function in high-stress and high-traffic conditions.
  • Hold Open: keeps the door at 90° or 120° so it doesn’t drift closed in times needed
  • ADA Compliance: <5 lb opening force. >= 5 sec close time. Works seamlessly with over 34” wide door designs.
  • Multiple PVD finishes: Complement the charming look of arched wooden doors, available in black, brass, and many more, including custom finishes.

Waterson Anti Slam Hinges for Arched Wooden Door

Waterson soft closing with hold open combine the function of an overhead closer and a hinge into a single, sleek component—complete with optional hold-open and door-stop features. Designed for commercial openings, gates, and glass doors, these hinges are easy to install and adjust to meet ADA and ICC A117.1 standards for opening force, while ensuring quiet and secure closure. Crafted from durable stainless steel, they are NFPA 80 compliant, UL 3-hour fire-rated, and built to perform reliably in both interior and all-weather exterior environments. See all our features.

In addition to these performance advantages, Waterson offers custom hinge services. As a direct manufacturer, we can tailor hinge sizes, finishes, and especially hinge leaf designs to meet the specific structural needs of your doors. This makes our hinges an ideal solution for door manufacturers seeking custom options that integrate seamlessly with their existing frames.

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Please note that Waterson closer hinges start from a size of 4″x4″. If you’re in need of smaller self-closing hinges, we’d recommend checking out some other resources! Also, we only provide single acting closer hinges. Thank you.

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