Can an exterior door open out?

[pitterwoo]

During kitchen demo today the back door officially got ruined.  So, while I was hoping to replace it, now that's definitely moved up on the list of things that have to happen.

I'd like this door from home depot or something like it:


The thing is that the door opens into my very not big kitchen and covers a main counter and cabinet space.  It would be so much nicer if the door opened out and away from the work area.  It's currently under a covered porch.  In a year or so we will screen/glass in the space so there would be another layer of protection and a storm door out there.

To have the door swing out we'd basically be installing it backwards.  The hinges would show outside (and I guess that's a security concern too).  How big of a deal is this?

[pitterwoo]

as a refresher, this was the current set-up:





In our new kitchen plan, instead of cutting the counter and cabinet back at an angle the section behind the door will be closer to the depth of the uppers.  No weird angle, just cut back like this kitchen which has a similar door placement as in my kitchen:

[munkii]

I love Dutch doors! You could probably have it open out, but that seems a bit strange to me. I know you're kitchen is tiny, but I'd probably just stick with the traditional inward swing. I did come across one picture with it opening out (sorry both parts on this example are open):

[magdala]

I thought that exterior doors weren't supposed to open out for safety reasons. If there was a crisis, stuff outside the door could prevent someone from getting out.

[bunnymendelbaum]

You should get hinges with a security setting pin. If you just install the door backwards, the threshold will likely be wrong too. You might be able to order the door as an out-swinging.

Actually, commercial doors where the space is over a certain # of occupants must swing out for fire egress. You don't want people to have to open a door in when trying to get out in an emergency.

[TBM]

Exterior doors in FL open out. You have to buy them as outward opening to get the threshold right.


I thought it was the weirdest thing and was just one more 'wrong' thing on this house, but it was explained to me that with hurricanes it is better to have it open out.

[pitterwoo]

that's interesting TBM. I would have thought it was something done incorrectly too.

So what are the implications of a backwards threshold? I guess it slopes down toward the outside, but being under a covered porch there isn't any concern about water running in.

munkii that picture is so cute and definitely not helping to convince me to just leave it opening in.

thanks bunnymendelbaum for the security pin info.  Sounds like an excellent solution.   (idea)

[pitterwoo]

Jul 13, 2013 13:43:31 GMT -5 magdala said:

I thought that exterior doors weren't supposed to open out for safety reasons. If there was a crisis, stuff outside the door could prevent someone from getting out.

I would definitely take safety stuff seriously if there were any risks.  I can't think of any for this situation though.  We have a small house and 3 exits so getting out in an emergency shouldn't be an issue.  This door doesn't open directly onto stairs or any hazards either.  I think it's just a matter of being "different" but I'm not really seeing any downsides to doing it.

[TBM]

I love dutch doors, and briefly considered getting one for my studio, where we are putting in a door to the (future) dog run. Briefly, because after a few minutes in the studio after they framed the openings for the door and the new window I was covered in bug bites. I think I will stick with the original plan for a door with a window on the top part and a pet door on the bottom. ;p

[pitterwoo]

good plan TBM

[lavender444]

Jul 13, 2013 14:20:03 GMT -5 bunnymendelbaum said:

You should get hinges with a security setting pin. If you just install the door backwards, the threshold will likely be wrong too. You might be able to order the door as an out-swinging.

Actually, commercial doors where the space is over a certain # of occupants must swing out for fire egress. You don't want people to have to open a door in when trying to get out in an emergency.

Our garage entrance door swings out. Granted, it's in the garage and not outside but it's secured with a security pin as well. It was here before we were so I have no details on how it was done, but it's proof can be done securely.

[thatgirl2478]

we did - same situation as you - the standard in swinging door took up too much floor space & was awkward.

Our installer took the threshold off, turned it around backward & installed the door. The only problem we had we that there was a tiny gap at the bottom, we took care of that with a flip flop door sweep (they have a spring inside that when the door is open, flips up, when it's closed flips down - google for purchase locations).

[my4girls]

the door to our deck in our old house opened out. There was no room at all to have it open in so if we wanted a door (and therefore a deck!) it was going to have to open out

[pumpkin]

Jul 15, 2013 11:42:08 GMT -5 lavender444 said:

Jul 13, 2013 14:20:03 GMT -5 bunnymendelbaum said:

You should get hinges with a security setting pin. If you just install the door backwards, the threshold will likely be wrong too. You might be able to order the door as an out-swinging.

Actually, commercial doors where the space is over a certain # of occupants must swing out for fire egress. You don't want people to have to open a door in when trying to get out in an emergency.

Our garage entrance door swings out. Granted, it's in the garage and not outside but it's secured with a security pin as well. It was here before we were so I have no details on how it was done, but it's proof can be done securely.

Now that I think about it, the heavy door between the garage and house at my parent's opens out/into the garage.