Is an outward-opening door into a corridor absolute no-no?
Discussion
In my flat the bathroom is very small and awkwardly shaped (nothing can be done about this). It would help me if I could move the door across a bit - to a bit further away from us in the pic (to allow a shower cubicle to be put on the bathroom side). However this means the door would nearly open into the sink making entry into the bathroom not viable.
But if the door could open outwards it would be ok. So baring in mind it's a london flat (so everything is a compromise anyway in terms of space) do you think outward opening door is acceptable? Or an absolute no. pic (bathroom to the right; door ahead is bedroom; door to left (out of sight) is bedroom):
But if the door could open outwards it would be ok. So baring in mind it's a london flat (so everything is a compromise anyway in terms of space) do you think outward opening door is acceptable? Or an absolute no. pic (bathroom to the right; door ahead is bedroom; door to left (out of sight) is bedroom):
Not a corridor, but a landing.
I switched the door around on my upstairs bathroom. It now opens out, but crucially, for me at least, it opens toward a bedroom door, and wouldn't knock someone back down the stairs. The bathroom itself has since been redesigned, so it could now easily go back to opening inward. It's been ten years since I changed it over, and I can't recall a single time when it's caused a problem in our four person household.
I'd have liked to have re-hung the door on the tiny downstairs toilet, but if that one opened outward it would conflict with the external door at the side of the house and another internal door between the small hall and the kitchen.
Look at the situation, and potential problems, and make a decision based on what's safe and suits you best. At the end of the day, it's only chasing a couple of hinge beds out of a door frame. If the frame is painted you can always re-hang it the original way using a quality wood filler and repaint, if it would be a problem for a future owner/tenant.
In my reply, I'm presuming that you're an owner occupier, and that these are not fire doors. Otherwise there might be more significant consequences if you ignore regulations.
I switched the door around on my upstairs bathroom. It now opens out, but crucially, for me at least, it opens toward a bedroom door, and wouldn't knock someone back down the stairs. The bathroom itself has since been redesigned, so it could now easily go back to opening inward. It's been ten years since I changed it over, and I can't recall a single time when it's caused a problem in our four person household.
I'd have liked to have re-hung the door on the tiny downstairs toilet, but if that one opened outward it would conflict with the external door at the side of the house and another internal door between the small hall and the kitchen.
Look at the situation, and potential problems, and make a decision based on what's safe and suits you best. At the end of the day, it's only chasing a couple of hinge beds out of a door frame. If the frame is painted you can always re-hang it the original way using a quality wood filler and repaint, if it would be a problem for a future owner/tenant.
In my reply, I'm presuming that you're an owner occupier, and that these are not fire doors. Otherwise there might be more significant consequences if you ignore regulations.
I fitted a bifold door to the MIL's bathroom..works very well and fairly simple to fit.
Something like this:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Doors+Windows/Int...
Something like this:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Doors+Windows/Int...
I'm living in a house pre-rennovation and your thread made me think.
I went to check and right enough the door to the downstairs & upstairs loos both open out.
Always thought there was something odd about then but couldn't figure out what.
But having said that it's taken me 7 months to notice so it's no big deal IMHO.
BUT they are both tucked away off the main corridors - given what you're doing I'd deffo go sliding.
And do it as a pocket door - ie one that rolls into a stud wall.
That what people do round my way when getting their places done up.
I went to check and right enough the door to the downstairs & upstairs loos both open out.
Always thought there was something odd about then but couldn't figure out what.
But having said that it's taken me 7 months to notice so it's no big deal IMHO.
BUT they are both tucked away off the main corridors - given what you're doing I'd deffo go sliding.
And do it as a pocket door - ie one that rolls into a stud wall.
That what people do round my way when getting their places done up.
Edited by AC43 on Monday 30th January 16:28
CoolHands said:
but does sliding door look worse? I'm thinking an outward opening door might at least look more normal?
Marginally.We have two in our house and they're fine. You can paint the top rail differently to the one pictured to make them stand out less.
One thing to note - we have ball races on ours and they're not quiet...
alfie2244 said:
blueg33 said:
We have to put outward opening doors in our developments for disabled people. If someone falls against an inward opening door you can't get in to rescue them
That was main reason I changed MIL's door....she fell behind and it was hell of a problem with the inward door.
bristolracer said:
The en suite and the cloakroom in my house (built 2008) have outward opening doors so I guess its ok with building regs.
In Sweden even the front doors open outwards! Very odd
I live in a Swedish timber frame house. The whole house (apart from brick cladding and roof tiles) arrived on three lorries one day from Sweden in 1975. The front door does tend to surprise visitors, especially couriers who tend to prop their package up against the door while readying the signing machine. Both bathroom doors open outwards too.In Sweden even the front doors open outwards! Very odd
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