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Housing - New Build: which way should doors open?

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeJan 6th 2014
     
    We're just at the point of detailing the design and was having a discussion about which way bedroom doors should open, my wife tells me the norm is to have the door open so you have to walk round the door to get into the room, I'm thinking the door should open against the adjacent wall. Is there such thing as a standard how doors should open?
  2.  
    I'm with triassic.

    If you need space to walk around a door you lose the door width plus the 'corridor' width to walk around it.

    Consider a bed adjacent and parallel to the face of a door. If you walk round the door it has to be 5-6 feet from the wall; if not it is just slightly more than the width of the door - 3-4 feet.

    Modesty is probably with Mrs Triassic, since that means that you get some 0.4s warning when kids are running in while you are in the nud.

    Perhaps you want roller doors that rise vertically?

    Ferdinand
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeJan 6th 2014
     
    I have a picture of an ex hiding naked behind a door while telling her kids off.

    I find it very frustrating that doors open into the room, I really should get around to changing some of them over. Trouble is the light switches need moving then.
    There is a 'modesty' thing with lighting, bedroom lights are nearer the window so that 'Peeping Toms' do not see a silhouette of a lady changing. Exept we have the internet now.
    • CommentAuthorJoiner
    • CommentTimeJan 6th 2014
     
    It's 'traditional' and all to do with privacy! One of those arcane rules that have carried over. :wink:
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeJan 6th 2014
     
    you get to choose if it is your house!
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeJan 6th 2014
     
    We're being asked to adjudicate in a joint ownership!
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeJan 6th 2014 edited
     
    Posted By: tonyyou get to choose if it is your house!


    Posted By: fostertomWe're being asked to adjudicate in a joint ownership!

    Opposing stable doors?
  8.  
    In all the Scandinavian hotels & residential buildings I have seen, doors open into the corridor. This is better from the point of fire escape, but means people walking down a corridor can walk into the edge of the door.

    David
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeJan 6th 2014 edited
     
    Normally they open in. Hinged one way gives more privacy, the other more space. Your choice.

    If opening out beware of building regs as there is a rule about not having doors opening across landings near stairs. See pages 10 and 11..

    http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_AD_K_2013.pdf
    • CommentAuthorsnyggapa
    • CommentTimeJan 6th 2014 edited
     
    We had limited space in our rebuild so every door opens against the adjacent wall that runs at 90 degrees to the door - I wouldn't change this at all

    The only possible drawback that I can think of is that since the doors only open 90 degrees, there could be a situation where if you are bringing something really big through the door it would be an advantage to open it 180 degrees to give you an inch more clearance, otherwise you have to take the door off the hinges.

    -Steve
  11.  
    There is no Norm now, he packed up his banjo and left. Each door fitted as best fits your scenario/preference, except that a number of doors close to one another will have different profiles if some open inwards and some open outwards. It is nice not to be able to see into a bathroom easily that opens to a bedroom or lounge for if the door should be left ajar but then a good flossing or nose pick ensues......
  12.  
    I'd always been told they opened towards the room to minimise draughts though privacy makes more sense for bedrooms (though not sure it does for living rooms?).

    I would always go for the extra space personally.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeJan 6th 2014
     
    These are the best doors in the last 30 years or so:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcrrPZYqU_I
  14.  
    It's normal here in Sweden for outer doors to open outwards. Likewise bathroom/toilet doors open outwards. If you want better insulation/airtightness for your outer doors without the expense of a passive house door some here have two doors mounted together, one opening out and the other opening inwards. Outside of the heating season one can be choched open or removed completely.
  15.  
    I believe it was traditional to have doors open into the room rather than onto the wall if near the corner of the room for privacy. In my opinion (purely subjective) this looks better and more 'natural', so I'd only do it the other way if short of space.

    However, in our house all the doors upstairs open off a landing and the architect (Frederick Gibberd no less) obviously also had a touch of OCD like me and had to have all the doors arranged the same way (ie handles on the right, hinges on the left when viewed from the landing) so two open the 'traditional' way and two not ;-)

    Having them open out into the landing would feel very odd to me, even if it was allowed.

    Ed
  16.  
    Privacy hinging for the master suite/parentals/adult rooms; space hinging for the box rooms/children.
    • CommentAuthorRobinB
    • CommentTimeJan 8th 2014 edited
     
    Posted By: atomicbisfI believe it was traditional to have doors open into the room rather than onto the wall if near the corner of the room for privacy. In my opinion (purely subjective) this looks better and more 'natural', so I'd only do it the other way if short of space.


    I always thought it was a Victorian notion. Personally I'm more comfortable being able to scan a room as I enter it / see who's coming in as soon as the door starts to open. It also makes sense to me in terms of space.
  18.  
    Another issue with bedroom door opening directions is dealing with the need to force them open. If the door is lockable and a young child goes in and locks it you either need to be able to dismantle/override the lock or force it open.

    A bedroom lock thats screwdriver friendly on the outside is preferable but I like the knowledge that in an emergency I can kick in a door if necessary. I've known 2 families where this has been done to get a very young child out of a room they've locked themselves into.
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeJan 16th 2014
     
    Posted By: HeadScratcher................ If the door is lockable and a young child goes in and locks it you either need to be able to dismantle/override the lock or force it open.

    Wow, do some people have locks on interior doors.:shocked:
    • CommentAuthorJoiner
    • CommentTimeJan 16th 2014
     
    In an older property, yes. All our internal doors have mortice locks. :wink:

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