You visited a friend and found out their bathroom doors swing out; you got surprised and was asking yourself can bathroom doors swing out?
Yes, a bathroom door can swing out or open inwards. Normally, bathroom doors swing out to make entry into the bathroom simpler and allow for greater spacing when entering or exiting. The door will open inwards when you shut off access from the other rooms, just like a private restroom in an office suite.
In the case of a private restroom, it has to b inaccessible from adjoining cubicles and offices. Therefore, the door of the bathroom has to swing inward. Here, if the door swings out, there will be no privacy.
There are many advantages of having a bathroom door swinging out, but there are times when an inward bathroom door is a perfect option. Dive in to find more!
Should Bathroom Doors Swing Out or In?
Different individuals have different opinions on whether a bathroom door should open in or out. Most times, homeowners ask these questions when they’re renovating their bathroom and need to choose whether the door will swing in or out.
A bathroom door should offer sufficient privacy, but it shouldn’t swing in a direction that will block access.
It doesn’t matter which way your bathroom door opens, as both work well depending on how you use it. Whether you want to connect your main bathroom with the main bedroom, swing the door for odour control, or enter easily, each type of door swing has its advantages.
If you’re too overwhelmed to make the right decision, the door options below might help;
If you’re building a new bathroom from scratch, consider installing an outward swinging door as it allows for more space within the room for easier movement for those on wheelchairs and those who aren’t steady on their feet like toddlers. If your doorway has a small width, having an inward opening bathroom door can get in the way of people coming from the hallway or stairs, t harder to get into the bathroom.
On the other hand, if you install an inward swinging door alongside a pocket door frame kit and a durable handle, you’ll not need to renovate your doorway, which Is far more expensive than replacing bathroom doors.
Inward swinging bathroom doors are ideal for smaller, fewer traffic areas. They work perfectly well for bathrooms with no traffic and aren’t very spacious. However, you should know that inward swinging doors can scratch painted bathroom tiles and damage them.
Inward opening bathroom doors adds to security as they block off access points into the room and other areas such as behind a cubicle or a closet. They also provide privacy while bathing or dressing if you want to keep your activities away from others. This also applies to the restroom; since the door is inward-facing, it will add to overall privacy.
Choosing whether to have an outward or inward bathroom door is a weighing between convenience and functionality. If a door blocks the hallway or stairs and doesn’t fit the size of the room, it can’t open in or out.
If you prefer an outward opening bathroom door, then have it that way. However, if an inward or both ways door will fit your office or home better, then there are various styles to choose from. There are different doors, and most can fit property in bathrooms, restrooms, and hallways regardless of space.
Moreover, if you want to install a pocket door frame kit to your wallboard to avoid frequent renovations, select the right style of door that will fit your need and location.
Why Do Most Bathroom Doors Open Inwards?
You might be wondering why most bathroom doors open into the room. There are many reasons for that, but the main one is water. Bathrooms are always wet, and the last thing you’ll want is water flowing from the bathroom into your room or hallway.
Also, old-style homes usually have closets in their bathrooms. The idea is for homeowners to place their clothes after bathing so they’ll dry. If you have a door that opens outwards, you won’t be able to fit through the opening when the closet is filled with clothes hanging. However, these clothes were abandoned when most people started living in one storey buildings.
Most think bathroom doors are primarily placed for security and privacy. This doesn’t seem right, most of the privacy in bathrooms is accorded by the way bathtubs or toilets are placed about the shower partition or door.
Free standing bathrooms are also better with inward opening doors so that kids cannot easily open the door when adults use the bathroom.
How Do I Change My Bathroom Door to Swing Out
While for some people, the direction in which a bathroom door swings doesn’t matter, to others, it is quite an important thing. Changing the direction in which you open your bathroom door can help you rearrange your space.
Whether you’re looking for more privacy or find inward bathroom doors a nuisance, here’s a guide to changing your door from swinging inward to swinging outwards.
You can practically do this on your own without the help of a handyman. All you’ve to do is purchase the necessary materials you’ll need. If your door is heavy, you’ll require an assistant.
Here’s a list of the materials you’ll need:
- Router
- Primer
- Sandpaper
- Paintbrush
- Pencil
- Screwdriver
- Tape
- Nail punch
- Hammer
- Wood filler
- Vice grip
- Non-removable pin hinges
- Putty knife
- Paint
Note: The materials you’ll need to change a door from in to out swing depends on where the door is, its quality, and its design. This guide can change the swinging of any door, not necessarily bathroom doors. However, you should check the building codes of your locality before changing the direction of your door.
Below is a step by step guide to changing your door from an inward swing to an outward swing:
1. Remove your Door Hinges
You’ll start by checking if your door hinges have bottom caps and removing them. To remove the door from the hinges, you must use a hammer and a screwdriver to wedge and swab the hinges out of place.
If you’re a vice grip, the entire process will be easier. You use it to grab onto the bottom cap and eliminate them so that you can remove the door. However, if you’re removing pins out of the hinges, you’ll require a nail punch and a hammer.
Also, you’ve to start all the hinges before removing them. After removing the pins, tilt the door to keep the other pins in place.
Once you’ve removed all pins, you’ll be able to effortlessly remove your door. However, if it’s a heavy one, you’ll need an assistant to remove it. Use a metal drill to remove the metal pieces around the bolt hole and the hinge.
2. Adjusting the Hinge Plate
On the door jamb side, you’ll have to use a router to remove the hinge recesses. Do the same for the strike plate and the bolt hole.
After this, use your drill to make pilot holes for the screws to go on. As you keep the hinge plate up to the door jamb, use your pencil to mark where the door jambs will be. This ensures you drill the holes accurately.
Ensure all the heads are in the way when screwing in the hinge plate; this will ensure they keep securely in place. If you didn’t adjust the plates well, the door might not be able to open at all.
3. Repairing and Painting
When repairing the area and painting the spots, you install new hinges; only do that when you’re sure you’ve adjusted them tightly. Make sure the bolt hole and the recesses are well aligned.
Clean the area well, and sand to prepare it for the paint and putty. For the repairs, you can either use a putty or wood fillers. Fill in recesses opposite the door jamb and ensure you relocate your doorstep to the new direction of the swing.
4. Rehang your Door
Use your screwdriver to reverse the doorknob and striker to prepare them. Make sure the level of the striker aligns with the jamb. If it’s not, you won’t be able to close your door properly.
Also, remove all weather stripping before you rehang your door. Check your hinge holes; if they’re okay, it’s time to rehang your door.
Ensure the door is standing in alignment with the jamb and hinges. If it is, you’ll be able to slide in your pins with ease.
5. Final Touches
Once you place your door back, your bolt will mark where to drill your door jamb. Drill the bolt hole and remove recess using your router.
After that, check if the leading edge extends beyond the door jamb when the strike up plate is held up to the jamb. If it is, you’ve successfully changed the swing direction of your door!
Can you change a door from inswing to Outswing?
Yes, you can change your door from inswing to out-swing. It is more convenient and safer and makes your door more durable.
Do Most Bathroom Doors Swing In Or Out?
Most bathroom doors swing inward, both in homes and offices. This is because they are more convenient as they don’t block the hallway or stairs
Do the Shower Door Have to be Swung Out?
For safety purposes, shower doors are supposed to swing outward. However, if you choose to have a shower door that swings in and out, the downside is that vinyl cannot be placed on the vertical seams of the door.
What is the Difference Between Inswing and Outswing Door?
If a door swings away from you towards the room’s interior, it is an in-swing door. An outswing door is the one that is pulling away from the interior of the room.