Author Topic: Changing the Swing of a door  (Read 1353 times)

bradspartan

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Changing the Swing of a door
« on: February 18, 2020, 09:46:31 AM »
I currently have a right in-swing back door (right side has the door handle) which swings into my kitchen.  I want to have the door be a right out-swing as the door would swing directly onto my back deck, alleviating the door swing from the kitchen (just a hassle and would be nicer in the summer to have it swing open to allow to bring things to the grill back and forth).

I'm struggling to find a comprehensive youtube video / article that states how to do this in full (weather stripping, etc).  Those that I have seen always flip the swing of the door (left to right) when doing this - and that's just not what I want to do.

Figured I'd counsel on here for some help - let me know your thoughts!

FYI: Security is not a concern - I'm planning on purchasing 'security hinges' which do not allow the pin to be taken off when the door is in a closed position.

lthenderson

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Re: Changing the Swing of a door
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2020, 02:52:38 PM »
I have never done what you are asking but I suppose it could be done. Here are my concerns/thoughts. Outswing doors have different seals/gaskets than inswing doors. Outswing doors depend on compression gaskets while infeed doors are sweep gaskets. Even the ones with compression gaskets are designed differently than the outswing door gaskets I've seen. The other concern is that the jamb around your door is designed for an inswing door and that would have to be totally reconfigured to become an outfeed door. So if I were attempting this project, I would probably count on building the door jambs from scratch (possibly reusing some of the pieces from the inswing door) and getting new seals, along with outswing designed hinges. You will have to remove the door hardware so the tapered part of the locking bolt is turned in the opposite direction so it engages when you shut it versus slam into your jamb. You will have to remortise and hang the new hinges and repair old mortise holes. It can be done but it might be easier and maybe only slightly more expensive in the long run to just buy an outswing door.

bradspartan

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Re: Changing the Swing of a door
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2020, 08:51:00 AM »
Thanks for the comment!  I went to my local hardware store (shoutout Mendards) to look into this more.  After talking with the person there - I honestly think it's something that I can do - fairly easily.  The jamb and the door hardware will just be switching places.  Luckily, Menards sells a door Jamb kit (unfinished) in case I break it when configuring it all.  All together, I think it will be a $75 project (high estimate) to do this vs $250 (quote for a new outswing door).  Will update when finished (waiting til spring).

Re: the gaskets:
The gaskets are actually the same (per the person @ mendards and just comparing to what I have now), it just more depends on where they're located (inside the jamb for inswing vs outside the door for outswing).  After inspecting the ones I have now, they are in dire need of replacing anyways (have entirely lost their 'spring' / compression qualities).