OUTWARD opening garage side door needed

Charlton_King

I have a rotting wooden side door in my integral garage. Have already replaced it once and am now thinking of a uPVC job.

I need it to open outwards, as with the current door, as space inside is at a premium.

People look at me as if I come from Mars when I mention 'outward opening'. Does anyone know of a supplier who can handle this fairly simple idea?

Head_The_Ball

Charlton_King wrote: »

I have a rotting wooden side door in my integral garage. Have already replaced it once and am now thinking of a uPVC job.

I need it to open outwards, as with the current door, as space inside is at a premium.

People look at me as if I come from Mars when I mention 'outward opening'. Does anyone know of a supplier who can handle this fairly simple idea?

How strange. There is nothing unusual about outward opening doors. I've seen plenty of them.

Our 2004 built house has an outward opening side door and outward opening rear double doors. They open onto a side passage and the rear garden respectively and would be very inconvenient if they opened inwards.

Where are you?

shaun_from_Africa

You may find one of a suitable size here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/upvc-door-open-out

Nick_C

A door is a door.

When we replaced our old doors and windows, we replaced our old broken (outward opening) garage door with the old (inward opening) kitchen door.

Edit to add: the only difference between inward and outward opening is which side of the frame you fit it.

Debbie_Savard

Can you buy an inward opening door and fit it upside down?

FreeBear

Installed a high security door into my garage, and the default option from the supplier was outward opening. Main reason is that it is much more resistant to being kicked in.

Outward opening has other advantages - One being much easier to prevent the ingress of rain when closed.

Bozy1000

I had exactly the same issue with a rotting wooden garage door.


Nothing strange with an outwards opening UPVC door.


I just asked a local UPVC manufacturer to make me one, and I fitted it myself after watching Youtube guides.


Just google a local UPVC manufacturer. No different to outwards opening French conservatory doors.


Regards
Bozzy1000

Silvertabby

We changed all our windows and doors for upvc about 6 years ago. The garage is integral, but has a side - outwards opening - access door. No problem whatsover in getting a new door.

Not sure, but I think building regs state that a garage side access door must be outwards opening.

EachPenny

Charlton_King wrote: »

People look at me as if I come from Mars when I mention 'outward opening'. Does anyone know of a supplier who can handle this fairly simple idea?

As others have said, there is nothing unusual about this. It may just be the words you are using are unfamiliar to the people you are talking to

Usual practice is for front doors to open inwards and all other doors to open outwards. There is a logic to this in that outward opening doors do not take up (premium) space inside the house for the sweep of the door. However, there is legislation (as well as practical considerations) which usually requires front doors to open inwards.

If you ask for "a back door, and it needs to open outwards" most people will get what you are saying.

That said, if a supplier cannot understand what you mean by "outward opening" then I'm not sure I'd want to buy anything off them.

FreeBear

EachPenny wrote: »

However, there is legislation (as well as practical considerations) which usually requires front doors to open inwards.

Are you sure about that, and do you have any links to legislation to support that ?

My front door opens outward, and is both practical & very useful - Especially when unwanted door knockers come banging on the door and stand way too close in the hope of putting a foot in the door. A smack in the face as the door opens forces them to step back and reevaluate their life choices

EachPenny

FreeBear wrote: »

Are you sure about that, and do you have any links to legislation to support that ?

The Highways Act 1980 Section 153. "Doors etc. in streets not to open outwards."
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/153

This covers the scenario where the door (or a gate or bar) is on (or near) the boundary of the property adjacent to the street. E.g. cases where you step out of the front door straight into the street, or only have a narrow strip of priavately owned land (less than a doors width) between the front wall of the house and the highway. If the opened door doesn't actually reach the highway I believe you are safe.

I also have a feeling there is something else applicable in London, but it was a long time ago that I last had need to investigate the subject so I don't remember the details. I'll come back to the thread if I remember.

The 'practical considerations' cover the rest - as you ably illustrate, opening the front door outwards can cause your visitors a very unpleasant welcome. It's not so bad if the door is clear glazed, but with obscured glass/solid doors it is difficult (or impossible) for the door opener to know if there is anyone they are about to hit, and the potential victim may have no idea the door is about to head towards them.

FreeBear wrote: »

My front door opens outward, and is both practical & very useful - Especially when unwanted door knockers come banging on the door and stand way too close in the hope of putting a foot in the door. A smack in the face as the door opens forces them to step back and reevaluate their life choices

I can see the attractions. But one factor to bear in mind is it is easier to stop someone actually trying to get into your house if the door opens inwards - if you stand in front of the door it is quite difficult to force it open, even if they are stronger than you. Trying to stop someone opening an outward opening door requires pulling back against the other person trying to pull it open (like a tug of war). If they are stronger than you there isn't a lot you can do to stop them.