Outer porch door, inwards or outwards opening?

TELLIT01

Our porch door opens outwards and the biggest issue is to ensure we open the door slowly if somebody rings the bell.  The porch is quite small and we had a friend who was a wheelchair user and they wouldn't have been able to get into the house if it opened in.  It's been up for over 20 years and hasn't caused any problems other than that.

twopenny

Inwards. Rain, wind and the postman can be a problem otherwise.
When you approach with big bags of shopping you'll have to unlock, pull the door out towards you as you shuffle back, stagger round it then reach right round to pull it shut possibly with a slippery wet handle.

greenface2

Few thing to take in . Opening out needs space to open out into the pathway or garden . My biggest complaint from an opening out comp door (I own a window company) Is when the wind catches it and take your arm with it . If you choose opening out make sure it has a drip fitted above the door , opening in if there is space is the best option . don't just measure door to door . look down and see if the inside has a step that may stop it opening fully . if its opening into a window or wall make sure you put a door stop on the stop the handle smacking the wall/glass . One thing that isn't mentioned with 2 good doors fitted into one space is the vacuum that can happen between . It can be very difficult to close the external door when the internal door is shut . It means they are doing their job . Its also a ballache to close sometimes . speak to your chosen installer about your concerns and see them sweat 

tallac

greenface2 said:

Few thing to take in . Opening out needs space to open out into the pathway or garden . My biggest complaint from an opening out comp door (I own a window company) Is when the wind catches it and take your arm with it . If you choose opening out make sure it has a drip fitted above the door , opening in if there is space is the best option . don't just measure door to door . look down and see if the inside has a step that may stop it opening fully . if its opening into a window or wall make sure you put a door stop on the stop the handle smacking the wall/glass . One thing that isn't mentioned with 2 good doors fitted into one space is the vacuum that can happen between . It can be very difficult to close the external door when the internal door is shut . It means they are doing their job . Its also a ballache to close sometimes . speak to your chosen installer about your concerns and see them sweat 

That's very good advice, thank you. After all the great advice here, I've decided to go with inward opening doors. It seems to make the most sense and I just need to make sure that if I go with a wide 90cm door then I have to make sure the porch depth is sufficient to not come in the way of the swing of that door.

Jeepers_Creepers

Good decision, Tallac

There is one more reason to go 'inwards' - if you didn't, even tho' we don't know who you are or where you live, we'd hunt you down and... we'd swap it round. And say very rude things.

tallac

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Good decision, Tallac

There is one more reason to go 'inwards' - if you didn't, even tho' we don't know who you are or where you live, we'd hunt you down and... we'd swap it round. And say very rude things.

Well, if I wasn't convinced before...that would have done it 

kdotdotdotdot

Got room for a sliding door?

Dedekind

I have outwards opening porch door, to be honest never even thought about it until I read this thread. It's a double one, so not so much problem in terms of stepping to the side etc. The only issue I find is opening the door when there are gusts (like this week), it can be annoying. But nothing that keeps me awake at night -- it may even go away since we like the original porch of the house that didn't have any doors.

NeverTooLate

Dedekind said:

 The only issue I find is opening the door when there are gusts (like this week), it can be annoying. But nothing that keeps me awake at night -- it may even go away since we like the original porch of the house that didn't have any doors.

You can easily fix that problem by fitting a heavy duty door closer so that the wind can't move it. (Also stops dogs & small children pushing it open if it's not locked)

Slinky

NeverTooLate said:

Dedekind said:

 The only issue I find is opening the door when there are gusts (like this week), it can be annoying. But nothing that keeps me awake at night -- it may even go away since we like the original porch of the house that didn't have any doors.

You can easily fix that problem by fitting a heavy duty door closer so that the wind can't move it. (Also stops dogs & small children pushing it open if it's not locked)

Doesn't that stop you having the ceremonial slamming of the door when you get doorstep salesmen interupting you trying to sell you new windows and doors?