Outward opening front door

One of the decisions I made in my garage conversion was to have an outward opening external door.

This is, as I understand it (at least in the UK), unusual. It was mainly an attempt to maintain as much internal space as possible.

There are issues, the hinges are outside and so subject to attack, which is why I have "hinge bolts" in the door frame. Also, when someone calls, you end up opening the door in to them (rare as I have a window).

But I noticed whilst watching Stargate SG1 Revisions that all of the town had doors that opened outwards like mine - possibly because the rooms are all small.

They are filmed in a place called Fantasy Gardens which is used in other Stargate episodes, and actually, a lot of films!

Fascinating place it seems, albeit torn down now!


  1. I have an outwards opening back door, the house was built like that in 1987. Inwards opening would cause problems given the layout of the dining room and kitchen it would open into.

    My polish neighbours got their house double glazed by having his family and mates come over in a van from Poland complete with all the windows and doors. It cost him a quarter of what double glazing from a UK company would have done, even factoring in that he paid all their transport costs. And he now has an outwards opening front door, because that is standard in Poland. He claims that because it can seal flush against the outside of the door frame, there are a lot less problems with water and drafts getting in.

    1. He also has a building regs problem when he comes to sell as the polish guys wouldn't have been able to self-certify the install. Or pay the insurance premium for 10 years guarantee.

      Also if he has any sort of insurance claim relating to fire/theft he's probably invalidated his insurance - if they find out, which they probably will in both cases as it won't have BS markings (has to by law).

      There's some reasons it was lots cheaper and they're not all down to "rip-off britain"....

    2. I can see how the structure of the door might relate to a theft claim, but how does the location of the hinges lead to your house catching fire? ;)

    3. It doesn't but plastic melts and hence will need replacing. Unless burnt to buggery :) the doors/glass will still show a BS number.

      Loss adjustors look for these things & if they're missing then a quick check with the local BCO people.... "oh dear it appears you contravened building regs (2002 IIRC), claim rejected for buildings insurance". Next letter is "as your doors/windows were installed without certification.... your contents insurance is invalidated".

      That's what loss adjustors do ;)

    4. I think Loss Adjustors are there to find excuses for insurance companies not to pay out.

    5. Oddly enough, my neighbour's back door opens outwards, mine inwards, but the bungalows are otherwise pretty much mirror images of each other.

  2. Very innovative thinking with the door. The door on my shed opens outwards so I do wonder why houses aren't the same.

    Here's a photo of a flashy car with futuristic-looking doors:

  3. My in-laws have an outward opening back door. It was altered because the original inward opening one fouled the stairlift that was being fitted. This caused some complications when the council decided to change all the doors and windows in their block, and they turned up with a standard door..

  4. I'm with you - out is the new in!

  5. The outward opening door being more weather resistant idea is a bit of a fallacy. Wind blowing around buildings creates low pressure as well as high pressure zones. Roofs are sucked off during storms, not blown off.

