Hi all,
I’m remodelling my back bump-out to be a breakfast nook. It is only 8′ wide (North-South) by 6′ from front to the back wall (East-West). The west wall has the windows (6′ bay) and the north wall has an exterior door. I want to make the door swing out to make it feel less cramped, and have submitted drawings to that effect, but I need some help with the sill and threshold.
Ordinarily, the threshold is at the interior finish plane, extending into the room an inch or two, and about the same into the jamb area. With a door that swings out, the threshold can’t extend very far past the sheathing plane of the exterior wall. If anyone knows of drawings to this effect, it would help greatly. I will draw something up and post it once I am home.
Thanks,
Scott
Replies
Just a couple of thoughts: Consider that wind might do to a person opening the door--Will it pull the handle out of your hand?--or will it smash your fingers if the wind is blowing in? On most commercial applications where the door opens out, there is a door closer involved.
Aalso, you might look at the Pemko or NGP websites and find thresholds for just such applications.
What you need is an "Out Swing Door" a standard item in commercial buildings. Any good lumber Yard can order you a Residential Out Swing prehung unit. It would have different threshold profiles to meet your needs from carpet to tile to sheetgoods. Have used them many times as access to decks on the beach here on the Outer Banks "Hurricane Country"
Typcial prehung residential outswing door has interior of threshold flush with the interior jambs. Exterior edge of threshold is about an inch or so pround of the exterior sheathing. Note: you can't have a storm door if you go outswing.
Well, here's a nice outswing detail ...
Jeff
Andersen and Marvin (and others) sell single-leaf outswing "patio" doors, meaning that they are hinged full-lite doors. They have details that can be downloaded showing section cuts at head, jamb, and sill.
As an aside, the tradition for building in SE Florida, particularly in Metro-Dade county, is that all exterior doors, the entry, the pool house, service, etc., swing out.
Hurricanes? Maybe. But they get hurricanes as frequently in adjoining Broward county, and over on the west coast in Collier and Lee counties, and inswing doors are the norm in all those places.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Thanks, I did not think to look at Andersen's catalog. I have a copy on my shelf.
Be sure that you use secure hinges with pins that can't be pulled or that have a pin on one leaf that engages a hole in the other leaf to prevent thieves from pulling the door out even if they do pull the pins.
Client insisted on putting one in (out swing). Has regretted it since day one. Just not practicle unless you live in a place like So. Calif.. (no bugs). Rain, gotta keep it closed, Screens on the inside just don't work, bugs outside on screen at nite, gotta open the screen to close the door. Might look cool but think of YOUR application. Live with a slider.