After just experiencing two hurricanes I am wondering why residential outside doors are mounted to swing inward. I have 2 french doors and 3 regular exterior doors in my house and all swing inward except 1 set of french doors. The ONLY door that did NOT leak under heavy wind/rain was the outward swinging french door. The wind presses against the door and tightens the weather seals whereas the inward swinging doors tend to loosen the weather seals and leak. The only reason I can come with for the inward swinging doors is so screen doors can be mounted. Anybody have a better reason? I’m pretty sure that code requires all exterior commerical doors to swing outward.
Larry Hasiak
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I guess I figured it was so your guests didn't have to step back from the door (or be knocked down by it) when you answer their knock.
Also, it makes it easier to add a screen/storm door.
If you want a weather-proof door, you need one of those I saw on the weather side of some homes in Norway. The thing is rigged with safe-type latching -- two bolts on each side -- and lifts up off the threshold when unlatched. Damn near a submarine hatch, but it looks good -- really nice looking wood.
Years ago there was a model home produced in Florida that incorporated a lot of hurricane resistant features. Saw some paperwork but can't remember the location and haven't been able to find anything on the web.
One of these features was that the exterior doors opened outward. The rough opening for the doors was also lined with aluminum plates, screwed every 3" or so, that spread any load. An added point is that a outward opening door, particularly one in a heavily reinforced opening, is much harder to force in. A substantial security benefit.
Have you ever seen a safe that opens inward?
safe room doors open inward...
they gotta..
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