Im replacing a 72″ window in my dining room with a door to get easier access to the adjoining deck. The dining room isnt huge so a standard in-swing hinged door would feel crowded, swinging close to the table.
Im therefore looking at sliders and hinged out-swing doors — my preference being the latter.
Any opinions on out-swing doors? Issues? I will of course order the saftey hinges. Are the thresholds simply the exterior aluminum ones, turned inwards?
Im all ears.
Thx
Pete
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Replies
Glad you asked that question. I am putting in 7, 6'0"x8'0" outswing patio doors across the back of a lake house I am building. Mine are by Windsor. The rep told me they are actually better than inswing since a blowing wind will close them tighter against the weatherstripping.
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A couple of things to thing about is if you want a storm door/screen door.
Also if you are in a windy area.
And if this door will be frequently used during bad weather. Snow on the ground blocking the door. And with rain the "inside" of the door getting wet.
My wife and I just spent some time at an old cottage that had been retrofitted with outswing french doors - also for floor space considerations. We're just about to begin building a new home, so I'm glad we had the opportunity to "live" with the outswings for a week. Based on the experience, we're going with sliders. In buggy areas, screens may be a problem. In this cottage, the builder had customized sliding screens - not bad, but not great either. The outswings chew-up outdoor space - not an issue on a grand terrace, but problematic in tight spaces. When closing up the space at night, I had to go outside to retrieve the doors from their fully opened position - again, not a big issue for me, but easier to simply slide the door closed. Yes, the doors hug the house tight when the winds blowing, but that's only if they're closed - if they're open, they can bang around. On the positive side, they look great and have an elegance that the sliders won't provide. Finally, I think apples-to-apples, the sliders are less expensive.
Hope my observations are helpful.
I always recomend against an outswinging door. There hard to screen, they take more weather and degrade faster,hinges rust ,etc. Go for a good slider.
I used outswing French doors (Andersen) and liked everything about them. They need to be held open somehow, because the wind can catch them.
The downfalls others mentioned, which are real, did not apply to me, because mine opened onto a screened porch, so rain, snow, and insects were not a problem.
Thats exactly my situation too: my door opens into a screened in porch, so no snow or rain issues.
Anyone know about the threshold/sill: is it the alumimun one you get with in swing doors, just turned inside? If so, can it be "capped" with say a piece of oak? Not real thrilled to see the aluminum in my dinning room.....
Most thresholds for inswing units are a different configuration from those that are outswing.
Ask to see a manufacterer's architectural details book of the doors you wish to buy, inswing and outswing. In the details for those specific doors there will be cross-sections of the doors/frames/thresholds that will delineate the differences.
Then you can determine the feasibility of concealing the exposed aluminum.
Websites often have similar details and a retailer may even have samples on hand.
...................Iron Helix
The Anderson door I used had a threshhold colored in the same Terratone (brown) color as the exterior of the door. I had a laminate floor. The floor surface and the body of the threshhold were just about even. There was a stop on the threshhold that was raised, but I never noticed it being a problem. It was in a house I don't live in anymore and I don't remember more details.
sounds to me like you have the perfect situation to choose whichever door situation you like best
to me aesthetically no brainer to 6' of open passage when open and 6' of beautiful wall / light when closed
if multi lites suit you go w/ beveled glass and you all will forever congratulate yourselves
the kolbe/kolbes, marvins and simpsons have all come stock w/ a hardwood threshold to the interior - red or white oak has been standard
what I would look for is maybe paying up to get all wood threshold or at least seeing the metal profile for outside to choose which would be most befitting for your situation
Fiberglass outswing french doors with S.S. hinges and PVC jambs. Doors with composit rails around all 4 edges as opposed to wood or the chaeapr one's with finger jointed rails. PVC brick molding also.
I sold doors and windows in my lumberyard business for many years, installed a few, serviced the problems, and have opinions about your situation.
The most common complaint about sliders and outswings is water intrusion. The manufactuerer's design and the on site weather conditions and methods of installation were the main factors contributing to water leaks.
Product design wise I preferred Andersen or Marvin sliders or outswings. My second choice would have been Caradco...but now a Jeld Wen product. After that the other less expensive choices had greater numbers of problems and leaks.
In the design of the house and it's exposure to local weather wind & rain patterns, I paid close attention to the potential problems of waterloading on either type of door. In many cases we would design in an overhang or porch to keep the door from experiencing direct water runoff.
As pointed out, screening is a problem with outswing, unless it opens into a three season room. Without that screened surround...ventilation is a concern and major expense.
In my own house and many others I have had a hand in designing/building, my personal preference is a Slider by Andersen or Marvin. Make sure, which ever brand you buy, that the local supplier has a good service rep that will promptly respond to troubleshoot any problems.
My available brand names are locally restricted....so there are other good window/door companies out there that may compare to my two choices.
Happy shopping.......................Chose Wisely
................Iron Helix