Why do outside doors open inward?

There are a couple reasons I can think of:
1. If they open outward you would knock visitors off the steps opening the door.
2. If snow piles up you wouldn't be able to open the door at all.
Building codes vary from state to state and even within the states. Check yours to see if it is allowed.

there is also more security with an inswing door.

...also, a door that's on the "inside" of the door frame is better protected from the elements.

A door that opens in has the hinge pins on the inside, preventing someone from the outside from removing them. Also, you may still want a storm/screen door installed so that you'll have some ventilation when you want it.

Ooh! I just saw a "This Old House" episode from Florida where they recommend outward opening entry doors so hurricane winds won't blow them in.

[This message has been edited by KosmicCarp (edited April 22, 2001).]

They make outswinging doors that have pins that cannot be removed now. I guess more and more people are considering outswinging doors for patios. I just ordered two sets. The rooms are too small to accommodate the inswing, but I still wanted the look of the French doors. My front doors will remain inswinging.

I have just purchased a new home and the back door opens out. The problem is the hinges are exposed to the outside and are removeable.
Please advise on how to secure this door.
And is there building codes on installing exterior doors with hinges that can be removed from the outside?

Inswing doors are more easily kicked in by a burglar so an outswing door will be more secure as long as the hinges are not removeable and/or the door has pins extending into the frame to prevent removal even if the hinges are removed. Outswing also offers better sealing from winds. Have heard of some communities that have codes not allowing outswing doors because they are so much more difficult for emergency responders to break down?

[This message has been edited by LDoyle (edited March 01, 2003).]

R Hunter - hi, while working in US government security, we used to see lots of outward opening doors with exposed hinges that needed the hinge pins secured. There's two ways to do this, and the solution you choose depends on whether or not you may need to remove the door easily.

First - you can spot-weld the top of the hinge pin to the hinge itself. You'll have to only do so in one spot, to allow the hinge pint to rotate with the hinge as the door opens/closes. Obviously, once you do this, you'd have to pull the entire hinge out from the door frame, or off the door, to remove the door in the future. One drawback to this is that a determined burglar could simply saw through the spot weld, given enough time and access. (For instance, if the home's not occupied full-time...)

Second - you can drill a hole through the hinge, into (but not through) the hinge pin, and insert a set screw. You'd open the door and mark the spot for drilling so that it can't be accessed while the door is closed. You'd drill the hole and you'd probably have to remove the hinge pin & set it in a vise to drill & tap the hole in the hinge pin. When you insert the set screw, you'd drive it in until it's flush with the surface of the hinge. That way, you should be able to open and close the door without scratching anything. It also won't damage the set screw head so you can extract it when you want to remove the door by removing the hinge pins.

We'd always recommend either of these treatments be done to the top and bottom hinges on a door. I'd think a good locksmith could do the set screw method for you if you don't have the tools (tap & die set) to take it on yourself. Also, you may want to find an old scrap hinge & pin to experiment with. I hope this helps you some - regards! Jim D/Heathsville, VA

http://www.screenex.com/
great screen for doors opening out
helen

so they are easy to kick in and rob you.

Before I worried about criminals with grinders, hammers, punches, and cutting torches, I would worry about a window being broken for access. Unless you have a windowless home, you are subject to an easy criminal break in. Just get the door you want.

I can't imagine First Responder preferences dictating door design. That would be like having totally waterproof interiors in case the roof ever leaked.
In my area some front doors are in-swing by tradition, but others, and nearly all exterior french doors are out-swing. I wouldn't want the first nosy bear strolling through the yard to lean against the patio door and push through into the kitchen.

Harder to break in when using interior hidden hinges.
A concealed door like Tectus eliminates hinge tampering.
Saves room space. Interior steps do not block doorway swing.
Ron Aumueller

Outward open doors are the worst for any security, including wind and elements! Ridiculous.

Doors opening out had exposed hinge pins and anyone wanting to break in just had to knock out the pins to get in. An inward door had the pins on the inside. Burglar proof hinges where more expensive when they finally became available.
High winds can catch an outward opening door and literally rip the door off it's hinges. An inward opening door doesn't have the same problem.

Great thread, had never really stop to think about this... interesting!

In searching for an answer to French doors that swing out, and the issue of security for the expose hinges, I came across these little jewels that solve the problem.

https://www.amazon.com/HINGEMATETM-DOOR-SECURITY-PINS-PACK/dp/B01HRPW5D0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508169987&sr=8-1&keywords=Door+Hinge+Pin+Lock

Like another poster said though, I think breaking out a glass pane would be simpler and much easier for an intruder/burglar.

Fred

Finnish doors open outward. With hinge pins you cannot knock out. And you can bet we have elements. On the other hand, cops don't need to be able to smash in doors in our country like in the U.S. ;-)

The way i see it, an outward door would be more air-tight and during a windy day, would be pushed into its seal vs away from the seal, relying only on the deadbolt or latch to keep it from opening. Kicking an inward swinging door open is a cinch. Its probably less secure than an outward swinging door with the proper hinges.My house is a split level, where you open the door and step right onto the landing and are faced with the choice of up or down. The landing it not big enough, really to accommodate an inward swing door, so my choice is based off of that.

can I make my garage man door open to outside my lifesyle garage screen tracks prevent door to open to inside

Use 3-4 inch screws on your hinge and strike plate to add security!

Opening outward with hidden hinges is FOR SURE the best security. Watch these cops! (spoiler alert the cops lose and the doors win!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET9SNXpeORY

Example They open inward so u don't get stuck inside during a snow storm but on most tv shows they always get this wrong like on travelers the front door opened outward because that was the only way they could do the seen they were doing

The back door of my brand new home opens outward, but I want to put in an additional screen door with a doggie door in it for my pet. Is it easy or hard to convert the existing outward swinging exterior door to an inward swinging door to allow me to put a storm door with a built-in doggie door on the outside of the door jamb instead?

A lot of this depends on where you live

It's not that difficult, it's just a door..
You can keep adjusting it and testing it until you get it exactly where you want then you put the screws in and make sure there's no daylight around the door

You be happy and put the door the way you want it to open that fits your lifestyle ...
Worried about security ,,
get a dog.. kidding, seriously then you need an alarm system

And even if the conditions aren't ideal you still get a good 10 years (or more) out of the door...
Then you just replace it again,

simple
Overthinking ruins everything

OMG where do some of you live? Beirut? who's coming to your house with power tools and welding equipment. they can break a window for god's sake. I’m more interested in weather protection. French door have terrible issues with leaking and rot. I want to know if in/out swing makes a difference for leaks.

No, a criminal cannot just break a window to get in because the windows are bulletproof Lexan or thick fiberglass. It is imperative that a home invader whether police or criminal cannot simply remove the hinges from your door with a grinder or cutting torch. It is also smart to have multiple deadbolts spaced at 2 inches on both sides of the door and use a reinforced material for the door such as a fire door.

As a person who lives in Norway, where 80% of home doors awing outside, and 100% of all doors in public buildings swing out, I can tell you a few things:

1. No one io_ve ever heard of was hit or hurt by a door swinging out. If a person stands near the door while it is being opened, then he moves back, as np one swings the door as to hurt the person outside, No persons on sidewalks or streets have been hurt either, reason being that person walking the streets dont cling to the walls while walking, people usually have a mat outside heir door, people do not casually walk on peoples mats.

2, Hinge problem was solved before 1940, I have not seen a house with outward doors where you can see the hinges from either side.
This is because that the hinges is inside the door frame, with angled irons connected to the door. A solution more than 150 years old, and standard for at least 80 years.

3. Snow problems? I live in Norway, never heard of. Someone blocking the door on the outside? Also unheard of.
Fire brigades use special tools that all braigades have to enter such a door.

4. Rain ingress? It is of course the her way around, inward swinging doors bring much more water inside than outwards swinging doors.

5.Doors swinging in the wind? Maybe a hundred years ago, todays doors have integrated stoppers.

An outward door is more secure, you can't kick the door out of it's frame, you get more room on the inside,

I have lived in countries where doors open inside, I find them all wanting on areas of simple convenience, such as leaves gathering during the night inthe recess between frame and door.

In heavy rain the wet door dripped on the floor inside when opened, in heavy wind the door moved much more than an outward door.

And taking the garbage out is much easier as you don't have to touch any handle, just your elbow on the handle (lever door handles)

Hidden hinges have been around for decades and most people would lean toward them if installing a door swinging out. The elements thing is just silly there as much exposure swinging in as swinging out if you have the proper awning for the area the home is built in. Which brings me to the next point the snow you should have an awning if you live where there is snow. The knocking the visitors off thing is silly too because who stands within the swing of a door and who the hell swings a door with that much emotion?

The truth is, so that you door can be broken down if you are a bad guy.

Agree. I have two out swinging French doors and an in swinging steel front door. I also have a home alarm that is monitored. My home was broken into in the middle of the day and they came through the in swing steal front door with a crowbar and damage the frame with the alarm blaring. Everything is a deterrent but nothing will stop them. My only drawback to an out-swing was that the doors did move slightly in wind and I have my window coverings on the doors which end up outside. For me the outswing doors don’t work because nothing is covered.I don’t live in a climate where I get snow or lots of rain. I still will replace my outs swinging with in swinging next time. But I do have enough room to my surprise after built. I think an outswing exterior is fine if it’s protected. Just my opinion and experience.

I have inward swing doors and living out in the country, every time I open the door at night all the tiny flying nats and bugs sitting on the door fly off and now are in the house! As for a burglar getting in...well my pigs have to eat!