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View Full Version : Changing interior door from inswing to outswing


EmmaSurf
Jul 20, 2012, 12:07 PM
So I carefully drew out all my doors and bought everything right; but then I saw a door that would fit a pantry and bought it w/o my drawings - so NEVER do that cause your memory will fool you! I'm hoping I can salvage the door to reuse it.

Since it's interior I don't have to worry about locks, security around hinge pin access or weather issues, and I don't care if it ends up RH or LH since it's basically a closet door. It's prehung and if I put it in as outswing now, it will work with the hinge pins showing on the outside. With trim that might not be as big a deal as I'm making it in my head; however, it is at the beginning of a hall and it would be better if it was more flush with the wall.

My ideas are: 1) quit being anal and live with the mistake - hinge pins are not the end of the world; 2) take the door off the frame, take the hinges off the frame; putty the holes on the frame and chisel out more on the opposite side, rehang the door; 3) chuck it and buy another properly hung door (which is ecologically and financially irresponsible but I guess I can plant some trees to make up for it.)

I'm hoping there is another option 4 that I haven't thought about that would be quicker and less chiseling! And I will stay away from the sale area in Lowe's unless I'm prepared - lesson learned.

Thanks!

Emma

creahands
Jul 20, 2012, 02:26 PM
Hi Emma

Welcome to AMHD.

Unless the door swinging out into area u are standing in is causing a walking problem, there is nothing wrong with it.

Usually the only closets/pantry with swing into closet are walk ins. By swinging in u loss a lot of storage space.

Once door is hung and trimmed u will hardly see the hinges.

Chuck

hkstroud
Jul 20, 2012, 06:21 PM
So your problem is that the hinges show from the hall, correct? Will the door open into the closet satisfactorily?

ma0641
Jul 21, 2012, 05:13 AM
In my house, all of the smaller closets have out swing doors and the hinges are on the outside. I just rehung a door for a client since the inswing door onto the laundry room hit the washer. I see nothing wrong with you door being out swing.