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Anonymous
Anonymous asked in Home & GardenDecorating & Remodeling · 1 decade ago

Can a bedroom door be made to swing out of the room instead of into the room?

The house is old and the bedroom is small and the door hits the bed when it is opened. I was thinking I could make it swing out into the hallway leaving the hinges on the same side and the door knob on the same side but not sure how to proceed. It is old woodwork and don't want to damage it. Any advice?

Update:

The trim of the door jamb that stops the door is rounded on one side and flat on the other. I am thinking this would also have to be changed. How do you get that off without damage?

6 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    The best way to do this is to remove the trim. And take out the whole door assembly, jambs and all. Then just reinstall it facing the other direction. The hinges and doorknobs would be on the opposite sides from where they are now. If you only swapped the door without moving the jambs you will have to cut new mortices for the hinges and the strike plate. The existing mortices will be ugly scars in the wood.

  • 1 decade ago

    I had pretty much the same situation. I didn't want to bother with "flipping this & that" all around, ripping trim off. I bought a set of frameless doors, the total width of the door opening, flat hinges=3 for each door and attached to the outside moulding in order to swing into the hallway. Using the flat hinge plates ment not having to mortis the mouldings to set the original hinges. To secure the doors in the closed position a decortive Jewely box type hasp was used on both the inside & outside of the doors. Of course this is not a lockable/secuity type of closure. The original bedroom door was removed & placed flat onto 2 short file cabinets as a desk/work table. In the future all can be put back like new without a lot of fuss.

  • 1 decade ago

    Sadly enough this could be a big project. It is quite possible that removing and reinstalling the door on the other side will not work. The space from the door stop on the janb may not be wide enough to accomodate the door. Measure the door thickness and the available space, if there is enough room then you will only have to mortise for the hinges and switch the door.

    Source(s): General contractor.
  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Of course you can. Re hinge to the opposite side, Scarf repair the existing hinge positions reinstate the latch to suite timber block the void and make good and if need be divert the light switch to the opening side of the door. ( A new door would be more cosmetically sound)

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  • Hex92
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    You can do it. You would have to flip the door. Move the hinges on the door jam. Flip the knob around. You could fill spots where the old hinges were with wood putty and paint/stain the repaired spot.

    If you have the tools and have installed a door before it wouldn't be too difficult. I have been meaning to swap a door at my house too.

  • 1 decade ago

    The Hinges has to be UN-screwed and flip around Should not cause any noticeable damage May cause new holes.

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