Can the door be rearranged to open differently without having to purchase a new patio door set?
Asked by Linda Bennett 
7 months ago
Last Updated: August 10, 2024
Hey, do you think it’s possible to switch this door around so that it opens in a different direction? I was thinking of swapping the door that currently opens with the one that doesn’t move? I’m kinda tight on money right now and can’t afford to buy a new patio door set.
My parents recently had this done by professionals and it cost around $15k. They installed a brand new French door.
If I were to do it cheaper, I’d worry about waterproofing. But honestly, I’m not very knowledgeable about doors 🤣
Wow, , $15,000 is impressive!
Hey, is that made of gold, ?
Wow. we have a similar situation but both doors swing open and we recently received an estimate for the entire setup to be redone, double doors with new framing and a fresh glass window above and it came out to 3k
I mentioned how crazy it was, but then again it cost $5k to switch out our sliding glass door sooo.. must be the norm in our neighborhood. We did get multiple offers though
They really hire just about anyone to set up windows and doors, the word “professionally” is thrown around too much these days.
Do you happen to know the number for ?
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If you were to turn ‘s door 180 degrees, wouldn’t the hinges end up on the outside? Is it possible for someone to remove the hinges and enter the house?
The handle on ‘s door seems like it would be too high.
How can Paula help?
Mentioned that they also manufacture NRP hinges for that specific purpose.
I don’t think this would work because the weather stripping and door stop would be on the wrong side, and the door wouldn’t operate correctly. The only way to make it work would be to turn the slab 180 degrees, cut new hinge mortises, fill existing ones, and make new bores for the lock set. It’s a complicated process, even for a professional like me.
Do you mind flipping the hinges?
Hey, learned a new word today: astragal. Here it is in a sentence: I don’t feel like I’m paid enough at work, so I astragal my assignments until 5.
Haha 😂
You should be barred from this group. Or at the very least, receive a 7-day suspension.
Disagrees. They are grooved into the door.
I totally agree. The astragal shouldn’t be placed on the side where the latch is. Also, it’s not contoured correctly for the door to open outward.
No kidding! This is the kind of thing you’d expect to see on DIY nightmares
They mean to turn it 180 degrees horizontally, not vertically. This would make the door open on the left side instead of the right.
I recently had to replace a single door that was installed by a DIY guy just as this article suggested. Discovered rotted subfloor and water-stained hardwood flooring. The threshold was sloping the wrong way. 🤦🏻 If you can’t afford it, don’t cut corners. I opted for an outswing door specifically designed for that purpose 😎
Strongly recommends purchasing doors that are designed to swing outward for better weather protection.
Believes that things are designed with a specific purpose in mind. Now, when it comes to interior doors, I’ve found ways to switch them up during budget-friendly rental renovations. But that’s a whole other story!
Nope, not possible. Sorry about that.
Yep, it can be done. It’s definitely a bit tricky and requires some patchwork and door hanging skills. You’ll have to fill in the old hinge and handle holes and drill new ones on the opposite side.
Since it’s an inswing door, having the hinges outside doesn’t seem right.
I actually have the exact same door, just the other way around like you want.
I’d classify that as a left-hand door with a sidelight.
I suppose a fixed twin door panel could be seen as a sidelight
Why did you put your door in backwards? Maybe consider flipping it upside down too! 😛
I was thinking of arranging the doors like this:
The astragal is not meant to be on the latch side. The door wouldn’t offer much security.
Perhaps I’m not quite getting your intention. I see the astragal as a board on the “active” door in a two-door set that goes into a single undivided opening, covering the space between the doors. I don’t foresee an issue with switching the door panels (where one is fixed). This means mortising the frame for the hinges, mortising the current hinge side for the strike, adding a stop if needed, and filling in the mortises at the current door location. I believe the current hinge post, now the strike post, will be adequately strong, especially with the fixed panel attached to it. Is there something you are noticing that I might have overlooked?
Let’s hang them on the opposite side and just switch the hinges and patch
You’re right on point,
I recently swapped out my door and installed a slider for the same reason. It wasn’t too hard, but it’s definitely a two-person job because the doors are heavy.
Before
After
The best approach is to stop fixating on it, forget about it, and let it be. It’s functioning properly without any leaks, and your money stays in your pocket.
Oh, , I completely agree with you
When you make the switch, you’ll also need to figure out what to do about the vertical blinds blocking the way.
Switch the right one to the left side, put the left one on the right, add a handle, fill any extra holes on the left one with wood filler, sand it down, and then paint it.
It is indeed a metal door. And wooden filler should not be used on knob holes. That’s poor advice.
Why do you believe it’s metal? There’s no need to fill the knob hole. It will stay in place.
I’m not just thinking, I’m certain. I’ve put in quite a few of those
If you’re asking about swapping the door panels’ positions so that the movable one is on the left and the fixed one is on the right, like you drew in a later post, I don’t see any issues with that. Creating new mortises for the hinges and strike is not too challenging. If you’re unsure about the process, consider checking out some YouTube tutorials and practicing on spare wood. It would be better to fill the old mortises with thin pieces of wood glued in place and a bit of putty around the edges, rather than filling the entire gap with putty. I believe the vertical blind can be reversed. Despite the concerns raised by others, I’m starting to question if I’m missing something, but I feel like many of the objections were based on a misunderstanding of your intentions.
Hey , she can switch them out but this door comes pre-assembled… The stationary panel is probably screwed in from both the top and bottom, and the threshold might not be sloped on that side.
Hey ! I didn’t know this was a pre-assembled unit. I would have expected some customization options, but it’s hard to say without more information.
Typically, door sets come prehung…you just need to specify the configuration
Installing a frame with a door panel must be quite a task. I’ve hung many doors before, but never with that particular setup.
Just like setting up a slider
Check out prehung French doors at Home Depot.
Replacing the entire door set would likely be more cost-effective and quicker. The amount of work and skill needed to make the modifications correctly can be quite extensive and costly.
I’ve done this plenty of times, where doors swing out to save space. It might require a bit of trim work since you’ll need to flip the doors and casing, but it’s manageable. Just remember to switch out the hinges with fixed ones and flip the low-E thermopane glazing and window frames.
If you’ve done this multiple times, , then you’ve definitely made plenty of mistakes.
Hey , the homeowners are aware of the problems, so what’s the holdup?
Hey , the issue arises when you knowingly install something incorrectly
That’s amateur hour…if water gets in over the door, it can cause more damage than you think…..if you’re okay with that then you’re cutting corners
You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve been fitting doors and windows for 35 years.
So you’ve been a novice for quite a while
There’s nothing more frustrating than an experienced beginner…I’ve been in this field for almost 40 years…when a door opens outwards, it doesn’t have the door frame lining up with the lock, making it easy to open with a butter knife
Installing a door backwards poses security and weather issues…no question
Once again, , you seem to be clueless 🙄
You clearly understand…the owners are aware of the issues so it’s fine…which means you allow the homeowners to guide you on how to do installations = you are not skilled
Haha , looks like your teenage immaturity is on display! 🤣
Hey , let’s try to avoid conflict. This discussion is about food, so let’s share knowledge respectfully. I initially thought it was impossible for a few reasons. My recommendation would be to remove and sell the door, then purchase the correct one. Another idea is to contact the manufacturer directly and inquire with them.
Your lack of expertise and guidance is truly impressive
Avoid having the door open outward… having the hinges on the outside exposes the top of the door to potential weather damage.
You have the option of getting a budget-friendly sliding door, or you could hire a carpenter to fix it for around $500. Keep in mind that the door would be hinged on the left side.
Can you show me a picture of the interior? What brand is it?
When doors are put in, there’s a sticker that specifically says “this side out” for a good reason… People who install the door the wrong way are the ones causing the need for the sticker, haha.
The hinges might not hold up if they’re exposed to the elements.
Try searching on Google or watching a YouTube tutorial… you might be able to try installing it upside down so that the door opens to the left.
Actually, you’re not allowed to do that.
It’s not advisable to install incorrectly. It would be wise to save up for new doors.
After removing the trim, inspect if the door is secured with nails or screws. If so, use a Sawzall to cut them. Proceed to measure and cut for the hinges. If it doesn’t work in one direction, try flipping the hinges. Create a setup where both doors open, one constantly and the other when the top and bottom locks are unlocked. Best of luck
My doors were actually installed with the hinges facing outward by mistake in 2016. Surprisingly, it hasn’t caused any major issues so far. The porch provides some cover, but I find it odd to see the threshold from the inside. Adjusting the door orientation is possible but it’s quite a challenging task. You’d have to carefully detach the trimwork on both sides, then deal with the screws holding the frame in place. After freeing it, you can reposition the door the right way and secure it again. Getting the installation level and properly aligned can be tricky, especially if there’s any damage or wood rot in the frame. Rebuilding the frame would be a complex DIY project for those without experience. And once the door is back in place, you’ll need to reattach the trim, paint, and caulk for a finished look.
Short and sweet response: Check out Craigslist or the Habitat ReStore nearby for a pre-owned door that fits your needs. Rebuilding the doors will end up costing you just as much and they won’t look great once you’re done.
Yes