Should this external door swing in or out?
After 25 years in my building my cheap Mastercraft front door has finally given out to rust and damage.
When I bought the home it was definitely someone's quick flip. This stock steel-clad insulated door was installed with an outward swing. It also had a cheap hydraulic surface closer drilled into the top, but this fell off in recent years and I didnt replace.
I regret that, since the wind takes the door and hits the porch railing, soon the railings were completely falling off. So I decided to replace the whole porch, which looks nice, but the builders banged up the Allside siding quite a bit on the door trim.
Ready to replace door and trim, but which swing?
So now I'm set out to replace the door, and replace the trim, but the only problem is, every door guy is telling me different swings are needed.
The outswing was probably originally chosen because this door opens into a small landing that leads to 2 apartments: one immediately to its right, and one up the stairs to the left.
The outswing lets renters move furniture in and out easily.
But it increases chances of it opening fully to damage new porch.
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Door opens directly to two apartments, staircase to the left towards 2nd apartment
Most contractors are telling me to change the swing inward.
But I do that, the door will open against the renters apartment door to the right (when facing front building) and will block their way in.
Alternatively, If I swing inward opening the other direction, it will block the staircase to the renter on the left.
One of the contractors says renters can easily take new doors off the hinges for their moves, but I wouldn't count on that.
If I change inswing, it will block apartment one.
If it swings in opening toward left it will block staircase up two Apartment 2
If it swings in opening toward left it will block staircase up two Apartment 2
Finally if I replace and I leave it as an outswing, the contractors are telling me they will not install any hardware to prevent it fri opening in the wind and damaging the porch. They say it's impossible to do that without voiding warranties, and not safe for the door type.
What would you do?
Posted Nov 14, 2025, 7:05 PM UTC