How to flip a room door the other way!

[Devoted1]

Hey guys, i'll try to explain this as best i could. a regular room has a door that open inwards. im trying to figure out a way to open it outwards. it would give me more space inside the room to walk around etc. i need ideas. i dont want to take out the door and put up a tarp with a zipper. i want it to be air tight.

ive thought of taking out the door and flipping it on the opposite side but that meant that i would have to make a new hole on the other side to close the door with. i am willing to do this if someone can explain (hopefully with pictures) how i can go about doing this, which tool would i need etc. thanks everyone!

 

[Mr Blah]

If you have access to the jam of the door remove the whole door and jam and turn it around.
If not you will have to take the hinges off and chisel new area on the other side to accept the hinge and drill a new hole for the handle.

 

[Devoted1]

thanks for the input blah. im not good with the chisel haha. there has to be a way, i just cant think of it lol. it feels like its at the back of my mind though. arghh

 

[VagPuncher]

Walk through backwards.

 

[drsmoke69]

home depot has pre-hung doors for like $60 - $80, left or right swing, if that's just easier. simple to install, door trim is already cut and ready to go.

 

[Devoted1]

vagpuncher - i already did that... hahah

 

[Devoted1]

oh yeah i know they got those at HD, im not building a room just trying to flip a room door thats already installed outwards.

 

[drsmoke69]

ok then if a chisel ain't an option, first carefully remove door and then the door trim all the way around door on both sides. now u should see the sides of the door jam which will expose where the jam has been shimmed to the wall stud. still with me, puff puff pass man. use a pry bar to separate the entire door jam in one piece if possible from the opening in the wall, use a sawzall if necessary to cut nails, hacksaw will work. now hopefully your holding the complete door jam in your hands (2 sides and top header). now turn the door jam around or flip it to witch ever way u want the door to open and nail it back in with wood shims. start by securing the hinge side first. plum it shim it nail it. then hang your door back up on the hinges moving the rest of the jam up outta the way so it can close. now just shim and nail the top and latch side, checking that the door opens and closes repeatedly. nail door trim back up and your almost done. remember caulk and paint will make it what it ain't, or you could practice your chisel skills. good luck

 

[azad]

I just remove doors and put a thin 6-8mm board up,held on using Velcro strips along the sides.

 

[Devoted1]

drsmoke - that is a great idea. thank you sir! thats very do-able without having to chisel!!!!

 

[Devoted1]

i have another question for you drsmoke. after doing that, what if the bottom of the door is not leveled? how do i go about making the bottom door sealed flush with the door closing?

 

[Devoted1]

i just found it i think, its called a door sweep lol

 

[drsmoke69]

devoted1 door sweep will work, or u cut the bottom of your door at an angle so that when it is closed the distance between the floor and door is equal on both sides, then u might be able to put a threshold under door to seal everything up. the sweep idea seems easier. good luck

 

[medicalmj]

home depot has pre-hung doors for like $60 - $80, left or right swing, if that's just easier. simple to install, door trim is already cut and ready to go.

Yeah, chiseling sucks! I found a door at the local habitat for humanity for $10. If you don't care about color or style you can get a pretty solid door for cheap. You will need to take the trim off around the door though to get the frame out.

 

[the gnome]

if looks aren't an issue there's a few ways to do it in 15minutes or less.
you can pull the door off w/hinges mounted on the door
reverse it, set it, and screw the hinges to the the wall instead of the jamb.
another way is this
many times you don't need to chisel the jamb if there's enuff space between the door-n-jamb
again pull it off, reverse it and screw to the jamb without chiseling.
if the door is too tite and hits the jamb, trim a bit off the door on the hinge side
OR
the side jambs have a space between the framed wall,
get a hammer and block of wood and hit it on the side jamb till you get the desired space, caulk where the side jamb separated from the top sill, 1/8"-1/4" is all you need.