Adding man door to garage

[garrett1812]

I am purchasing a new home which I would like to add a man door to the garage.

Is it normal for the door to swing in or out?

The cement foundation around the garage is about 10-12" tall. Is it best to leave this intact and put the door on top of this, or should I cut this out to make moving lawn mower and such easier?

Anyone have good instructions for adding a door like this? I have found plenty about replacing doors, but not about adding a new door.

Any considerations anyone sees based on the pictures?

Thanks!

 

[brycez28]

Typically doors swing in. I guess the reasoning is so that you can't be trapped inside by something (or snow) blocking the door if it were to swing out.

 

[WarrenJ]

The one I had installed swings in.

 

[slk320]

normally seem to swing in. If it swings out you have the extra issue of the lock/latch pin being easily accessible from a security standpoint as well as hinge pins are accessible (can be addressed with security type hinge/pins).

 

[aka Larry]

It should swing inside, but for security reasons that makes no sense to me. You've kicked a door in before right? Have you ever tried to pull one out?

 

[hippie2cams]

I think there are rules that apply here. if no other way out of enclosed space the door must be installed to open out, that way you won't be blocked in if that makes sense. if there is another way out then door opens in

 

[Thumper68]

I wouldn't worry about code for which way it swings, I set mine up to open out with security hinges, I didn't want an in swinging door to take up space or block access to the shelving/coat rack.

In your case I would cut out the block 3 1/2 inches bigger than the door you choose, frame the opening and install the door. looks like you are well above grade so no issues with water working its way in.

 

[CamarosRus]

That hidden location will make it easy for a burglar to kick the door in..................

I would install door that swings out. What with you having garage door and access through home I cant believe there would be any real safety concerns

 

[Onewolf]

If you live in Florida then exterior doors are now required to swing out in order to make them more "windstorm" resistant.

 

[bmxdad]

I think there are rules that apply here. if no other way out of enclosed space the door must be installed to open out, that way you won't be blocked in if that makes sense. if there is another way out then door opens in

I wouldn't worry about code for which way it swings, I set mine up to open out with security hinges, I didn't want an in swinging door to take up space or block access to the shelving/coat rack.
...

These two say it all, IMO. My man door is the only one, so it opens out. Working garage door or slider does not count. I also don't want to worry about something being in the way, like a car, when opening the door.

Cutting through the stub wall might be a structural problem ... I'd ask the original contractor if available.

Good luck ...

 

[914wilhelm]

Whomever built the old pole barn on my property (that is being replaced, thank God) paid no attention to the prevailing wind when they installed the out-swinging door. I'm in a high wind area and the way the door opens its been wrenched out of my hand too many times to count. It also gets blown shut forcefully at times if I leave it open for ventilation when I'm in there. A door that swings in may be easier to kick, but once when the lock failed it made it easier to use a pry bay at the lockset to pop it open. Just some things to consider.

 

[garrett1812]

My thought was also to swing out, to give more storage space inside the garage.

 

[buddyboy]

if you're putting it on the wall next to that air intake and exhaust you might have issues, i know sometimes they are required to be a certain distance from windows and doors... how far not sure, i could be wrong.

depending on where you are from, doors customarily swing into the area or room you go into. but I've been places where the opposite is true. i do know that you don't want a door at the top of the stairs to swing in a way that knocks you down the steps lol

hopefully where ever you put the door there isn't a j-bolt holding the sill down.

 

[reader2580]

My garage is detached and the service door swings in. The service door and the garage door are the only ways in/out of the garage. I never really thought about which way the door should swing since they always seem to swing in.

Can you even easily get a prehung door that swings out? I only ever seem to see them set up to swing in.

 

[JCQuick]

If you live in Florida then exterior doors are now required to swing out in order to make them more "windstorm" resistant.

I didn't know that thanks for the info

My slow build I plan to have the door swing out. its going to be a metal door and I'll look into these security hinges I was just planning on a little spot weld

 

[sublime68charger]

if your in a non snow area swing out.

if you gonna have to deal with snow drifts and such swing the door in.

just my thoughts

 

[JamieK]

It looks like your pictures are of two different walls. But I don't think either one is really load bearing, so you shouldn't have any problems there. Just cut the doorway and frame it out as code requires. Take the vinyl siding down and you'll be able to cut it to reuse around the new door. Cutting through the footing may be a real challenge so if a couple of steps don't bother you, I'd leave it intact and put the door on top of it.

 

[Kaizen]

is that an exhaust or a radon vent? either way you need to check with code on openings near either. I know exhaust needs a couple feet which might be ok as its high.
second if that's ok get a normal off the shelf door that opens in. NO Windows on it. Make sure you have a deadbolt and a 2nd secure method like a 2x4 across it on the inside.
third to save yourself the trouble of cutting that concrete and rebar make a one or two step platform inside a couple feet deep to make getting stuff out easier. same on outside make like a small deck not just stairs. maybe some concrete block type steps. basically make a nice landing area.
strange they made that little area.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Unless you plan on putting that door on top of the foundation, which would look hokey, you'll need to cut through that concrete poured foundation.

That is not an easy job for a beginner.

You need to peel the vinyl siding,
frame for the new door,
cut out the opening,
cut the concrete,
place/plumb/level and fasten the door,
trim out the door and
cut and replace the siding.

Hiring that done is probably going to cost you $1500-1800, if not more.

 

[garrett1812]

That fan is for the radon mitigation system.

I am not too concerned about break ins, because it will have a sensor connected to the home security system. Good thought on drifting snow, though.

Can the wall and siding be cut at one time to saving taking it down and putting back up?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Can the wall and siding be cut at one time to saving taking it down and putting back up?

I wouldn't cut them both at the same time. A hack might do that but anybody that has a right sense of mind would pop the siding off before cutting. Removing that siding is not that hard of a job.. .. maybe 10-15 minutes pulling it and the nails. Since the contractor or DIYer would want to reuse it, you'll have to use a little care pulling it off.

 

[tcianci]

If you're not concerned about meeting any codes, swing the door any way you want, your local codes in fact, may not even address the issue. The security of a residential grade door and jamb assembly is total ****, so don't let the supposed security advantages of one over the other sway you.
While everyone wet's their pants over the hinges on an outswing door, it's almost universally addressed by the manufacturers by supplying the outswing units with security hinges. The weak spot is the latch/ striker area. You can typically pop one of these doors with a small crowbar in about the time it takes to open one with the key. But by looking at your pictures, the best way to outswing the door would be to install a left handed unit which will hit your radon mitigation ventilator unless you provide an additional stop but at least you're not setting the door up to totally leave the building in a strong wind. It's doubtful that snow would ever be an issue where you are located, so that's not a concern.

Someone posted about leaving the concrete "as long as you didn't mind a couple steps". There's not a code in the country that allows this. Swinging a door over a step is not permitted. Most municipalities require a landing, not more than one step down from the threshold that's as wide as the door and at least 3 feet in the direction of travel. So if you have an inswing, you need a big honkin landing inside the garage and a step to reach the landing if the elevation requires it. If you have an outswing, you need the landing on the outside of the building and steps as required for the interior.
Your best bet is to cut the stemwall wide enough for the door unit and the associated framing. This will eliminate any step inside the building and quite possibly put the threshold just one step up from the exterior.
Attempting to cut the siding and sheathing at once is a total waste of time because you still need to remove the remaining siding to attach the J channel around the door unit.

The correct approach would be to strip the siding, mark and cut the concrete down flush with the slab, (unless you have done this before, hire it out, cheap, fast and accurate) frame the opening and cut out the remaining sheathing.Then install your door and re-apply the siding.

 

[gjz30075]

So, what exactly is a security hinge? A quick check on the HD site shows
hinges with a nub on one plate and a hole to receive the nub on the other.
Is the idea that if the pin is removed, the plates still cannot be separated?

 

[larry4406]

Security hinges have non-removable pins (NRP). Otherwise with an outswing door you can pound out the pins and pull the door off the hinge to break in.

 

[G McKay]

Put in whatever you feel is comfortable for you. You can kick a door open or if it swings out, you can pry it open with a crow bar. So, it's six of one and a 1/2 dozen of another. Either way you can bar the door for security purposes. I have two doors in my kitchen. One swings in and the other swings out. A swing out door is always nice if you eat outside a lot and need to open the door when your hands are full.

 

[Fishplate]

You've kicked a door in before right? Have you ever tried to pull one out?

Halligan.

 

[bczygan]

If you swing out, and want to control what the door does in the wind, you will need to install a closer with a brake setting and a bumper on the wall where the doorknob would hit. A latch guard would also be good.

 

[tcianci]

So, what exactly is a security hinge? A quick check on the HD site shows
hinges with a nub on one plate and a hole to receive the nub on the other.
Is the idea that if the pin is removed, the plates still cannot be separated?

Yup!

 

[tcianci]

Hey I was just looking at the photographs again and since that little bump out is where the door is going, the elevations might work if you raise the floor in the whole bump out and make it 1 step up from the garage, an inswing door and add steps on the outside. What is the height from the floor to the top of the stemwall?

 

[bczygan]

Forgot to add, you must cut out the stem wall.

 

[Charlie51]

Swing the door in and put a storm door on the exterior. Then you can leave the main door open for ventilation and natural light without it swinging in the wind. The storm door will also keep the snow off of your main service door and prolong its life.

 

[tab2]

If it were me, I would put in a left swing door (Hinges on the left side, inswing) tight to the left side on the picture from the outside. I would leave the stemwall too, as I assume you have the necessary height. Don't make it harder than it is. Isn't this just so you don't have to use the OH door all the time? Just frame it in the right way and you will be fine. The internet will show you.

Removing all of the siding on that wall and then reinstalling once you trim out your door will yield the best results in my opinion.

 

[nadogail]

Ordinary hinges can frequently be converted to Security Hinges by tack welding the hinge pins in place.

 

[slickgt1]

It should swing inside, but for security reasons that makes no sense to me. You've kicked a door in before right? Have you ever tried to pull one out?

This. I made mine swing out. I have 2 other doors to use if this one breaks. No way would I want someone to kick my **** in.

 

[nolimits76]

When you frame for the door, be sure to go back in and add proper support. See picture below fore more information.

I'm assuming you want to store stuff in the cubby hole, so from a useability standpoint, I would swing the door out and to the left (against the vent). I personally wouldn't like swinging against the vent (hit, damage, etc). If you swing the opposite way, you will have an awkward swing/entry point.

If you don't plan on using the cubby space to store items, I would swing in towards the drywall.

All that said, I think a small roll up door may be the best option, if you are open to the idea. You could get a little wider than a normal door and might make moving things in/out of the door easier.

http://www.rollupdoorsdirect.com/

 

[nolimits76]

And I would definitely saw cut the stem wall. It won't be too terrible. Looks about like 12" max height, plus the width of your door.

You could rent a concrete saw, but honestly, if you know someone in the business I would try to work a deal as it looks easier than it is to actually do. Shouldn't take very long with the right tools.

 

[GTO]

Inswing....security first.

 

[unslow1]

I switched mine from swing in to swing out. I've had a couple hit the cars swinging in.

 

[nolimits76]

Funny the different view points. I have a total of (6) doors in my garage, (2) of them being overhead doors. The other (4) being man doors. One is a swing out to my hot water tank. Two of them swing into the house (entry to laundry & also entry to hallway) and the last swings into the garage and is located on an exterior wall.

Okay (7) really....counting the attic access ladder hatch, lol. Dang, that's quite a few now that I am counting. All pre-existing.

 

[LB-1911]

Pretty sure the OP has the job completed.

11-21-2015, 11:46 PM

I am having a prehung door installed, going from the garage to the back yard. Can I install the locks and levers, and paint the frame, before it gets installed, or should I leave that to the end.

Its dipped below freezing here, so painting outdoors could be some time off.

The hardware I dont have any reason to do now compared to later, except I have some free time.