Reducing the space needed for a door's swing

flogen

I've a small room downstairs that is being turned into a utility room and I want to be able to make as much use of the space as possible.

As it stands the door opens into the room - meaning about half of the floor-space needs to be kept clear. The obvious solution would be to switch the door to open outwards but as it opens into a narrow hallway we'd just be creating a new problem for ourselves.

So what are our options in terms of putting in a new door that's less intrusive? I was thinking either a sliding door or something that folds but I'm not sure which of those is most practical or easy to find/install.

It doesn't need to be particularly pretty - and I'd rather not spend a fortune on it - so anything besides some retro hanging beads would probably work fine for me!

Jamesgrace

flogen wrote:

So what are our options in terms of putting in a new door that's less intrusive? I was thinking either a sliding door or something that folds but I'm not sure which of those is most practical or easy to find/install.

A folding door ought to be easier than a sliding one, I'd say that's your best bet. If it doesn't need to match other doors in your house it wouldn't be difficult to make or,if you're not into that kind of thing, get made up for you.
A few sheets of t&g joined along a couple of horizontal boards close to the top and bottom with diagonal bracing make a perfectly adequate door-make two and hinge them together in the middle.
Bear in mind that a standard hinge will not fix very well to the side of a t&g board-get as thick a board as you can find and make sure the horizontal boards coincide with the current hinges on the door frame and you'll be fine.
A coat of paint,oil or varnish will prevent the timber from excessive movement when in place.

PhoenixParker

Two half doors? (opens in the middle)
No door?
A curtain?
If you're very handy, a pocket sliding door.

Calahonda52

electric roller shutter,as long as room is not a fire exit

mickdw

A pocket door would be good if the current layout allowed it.

flogen

PhoenixParker wrote: »

Two half doors? (opens in the middle)
No door?
A curtain?
If you're very handy, a pocket sliding door.

mickdw wrote: »

A pocket door would be good if the current layout allowed it.

Would love a pocket door but I think it would be well beyond my DIY skills at the moment... there's also electrics running in the wall that it would slide into so that would probably complicate things further.

(Will probably have no door on it for the moment so might end up just leaving it like that... Have also considered a curtain but think I'd rather avoid that!)

Jamesgrace wrote: »

A folding door ought to be easier than a sliding one, I'd say that's your best bet. If it doesn't need to match other doors in your house it wouldn't be difficult to make or,if you're not into that kind of thing, get made up for you.
A few sheets of t&g joined along a couple of horizontal boards close to the top and bottom with diagonal bracing make a perfectly adequate door-make two and hinge them together in the middle.
Bear in mind that a standard hinge will not fix very well to the side of a t&g board-get as thick a board as you can find and make sure the horizontal boards coincide with the current hinges on the door frame and you'll be fine.
A coat of paint,oil or varnish will prevent the timber from excessive movement when in place.

Thanks - sounds do-able!

Calahonda52 wrote: »

electric roller shutter,as long as room is not a fire exit

It faces the back door but the room itself isn't an exit... not sure I'd be too keen on a rolling shutter though

Hoagy

Maybe this one from Argos would do until you get something better?

antiskeptic

flogen wrote: »

Would love a pocket door but I think it would be well beyond my DIY skills at the moment... there's also electrics running in the wall that it would slide into so that would probably complicate things further.

(Will probably have no door on it for the moment so might end up just leaving it like that... Have also considered a curtain but think I'd rather avoid that!)



Thanks - sounds do-able!



It faces the back door but the room itself isn't an exit... not sure I'd be too keen on a rolling shutter though

If your current door is a solid one and hasn't a panel running the width, you can slice it down the middle and hinge the unhinged side. Half door both opening inwards or outwards.

Depending on the construction of the door, you might need to trim a half inch or so from the newly cut edge and run a batten up this trimmed back edge to hold the door structure together. I did it with a 4 panel pine door for my utility press.

flogen

Hoagy wrote: »

Maybe this one from Argos would do until you get something better?

Thanks - that could be just the job. Will have a look and see

phormium

I have these bifold doors in my sitting room, practically look the same as ordinary door but fold so take up very little space.

http://www.diy.com/departments/6-panel-primed-woodgrain-effect-internal-bi-fold-door-h1981mm-w762mm/26885_BQ.prd

The Argos one reminds me of when I was a child in the 60/70s, we had those concertina doors on both sides of the kitchen

Victor

If you have a washing machine, drier, etc. in the utility room, will noise be an issue? The would suggest going for a fairly solid hinged / folding door. Sealing a sliding door would be more difficult.

You could go for an outward swinging folding door, with the panel nearest the hinge only perhaps 150mm wide. It would mean the corridor wouldn't be completely obstructed.