French Doors. Open in or out?!

[R.O.S.S.I]

Just wondering which way you have your French doors opening at home?

Currently looking for some to fit in our new house and see a lot come that only open outward but then have come across some which are inward opening.

I'd prefer inward opening ones to be honest but just wondered if there was a given "right way" to have them opening and the reasons behind this or if its just personal preference!

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Just preference. Both my sets open outwards but they can fold right back on themselves so I don't lose any space ouside bar the thickness of the door.

 

[NickK]

Can you remove the hinge pins? If so then for security they should be not be accessible from the outside.

 

[R.O.S.S.I]

I was thinking inward opening was a bit more secure as the hinge would be on the outside like you said NickK if they opened outward.

Just curious as to what people think really.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Can you remove the hinge pins? If so then for security they should be not be accessible from the outside.

Yes but on mine the pins can only be removed with the door open.

 

[The_Abyss]

I prefer outwards myself - there's generally more space out there.

 

[bitslice]

I prefer outwards myself - there's generally more space out there.

That would be my reasoning too.

 

[StevenG]

I've got mine opening outwards, don't have the space to open inwards.

 

[NickK]

Yes but on mine the pins can only be removed with the door open.

A mate has a collapsing door that does something similar - the door mechanism is held inside the door when closed.

When we do the kitchen I want to change the door with the same collapsing mechanism.

 

[kaptainmarc]

I would go outwards if they are wet and you want to use them then all the water would dribble on your floor

 

[Gammawolf]

Not sure anyone's going to bother removing hinge pins with full height glass that be much more easily broken

 

[jkb]

I have just had two fitted and they both open outwards

 

[Haggisman]

Not sure anyone's going to bother removing hinge pins with full height glass that be much more easily broken

Pretty sure it's a lot quieter to pull out a couple of hinge pins than put through 6x4ft double glazed panel

 

[Adam]

My new ones open outwards and replace sliding doors. The new ones are infinitely better.

 

[TripleT]

Outwards definitely because of the space and also when they're wet they'd drip inside.

Also make sure they open all the way and fold back on themselves. My parents only open at right angles to the house and they're stupid!

 

[grimm]

Ours open outwards (they were fitted last year).

 

[Mark A]

Pretty sure it's a lot quieter to pull out a couple of hinge pins than put through 6x4ft double glazed panel

Nope. The pins are usually hard to remove on external hinges and would take a lot of time, effort and noise. A pane of toughened glass can be shattered in seconds without making much noise at all. Unless you use laminated glass, but most go for toughened.

I don't think i have ever fit French doors that open in.

 

[jasonmorris]

Outwards looks a lot nicer and makes the interior room fell bigger IMO.

 

[R.O.S.S.I]

Fair shout about the water dripping down off the door, hadnt considered that. Will also check that they can fold back on themselves!

In fact it makes much more sense to have them open outwards really. Makes my decision a lot easier to make!

 

[the_r_sole]

outward openers are much better in the weather too, the way they seal is much more effective - although I'm talking about west coast of scotland here so maybe you don't need that level of performance!
I would always spec outward opening if there is a choice