Asked on Jul 31, 2017

How do I change my gate to swing open out instead of in to my yard?

Kathy
by Kathy
My most beautiful hibiscus is growing right behind where my gate swings open and when it's in bloom, it gets mashed when the gate is opened. I would like to change it so that the gate swings out instead of in. Not sure where to start. Also, would this be the same process for a bedroom door?

  5 answers
  • Kym Kym on Jul 31, 2017

    Remove and reverse the hinges. When you remove them you can see where the hinge is facing, probably toward your hibiscus. Face the hinge so it's toward the outside of the gate and reinstall it. If you have a backstop piece of trim (doorjam) that the gate pushes up against when it's closed, remove it and place it on the other side, as well as any latches that need to be moved to an opposite side if you latch or lock the gate. A bedroom door is quite a bit more involved since the doorjam trim goes all the way around the door; it would have to be removed, the door placed on the other side of the frame and doorjam reinstalled. Plus the latch would have to be relocated. Also, there are fire codes involved. Check with your county's building codes before changing the bedroom doors in case they prohibit bedroom doors from opening out instead of in.

  • Danielle Odin Danielle Odin on Jul 31, 2017

    Just change the hinges.

  • BillieandRob Linhart BillieandRob Linhart on Jul 31, 2017

    Check out this article: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/change-way-bedroom-door-opens-29132.html

    I am thinking a door and gate would be similar enough it should work or swinging in a different direction like you need.

  • Bj Rutledge Bj Rutledge on Jul 31, 2017

    remove the brackets and latch. now rotate the brackets and latch front to back, like they are rolling away from you. This should switch the way it swings.

  • KattywhampusLOL KattywhampusLOL on Jul 31, 2017

    Hello Kathy ;) I'm pretty sure that the way a gate or door opens depends on which side the hinges are on, so I would believe that to make your gate swing out instead of in you need hinges on the OTHER side of your gate. I don't know if you have a metal gate or a wooden one, but I think it would be easier to do it on a wooden gate, although I may be wrong. I don't believe you need instructions for a heavy duty metal outside gate for entry into a driveway, but just in case I've got it covered LOL but this could apply also to a metal gate for a yard too (it might even apply to chnging out the hinges on a wooden gate, to some extent):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty7Al_cmN8A

    By the way, you may want to consider spring loaded hinges so the gate will close on its own (you don't want someone to open it and let it remain open to block the sidewalk or driveway .. or whatever your gate opens on to).

    Well, good luck and thanks for coming to Hometalk :)