A: Outward-swinging doors make getting in and out easy, especially in emergencies. They're safer because they prevent being trapped after a fall. They don't take up shower space, but they do need room in the bathroom to open. While they might cause water to spill on the floor, they're simpler to clean and fix.
When planning your shower design, keep in mind that Building Code Requirement IRC P 2708.1 (2000 edition) states that all hinged shower doors must open outwards. Hinged shower doors that swing inwards only are not permitted by code. There are reasons this code is in place.
Inward-swinging shower doors could lead to safety and space problems. It's easier to walk in and out of showers with doors that swing out. Outward swinging doors are also easier to look after as you don't need to step inside to clean them.
A lot of times bathroom doors are installed to swing outward because the bathroom is quite small, and this orientation allows for more options when placing the fixtures in the bathroom. It also gives the illusion of the room being bigger.
Doorless showers offer several benefits that make them a smart choice for many homeowners. One of the main advantages of a doorless shower is its accessibility. With no threshold or glass barrier, these showers are easy to enter and exit, making them ideal for homeowners of all ages and mobility levels.
For starters, most low- and no-threshold showers have a shower pan that is slightly pitched toward the drain so that gravity will work its magic and simply pull the water down the drain so that it doesn't flow out onto the floor. Other walk-in showers have what is called a trench drain along the entrance.
Walk-in showers can increase home value and are particularly attractive to buyers looking for modern design and accessibility, offering a potential return of $1.71 for every dollar spent, while also presenting challenges, such as the risk of alienating buyers who prefer bathtubs.
Security is enhanced. A very high percentage of home invasions and burglaries begin with the intruder simply kicking in a door. That's virtually impossible when the door swings outward. Windows may still offer a relatively easy way to access a property, but outward-opening doors will certainly deter many intruders.
Well, to put it simply, despite not appearing in any building regulations, all bathroom doors should swing inwards. And there are a number of very good reasons for this, which we'll get on to shortly. As you go about your daily life, you shouldn't ever encounter outward-swinging toilet doors.
The biggest reason for bathroom stall doors being the height they are is safety. It is not an uncommon scenario for an elderly person to have trouble in an unfamiliar bathroom and end up with an injury. The stall doors enable you to see if someone is on the floor and in need of medical attention.
For a swing door to pass building code inspection, it must swing outward, and it must provide at least 22” wide access. Based on this requirement, it is possible to have the door blocked by the toilet, vanity, or anything else in the room, as long as there is still 22” to get through.
Cons of Sliding Shower Doors
The narrow entry width can make access slightly more challenging, especially for individuals with mobility issues. The door doesn't fully open, limiting the amount of space available to step in and out of the shower. Another drawback is the track maintenance.
Space-Saving Sliding Doors
Sliding shower doors, particularly those with a barn-door style, are growing in popularity. These doors are ideal for maximizing space in smaller bathrooms while offering a sleek and streamlined appearance.
For safety reasons, these doors often open outwards, to make it easier for big crowds of people to get out, which is particularly important in the event of an emergency.
Realistically, you could make an outwards or inwards-swinging shower door work for you. However, the outwards-swinging shower door certainly comes with more perks. It's safer, easier to operate, and often the most convenient choice.
Keeping your shower doors closed at all hours of the day locks in moist air and can lead to mold. After you shower, the interior space is at its wettest point. Try to keep the doors open for a half hour or so until the steam clears. If you have a fan in your bathroom, make sure to turn it on and let the air circulate.
The minimum size of a bathroom doors should be at least 32" wide. For 32" of clear width, the door width (from jamb to jamb) should be 34". Since 34" is not a standard door width, most designers spec a 36" door, which is not usually a special order.
If the door is opened at this time, the bacteria and odor in the bathroom will spread to every corner of the home, and the home environment will become more and more dirty! Therefore, it is recommended that when not in use, it is best to close the door and turn on the exhaust fan for ventilation.
In the feng shui world, water equates to wealth. And because water is so frequently flowing in bathrooms, that makes this a hot spot for chi. But an open bathroom door is similar to an open toilet lid—it gives good chi the opportunity to escape.
An out-swing door will keep your home protected from strong winds and flying debris that we see during a hurricane. The only thing stopping an in-swing door from being blown into your home is that little latch on the door that sits inside of the strike plate which is screwed into the jamb (door frame).
The front door usually opens outward, which is opposite of in Western houses. This is because Japanese people do not wear shoes in the house, they take off and line up their shoes at the entrance. If the door opens inward, the shoes will be in the way and could cause you to be not able to open the door.
One legend posits that a large group of people once died in a single fire, and thus it was decreed that doors should open outward to allow for easier escape. Another theory suggests that at one time lodgings in Scandinavia were very small, and thus space on the interior of the property was at a premium.
Risks of leaving a shower unused over time
If a shower is not used over a long period of time, this results in the formation of germs that can be harmful to health. Water stagnating in the pipes provides the ideal breeding ground for different kinds of bacteria.
Increasingly, homeowners are getting rid of their tubs for lavish, high-end showers. Small spaces and homes owned by millennials and kid-free adults are particularly more apt to agree with the bathtub becoming obsolete. They simply ditch the tub.
Though trends come and go, it's safe to say that replacing a tub with a walk-in shower modernizes the overall look of your space. Offers better accessibility and safety. Stepping into a tub-shower combo is awkward and the surface could be slippery.