New build - bathroom door opening

Tomek398 · 13-02-2023 5:00pm #1

This is new build, two storey 2 bed house. The first floor bathroom is tiny. Only 2x1.7m. Why do architects design such small bathroom with doors swinging inside? It looks like a stupid idea. Are there any regulations re: direction of door opening in bathroom in Ireland?

awec · 13-02-2023 6:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058284134/new-build-bathroom-door-opening

An outward opening door in that location would be a fire safety issue I think (someone collapsing against it in the landing wedging it shut). Having an outward opening door at the top of your stairs seems pretty silly even outside of fire.

Doors open into rooms, except where there's some disability access required (a lot of new builds, maybe all, will have a disabled access toilet on the ground floor with an outward swinging door).

Antipathetic · 13-02-2023 6:36pm

A good alternative to both of those options would be the option of a sliding door. It takes up minimal space and doesn't pose any fire safety risk. Although I'm not sure if you can get ones made out of wood rather than glass.

sprucemoose · 13-02-2023 6:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058284134/new-build-bathroom-door-opening

i dont really see the problem with that WC, especially for a 2 bed house (presuming there is an accessible WC downstairs too)

13-02-2023 7:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058284134/new-build-bathroom-door-opening

Small bathroom? Which of the bedroom or the landing would you take the space from to make it bigger?

Claw Hammer · 13-02-2023 7:05pm

If that door swung out it could knock someone backways down the stairs. making a bigger bathroom would take space from the bedroom. Most people want the space in the bedroom rather than the bathroom. Widening the bathroom would mean the door to the bedroom would hit the bed sop the bed would have to be moved. The designer did the best they could with the space available. Don't move into the house if you don't like it.

standardg60 · 13-02-2023 8:00pm

Not sure what you're planning to do in it OP but it's precisely the size of my bathroom and i've managed fine for 20 years.

On the other hand two of my sister's houses have bathrooms at least 4 times the size and look ridiculous. With any modicum of better design both could have easily have accommodated en-suites for the adjoining bedrooms.

sprucemoose · 13-02-2023 8:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120237337#Comment_120237337

a two-bed house doesnt really need 3 WCs most likely

standardg60 · 13-02-2023 8:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120237390#Comment_120237390

Sorry should have clarified, mine is two bed, theirs are four.

Tomek398 · 14-02-2023 11:48am

Thank you all for your comments.

Size of the rooms/bathrooms/kitchens etc is always very subjective topic. For myself, that first floor bathroom is very small and door swinging inwards limits the available space even more. I'd like to have it done that way:

I don't see any issue and conflicts with the stairs. I don't see any fire safety issues as well, but again, I'm not expert in local regulations.

Sliding doors is also very nice idea. I like those ones which are hidden inside the wall, but as far as I know they require substantial modifications.

Tomek398 · 14-02-2023 12:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120237337#Comment_120237337

This is not a joke! :-) I have to share my bathroom with my cat and need to put his cat litter tray somewhere.

Tomek398 · 14-02-2023 12:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120237148#Comment_120237148

from garden. The total width of the house is a problem.

cloughy · 14-02-2023 2:45pm

I'd look at pocket door if I were you, it goes into a cavity in the wall, not overly expensive in grand scheme of things, take up a bit more width for the wall it retracts into

Another option is a small bifold/concertina door so it folds back on itself do smaller opening

Tomek398 · 14-02-2023 2:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239693#Comment_120239693

I like the idea of pocket door. Just need to get more info about the cost etc. The house is still under construction but (as far as I know) developer is not flexible and will install the door according to initial specification.

JohnnyChimpo · 14-02-2023 3:17pm

Pocket door can affect where the light-switches end up being placed, etc. but if youre doing this during the construction phase everything is possible

timmyntc · 14-02-2023 3:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239878#Comment_120239878

assuming the bath itself doesnt actually span the full length of the bathroom wall, some of the space at bottom (as we look at it) side of bath could be used for pocket door cavity, & this wouldnt interfere with any utilities/light switches on other side of wall in hall.

The door would look a bit odd as it would be recessed from the wall a bit as you look from the hall, but would avoid OPs swinging door issue.

Still OP, even with a sliding door you would not have good space for a litter tray, it would be in the way of the sink toilet or bath depending on where you put it, regardless of door.

Tomek398 · 14-02-2023 4:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239961#Comment_120239961

Yes, you right. It will be very little space for a tray even with sliding doors but I need to find better solution than door swinging inwards.

Claw Hammer · 14-02-2023 6:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120238913#Comment_120238913

If someone is coming up the stairs and reaching the landing just as the dorr opens they could be knocked backways. The person opening the bathroom door may not be aware of them and neither will they know someone is about to leave the bathroom. Your house insurance may not cover you if you alter the door like that. Someone could end up in a wheelchair.

mickdw · 14-02-2023 6:21pm

Pocket door if you are early enough in the construction might add about 500 to cost.

Then again developer will probably take the piss.

Faith · 15-02-2023 11:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120240186#Comment_120240186

There's likely to be space under your stairs, could you put the tray in there? You could cut a cat flap into the door so it doesn't need to be left open.

RichardAnd · 15-02-2023 11:47am

It wouldn't be too difficult to alter the door to swing outwards. If you're handy, you could do it yourself, but it could be done by a handyman without costing too much.

Just don't hire someone like this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RdTNcTcoDGI

Claw Hammer · 15-02-2023 5:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120243115#Comment_120243115

It might not be difficult to do, but it would create a dangerous situation.

Tomek398 · 16-02-2023 8:27pm

I don't understand where you see that dangerous situation. I was living in the house (parent's house) where bathroom doors are swinging outwards and it has never created dangerous situations.

mickdw · 16-02-2023 9:04pm

A door opening out might pass regulation of its swing does not encroach on minimum landing area.

Given the layout of the stairs and toilet in this thread, I feel a door opening out could very well create a shock situation when someone just approaching the top of the stairs has a door opened out quickly into their face and could result in a missed step and fall.

I certainly wouldn't design a house with a door opening out so close to stairs.

17-02-2023 4:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120250232#Comment_120250232

Was said bathroom door at the top of a stairs / small landing?

Claw Hammer · 17-02-2023 6:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120250232#Comment_120250232

Look at the diagram above. Anyone coming up that stairs has to step as they alight on the landing. If someone arrives on the landing as the door is swinging outwards they will be struck by the door and knocked back towards the stairs.

Gumbo · 18-02-2023 10:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120238913#Comment_120238913

Cannot do that. Cannot and should not have a door opening into the escape stairs / route.

Gumbo · 18-02-2023 10:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239878#Comment_120239878

Should not be any light switches on the inside wall of a bathroom anyway. Biggest problem is that the developer will not sway because of regulation requirements and BCAR sign off.