What is door 'handing'?
‘Handing’ is the term used to describe the side of the door the hinges are on when the door is opening towards you (think of a refrigerator door). In Australia, if the hinges are on the left, it is a left handed door, and if they are on the right it is a right handed door. Australia's a confusing exception to the rule when it comes to 'handing' - in most other parts of the world it seems to be the other way around, and this is something you need to be aware of if you're ordering from overseas!
What is door swing direction?
Door swing direction is the term used to describe whether the door swings towards or away from you (inside our outside of the room or building) when standing on the secure side. If the door swings away from you, this is known as ‘normal swing’. If it swings away from you, it’s known as ‘reverse swing’.
Why is correct door handing and swing direction important?
It’s crucial that the handing and swing direction of a door is planned in advance and hung according to the plan. Getting the swing direction or the handing of a door wrong can result in a number of problems such as the door getting in the way of passage through it or damaging walls and paintwork from the door flying open. Since it’s not an easy thing to rehang a door to reverse the swing or handing, getting it right from the start will save you a lot of headaches and bother.
