Weird request

Weird request

Posted by: bazookaman

Date: September 25, 2019 12:57PM

We just finished the construction on our hurricane damaged attic and I started thinking. After the hurricane we added the door back to the stairs that go up to the attic. But the stairs end (or begin) right on the other side of the door. In other words, you open the door and you immediately step up. Which is fine going up. Coming down is a different story. Coming down you are on the 2nd step up and have to reach way down to grab the handle. Which is normal height for the opposite side. But the stair side is super low. So I'm trying to come up with some kind of ingenius way to put a handle higher up that "feels" more normal on the stair side that will turn the normal handle and open the door. I've probably really cocked up that explanation.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: deckeda

Date: September 25, 2019 01:02PM

Was it always that way?

I'd probably reinstall the door knob higher up, patch the hole in the door with one of those round plates for patching a door knob hole in a door, and make the corresponding necessary chisel/cut in the frame.

Unless you think little kids need attic access (they know it's haunted anyway, riiiight?) it shouldn't be a big deal to reach up at shoulder height for you to turn the knob when entering it.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: mrbigstuff

Date: September 25, 2019 01:08PM

I have that situation, too. Not a solution to move the knob, but perhaps if you install an ADA type handle (flat) then you can kludge a rope tie through an eyelet or similar to pull on.

Hurts like a bastid...

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: pinion

Date: September 25, 2019 01:17PM

Why do you want to make it easier for the ghosts and the creepy dolls to escape the attic?

---“What you permit, you promote. What you allow, you encourage. What you condone, you own.”

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: bazookaman

Date: September 25, 2019 01:17PM

I should have said I do NOT want to raise the door handle b/c I'd rather it be weird on the stair side vs the living side. Having a doorknob way up high on the hall side would be strange.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: bazookaman

Date: September 25, 2019 01:17PM

Quote
mrbigstuff
I have that situation, too. Not a solution to move the knob, but perhaps if you install an ADA type handle (flat) then you can kludge a rope tie through an eyelet or similar to pull on.

Ha. Thats kind of what I was thinking.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: neophyte

Date: September 25, 2019 01:39PM

Or perhaps 2 dowels about a foot long. Dip one end of each about 3-4 inches into liquid rubber, drain and let dry. Lay the dowels parallel, wrap a few rubber bands around the undipped ends (cut notches to hold the bands if required). Spread the dowels apart to form an upside-down V, place the open, dipped ends around the door knob, and secure the dowels above and below the knob with more rubber bands. Positioned vertically, the dowels shouldn't cause the knob to turn unless sideways pressure is applied, and less than a 45 degree lean should turn the knob enough to open the door.

Or use mrbigstuff's idea and use your knee to push the lever down.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: deckeda

Date: September 25, 2019 01:43PM

Quote
bazookaman
I should have said I do NOT want to raise the door handle b/c I'd rather it be weird on the stair side vs the living side. Having a doorknob way up high on the hall side would be strange.

Dude! Embrace the weird. Or chop off the bottom stairs and make a landing for behind the door. Because if it’s appearance, not functionality, that bothers you, whoever next buys the place is gonna see the stairs were made wrong where they meet the door and consider that far more egregious than one oddball doorknob.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: bazookaman

Date: September 25, 2019 01:55PM

Quote
deckeda

Quote
bazookaman
I should have said I do NOT want to raise the door handle b/c I'd rather it be weird on the stair side vs the living side. Having a doorknob way up high on the hall side would be strange.

Dude! Embrace the weird. Or chop off the bottom stairs and make a landing for behind the door. Because if it’s appearance, not functionality, that bothers you, whoever next buys the place is gonna see the stairs were made wrong where they meet the door and consider that far more egregious than one oddball doorknob.

The door in question is going to be painted Tardis Blue and have Police Box stenciled on it. I'm not worried about weird.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: GGD

Date: September 25, 2019 02:11PM

Quote
deckeda

Quote
bazookaman
I should have said I do NOT want to raise the door handle b/c I'd rather it be weird on the stair side vs the living side. Having a doorknob way up high on the hall side would be strange.

Dude! Embrace the weird. Or chop off the bottom stairs and make a landing for behind the door. Because if it’s appearance, not functionality, that bothers you, whoever next buys the place is gonna see the stairs were made wrong where they meet the door and consider that far more egregious than one oddball doorknob.

Or maybe something in between. Can the bottom step get cut in half so that the half closest to the knob is more like a small landing.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: cbelt3

Date: September 25, 2019 02:14PM

Small built in bookcase, and a horror book (Toys in the Attic) is the ouside latch. Add a sound generator for creaking noises.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: MikeF

Date: September 25, 2019 02:17PM

Switch the door from a conventional door to a bifold door (center open) to match the British police box aesthetic. You can just push the doors open from the attic side.

The real question is -- is there another way into the attic? If not, aren't you going in via the door so it would be open? Or do you have to close it behind you to prevent someone from escaping?

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: Mr Downtown

Date: September 25, 2019 02:32PM

That's my question as well. How often would the door be closed when someone is on the attic side of it?

You open the door, carry the boxes up, come back down, and close the door. (We all know no boxes ever leave an attic.)

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: Acer

Date: September 25, 2019 02:37PM

Quote
cbelt3
Small built in bookcase, and a horror book (Toys in the Attic) is the ouside latch. Add a sound generator for creaking noises.

"Put...the candle...back..."

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: Ombligo

Date: September 25, 2019 02:38PM

put a second dummy doorknob on the inside up where you want it - just on the inside, mounted to the door, just one handle nothing else. Then fit a large, tight, loop connecting both knobs (think innertube rubber band). When you turn the top handle, it should turn both via friction.

You could do the same basic concept with a sprocket in place of the main knob, then a crank handle at the height you want, connect the two with a bike chain. Turn one, and the other works.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: Filliam H. Muffman

Date: September 25, 2019 02:48PM

Mount a sonic screwdriver at a comfortable height on the stair side of the door and use sprockets & chain to link it to the lower door knob.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: bazookaman

Date: September 25, 2019 02:55PM

While these stairs go to an "attic". It is a finished attic. In that, it is drywalled, painted, and has a separate HVAC, but due to the ceiling height (and the not up to code stairs) cannot be considered "livable space". So it's conceivable that someone would go up there and stay for a period of time and close the door behind them.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: testcase

Date: September 25, 2019 02:57PM

Put a LEVER type handle on the stair side. Attach a cord, a rod (or whatever works) to said lever and have the other end go ah high as you need it. Then you can pull or push on the raised end and open the door.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: Rick-o

Date: September 25, 2019 02:58PM

Simple solution... Star Trek door!

*phitt* door opens automatically, closes behind you.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: 3d

Date: September 25, 2019 03:04PM

How about,,,
Dummy door handle + Hydraulic door closer.
Just pull / push on the door to open. Closes behind you automatically.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: artie67

Date: September 25, 2019 03:07PM

Here's what I would install. Remove the existing handle and remove the latch portion. Reinstall the handles as before.
Now you need a closet door ball catch. The kind with the ball unit screwing into a mounting plate. On the jam you replace the jam plate with new one included in the set.
Fitting you might need glue and toothpicks. Then adjust the ball unit for that just perfect push on the attic handle for success.
You put a shower grab bar on the upside vertically to close from above. A 32" one goes for about $20. It should work as a push bar to open on the way down.
[www.amazon.com]

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: bazookaman

Date: September 25, 2019 03:09PM

Quote
artie67
Here's what I would install. Remove the existing handle and remove the latch portion. Reinstall the handles as before.
Now you need a closet door ball catch. The kind with the ball unit screwing into a mounting plate. On the jam you replace the jam plate with new one included in the set.
Fitting you might need glue and toothpicks. Then adjust the ball unit for that just perfect push on the attic handle for success.
You put a shower grab bar on the upside vertically to close from above. A 32" one goes for about $20. It should work as a push bar to open on the way down.
[www.amazon.com]

I kind of like this idea.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: macphanatic

Date: September 25, 2019 03:12PM

Replace the inside handle with a gear. Use a series of gears to a new handle higher up.

Edit: or use two gears and a belt or chain.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/2019 03:12PM by macphanatic.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: $tevie

Date: September 25, 2019 03:34PM

No door knob. Pull handle on the outside, kick plate on the step side. Kick the door open.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: Acer

Date: September 25, 2019 03:55PM

I like using a lever knob on the inside. It is now a toe-operated door.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: Speedy

Date: September 25, 2019 05:46PM

Get one of those cylinders you see on screen doors to pull it closed. Don’t bother having a latch.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: RAMd®d

Date: September 25, 2019 06:36PM

Or chop off the bottom stairs and make a landing for behind the door.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest.

I'll have to get up earlier.

Nah, I'll just take my chances.

Anyway that would be what I'd do.

And years ago in another abode, I had a weird door knob that used a spring loaded ball that fit a detent in the jamb. the door could be pushed open or closed from one direction (it had a knob or handle on either side (for muscle symmetry and aesthetics, but needed a or handle to be opened and closed from the opposite direction.

Maybe it was a rim latch. I'll probably remember at about 0300hrs tonight.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: bazookaman

Date: September 25, 2019 08:16PM

Can't remove any stairs or that first step would be a double step up...or down.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/2019 08:20PM by bazookaman.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: deckeda

Date: September 25, 2019 08:37PM

Good point. Hadn’t considered that. Employ butler/servant to operate door via text msg or bell rung from attic that activates to where butler/servant hangs out. The cables that move the bell can be run anywhere.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: MindMeld

Date: September 26, 2019 05:34AM

Move the door out three feet from the last step down which would create a small landing. Of course I don't know whether that's possible because I don't know where the current door is situated.

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Re: Weird request

Posted by: Speedy

Date: September 27, 2019 08:16PM

Remove the door.

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