Hi folks-

In our house the basement floorplan is pretty open, with the exception that the stairs are basically right in the middle of everything - sort of a big island in the center of the whole basement. I'd like to put a door at the foot the the stairs to help reduce some of the sound making its way to the main level, but my wife doesn't want a door that sticks out in the way. So I'm wondering if there's a reasonable way to do a door that has a 270-degree sweep, so that most of the time when it's open its flush/parallel to the sides of the staircase, but can be closed as needed. Or maybe a door that opens 90 degrees and then the slides back on a track, almost like a pocket door (without the pocket)?

Thanks,
Sean

I'm not sure how much DIY you're up for, but I built 3 doors that lead into my theater that use ball bearing swivel castors for "hinges" - the type that are used to add to bulky objects to make them 'wheelable' and removed the wheels. In the absence of any framing constraints, these will do a complete 360 degree rotation. Each door has a castor in the corner at the top and bottom, with the door panel slotted in place of the wheel - I constructed the doors so that the majority of the castor assembly is hidden.

I needed to fabricate this custom type of pivot because I wanted to 'lose' the three doors - they now look just like the adjacent fabric covered panels that the rest of the theater is done in - I constructed the framing such that when the doors are closed, they are completely invisible - no visible exits!

They've been in constant use for over three years now - very robust and reliable. The ball bearing makes them amazingly smooth and easy to open/close.

two ways that I can think of:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC02887.jpg

Good luck finding that custom hinge.

Have you looked at swing clear hinges? I have seen 180 degree apps, but I think
similar hinges would open 270 if unobstructed.

http://www.thehardwarehut.com/catalog-product.php?p_ref=20202

Thanks guys, good ideas all around. Gotta mull this one over a bit.

-Sean

Not sure of your design but you could make that odd piece that hinges a piaster, then have it fit under a header and then put a matching piaster on the other side.

Not exactly like this picture, you need something you can mount hinges on. You might need to laminate two pieces together to get something thick enough.
http://www.wishihadthat.com/images/products/detail/d1506.jpg

Have the door slide up? Possible to a push button with an actuator or pulley system to raise and lower the door?

two ways that I can think of:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC02887.jpg

Good luck finding that custom hinge.


You may want to drive by and take a look a Sprinter Van....Don't laugh, but the rear doors open up till they are flat to the side walls of the van. You might be able to find the hinges off a used in a junkyard or order new ones. Just my .02:)