Which way for Residential door swing?

I have been a window & door salesperson for 10 years and there is only one answer to this question: It depends on who you are getting the doors from. Every manufacturer, prehang shop, dealer, contractor, remodeler, and handyman has their way of handing a door. A few methods I know of are listed below * Pulling the door toward you so you see the hinge knuckles and calling out the side the hinges are on, then specifying inswing or outswing * Pulling the door toward you so you see the hinge knuckles and calling out the side the handle is on, then specifying inswing or outswing * Standing outside, regardless of inswing or outswing door, and calling out the side the hinges are on, then specifying inswing or outswing * On Inswing doors - Stand Outside and call the hinge side / On Outswing doors - Stand Inside and call the hinge side * "Butt to Butt" method - standing with your back to the hinge butts, calling out the hand you reach with to grab the knob I am sure that there are other methods I have not heard of in addition to the ones above. Oh, and don't get started on Interior double doors with astragals, or most tricky of all - Commercial door handings (right hand reverse, left hand reverse, right hand, left hand). In my opinion, it is more than critical to ask the person you are purchasing from how they want you to call out the door swings! If in doubt, draw a picture - it really is worth at least a thousand Words in this industry. As a carpenter with over 20 years of door hanging experience I would like to add my ten cents worth... Taditionally doors were hung "to maintain the privacy of a room even when open." Ie, the door was hung opening inwards so you walked around it as you enterd the room. It seems to be common practice (especialy here in Australia) to hang doors the other way, this looks great in a display home, giving a feeling of opennes, but can be annoying to live with because when a you leave a door slightly open for ventilation others get a clear view into the room . Pat Figgis.