Sliding Barn Doors

Be it interior or exterior sliding doors, they have been very popular with people who wish to have a neat and unique look for their barns. And why not when they add a classy vintage look to the overall architecture of a particular building. There are many materials in which you can build these doors. But it is advisable to buy heavy and strong materials when it comes to sliding doors. Also make sure that the material you choose is durable and can bear the weather changes. Given below are some of the benefits of sliding doors, take a look:

Advantages of Sliding Doors

Compared to swinging doors, sliding doors are advantageous when it comes to horse barns built for horses and other animals or general farm storage. Sliding doors are more feasible and dynamic than swinging doors. Handling livestock is much easier with sliding doors. You can keep the door open slightly for ventilation making sure that no animals escape from that gap. Unlike swinging doors, where animals can push the doors and come out. Apart from this, you can try various sliding barn door plans for better livestock management. You can go for a single large sliding door or can also try Dutch style barn doors in which you can keep the upper door open for ventilation and feeding, and close the lower door to lock the animals inside the barn. When you go for a large single sliding door you may built a window in the door to take a look inside the barn occasionally. If not, you may keep small horizontal swinging door above the sliding door for ventilation and light. There are many sliding door design you can choose as per your needs to build these doors.

How to Build Sliding Doors?

Given below are some of the steps that you need to follow to build the perfect and well finished sliding door for your barns:

Step #1: Purchase the Materials and Tools
First, you need to buy the following materials and tools:

• Boards
• Planks
• Saw
• Screws
• Metal Braces
• Power Drivers
• Hammer
• Nails

Step #2: Take the Measurements
Now, you need to take the measurements of the door frame that you wish to build. With the help of measuring tape get to know the width and length of the door frame and note it down on the piece of paper. You also need to consider the design of the door while taking the measurements.

Step #3: Cutting the Boards
Here, first you need to cut the board for the frame as per the measurements taken. You can use double or multiple stack wood beams depending on the weight and strength of the sliding barn door you require.

Step #4: Assembling the Frame
In order to assemble the door you will need galvanized screws, metal braces, and nails. A crossed cut brace can be installed in the center of the frame that provides more stability to the door. For larger doors you may require two frames to fit in two halves of the door.

Step #5: Planking the Door
Now you need to get started with planking. Cut the planks with the help of a saw to the height of the door and place it on the door frame properly. Fix the planks to the frame using screws, nails, adhesive, and wood glue.

Step #6: Mounting the Track and Wheels
Mounting the track is one of the important task when it comes to sliding doors as it makes the door sliding. With the help of a carpenter level, wood screws, and power driver, you need to mount the track on the top of the frame. You also need to mount the wheels at the bottom of the barn door.

Step #7: Mounting Wall Tracks
This is the final step of installing sliding barn doors. As per the measurements of the frame, install the similar length tracks on the barn walls where the barn walls retract.

These were the primary steps that will help you install the barn doors with ease. You can paint the door decoratively as per choice to enhance the beauty of the same. You many also paint your name on the door to give it an identity. So go ahead and build the best sliding barn door ever that will make your barn look the best as well!!!