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Barn Door Installation

We want your entire experience, from choosing your new barn door to installing it, to be as hassle-free as possible. That is why we created this free barn door installation guide to provide you with instructions on how to install barn doors. Keep these instructions handy when your door arrives. You’ll have your new barn door installed and looking great in no time!

Table Of Contents

Product Specifications

Measuring For A New Barn Door

Finishing Your Door

Barn Door Assembly Instructions

Barn Door Installation Instructions

How To Avoid Common Mistakes When Installing A Barn Door

Find Barn Doors

 

Product Specifications

  • Knotty Alder Barn Doors

    Our Knotty Alder Barn Doors are perfect for any homeowner trying to achieve a rustic aesthetic. Made from solid wood, these doors can be custom-finished to look smooth or more like natural wood, depending on your preference.

    While these doors come in a variety of eye-catching styles, your choices may be limited by the size you need. Not every available pattern fits every size. A straightforward plank design fits most doorways and is able to accommodate openings between 24-60 inches wide and 48-96 inches tall. Upgrading to a Z, mid-rail, or 2-panel pattern gives you the option to go between 24-84 inches wide without changing the height requirements. Finally, our last four designs get a bit more complicated. A double X, double Z, double X 2-panel, or double Z 2-panel fit the same 24-84 inches wide as their earlier counterparts. However, the more elaborate patterns require them to be taller. These four designs are intended for doorways between 72-96 inches high.

  • Barncraft Iron Plank Doors

    Don’t worry—our Iron Plank Barn Doors are not solid panels of cold iron! These designs use the same wood as the knotty alder doors discussed above, but come with different finishing options. Iron plank doors are treated to resemble distressed wood for a more authentic barnyard look. The wood is then framed with black wrought iron to complement its weathered appearance. The individual boards that make up the door can run vertically or horizontally depending on your preference. And like our knotty alder doors, you can choose to buy these models pre-finished or unfinished.

    Fortunately, sizing for these door designs is very simple. Both horizontal and vertical designs can fit doorways between 24-60 inches wide and 48-96 inches tall. Just let us know what size you need!

  • Barncraft Birch Contemporary Doors

    Homes with a more modern aesthetic are the perfect setting for our contemporary line of barn doors. Made of tempered glass bordered with finished birch wood, these doors provide the barrier you need while allowing in some light. Don’t worry about losing privacy either. Your options for the glass itself include everything from a totally clear panel to patterns designed to obscure vision. You can even choose to forgo glass in favor of elegant metal patterns if you prefer.

    Our contemporary barn doors come in a variety of sizes. Each design can accommodate doorways between 2.5-4 feet wide and 6.6-8 feet high, allowing you to add an extra window in virtually any interior doorway.

  • Barncraft Mdf Doors

    MDF doors are made from MDF, or medium-density fiberboard, a material made of wood fibers bound together with resin. The resulting material is far sturdier than particle board and can even outperform plywood. It’s also very easy to mold. MDF’s versatility also allows our line of MDF doors to offer several more design options than our solid wood models. Whether you prefer a 2-panel style, triple X design, a built-in blackboard, or something else entirely, we can easily craft your ideal door! Each of our MDF designs also comes pre-primed in white.

    Our MDF doors run larger than other models, but the material’s versatile nature still allows for quite a few different sizes. These models can fit doorways between 32-48 inches wide and 80-96 inches high.

  • Hardware, Handles & Locks

    We offer a total of 8 barn door hardware kits, with 6 finished in black and 2 finished in stainless steel. (You can also color them yourself with metal-grade paint such as Rustoleum if you prefer.) Each kit contains the rollers, handles, and other equipment necessary to finish installing your door. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll receive in this kit.

    Our interior barn doors are mounted on handmade door rollers paired with nylon wheels for a smooth, quiet glide. Meanwhile, the wheels are attached to the door via metal mounts that come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match your door’s design. Exact dimensions and weight capabilities will vary depending on each door’s size and material. All you have to do is make sure the wheels are properly spaced.

    Pull handles aren’t necessarily essential for sliding barn doors, but they do add a nice touch of both appearance and convenience. Our door handles are made of hand-wrought iron or stainless steel and generally come packaged separately from the door to allow for proper finishing. Installation is easy—we provide all the screws you’ll need. Choose from a variety of handle designs ranging from curved Santa Fe styles to straight, sturdy Gila styles.

    Finally, depending on where you install your new barn door, it may require a lock. Our lock kits also come in either black or stainless steel and are designed to be mounted on the edge of the opening over which the rolling door slides. The locks consist of two metal plates that lie over each other when the door is unlocked. To lock the door, simply slide the moving metal plate into the slot on the lock plate mounted on the doorframe. This provides a degree of privacy while allowing the door to be unlocked again with ease.

 

Measuring For A New Barn Door

Your door needs to be as high as the door opening, while being slightly wider to ensure the whole opening is covered. To make sure these conditions are met, keep three things in mind as you measure: minimum width, minimum height, and minimum clearance.

For reference, the following are typical sliding barn door sizes (width and height):

  • 24” X 80”
  • 32” X 80”
  • 36” X 84”
  • 30” X 80”
  • 36” X 80”
  • 42” X 84”

Getting Started

Before you measure the door opening for your barn door, measure all the doorways, stairs, hallways that lead to the room where you’re going to install the door. This will let you know what size door you can easily get into the room you are planning on putting your new barn door in.

  • Measure The Door Width

    To measure minimum door width, measure the width of the inside frame opening and add 2 inches to each side for full coverage.

  • Measure The Door Height

    To measure minimum door height, measure from the floor to the top of the frame and subtract half an inch to allow for floor clearance.

  • Measure The Clearance

    For minimum door clearance, make sure the walls around your doorway have enough room. Barn doors require at least 6.5 inches between the top of the doorway and the ceiling. Meanwhile, make sure that there is enough empty wall space to accommodate the entire door when it is completely open.

 

Finishing Your Door

Most of our barn door models come pre-finished. However, if you choose to finish the door yourself, here’s what you can expect to do.

Once you receive your door, inspect it thoroughly for any potential flaws. Take note of any warping. If you see anything off, don’t attempt to fix the door yourself or install it anyway. Get in touch with Barndoorz to resolve the problem.

If the door passes your inspection, the next step is to ensure you can store it properly until you need it. Lay the door down flat in a clean, dry, room-temperature environment. Avoid exposing the door to direct sunlight. Leave the door here for at least one full day to give it time to adjust to the temperature and humidity of your local climate.

Once enough time has passed and your worksite is otherwise complete, you can begin the finishing process. Mount the door’s rolling hardware and hang the door long enough to ensure everything fits properly. Once you’ve double-checked, remove the door and hardware. Sand the entire door gently with 180-220 grit sandpaper, making sure to sand in the direction of the wood grain for a consistent finish. Wipe down the entire door with a soft, dry cloth to remove any dust.

Test the finishing on a small section of the door to make sure it looks correct. If it does, finish the entire door, making sure to fully coat each side with each layer of finishing. Allow each coat of finishing to dry completely before applying the next layer.

If you prefer to go straight to painting the door, the process is slightly different. You still need to store the door properly and sand it before treatment. However, rather than using a finish, you’ll use special paint. Paint the door with primer paint and a specialized finishing coat. Between each coat of paint, sand the door gently to smooth out any blemishes.

Barn Door Assembly Instructions

When your door arrives, you’ll have to assemble it before you can install it. Fortunately, this process is quite straightforward.

To assemble a 2-panel door:

  • 1Open the box and remove the styrofoam insert. Place the insert flat on a floor or table.

    2Remove the first door half from the box and take off the protective plastic wrapping. Lay the door half face up on the styrofoam.

    3Remove the second styrofoam insert and place it next to the first. Remove all other door parts and the middle connector piece from the box.

    4Place the connector piece into the recessed portion of the top door half, with the holes facing up. Make sure the holes in the connector piece line up with those in the door.

    5Mount the connector piece in place using the screws and Allan wrench provided.

    6Remove the second door half and place it on the second styrofoam insert, aligning it properly with the attached connector piece. Attach the two door halves together with the remaining screws.

    7Attach the rollers.

A single-panel door requires no assembly beyond attaching the rollers.

 

Barn Door Installation Instructions

You have picked out your new barn door, measured for it, assembled the door and now it’s installation time! Mounting the rollers and door hardware is a more involved process than bolting two halves of a door together. You’ll need a few additional tools for this job:

  • Drill
  • Speed square
  • Pencil
  • Clamps
  • Stud finder
  • Leveler

To assemble your door hardware and get your new door installed:

  • 1Keep the door laying flat on the styrofoam inserts.

    2Decide where to position the mounts that attach the nylon wheels to the door. You’ll want to keep each one about 3 inches from the door’s top corners.

    3Mark the location and screw holes of each mount on your door.

    4Using your stud finder, find the studs located above your doorframe. Mark where they are. This is where you’ll install the track. (If the studs don’t line up properly, install a support beam over the door.)

    5Line up your track on the wall till it matches with your stud placement and the doorframe. Use a leveler to make sure the track is straight and mark its location.

    6Drill the holes you marked into the wall.

    7Using the provided screws in your hardware kit, attach the track to the wall. Attach the provided stoppers at each end of the track.

    8Drill into your marked holes on the door. Using the provided screws, attach the wheel mounts.

    9Lift the door onto the track and carefully align the wheels. Lower the door onto the track and slide it back and forth to make sure it’s secure.

    10Allow the door to hang straight. Install the floor guides, if your model comes with them.

Your New Barn Door Is Installed

And with that, you’re done! Your new door is finished, assembled, and installed. Enjoy the new addition to your house!

How To Avoid Common Mistakes When Installing A Barn
Door

Level the Header Board & Rails

If your rail isn't level, you won't notice until you hang your barn door, but if it isn't and the door
shifts to one side when open, it will appear crooked and may slide out of position. The best
method to ensure you're drilling your header board and rails in the correct locations is to use a
level. When installing your barn door, it's best to use a laser level that can be mounted on the
wall. A small level will work, but working with a small level can make it more difficult.

Follow Instructions

One of the most common mistakes that homeowners make when installing a sliding barn door is
not following the instructions. It's easy to miss an important step in the process if you don't
follow the instructions. If you don't follow the instructions you may not be able to open and close
the door, you may have to fix issues with it sticking or coming off track and eventually you may
have to replace it.

Measure Correctly

This is critical. Make sure to measure everything correctly, including the door width, height, and
the passages you'll need to squeeze through on your approach to the room where you'll hang
your barn door. If you don't measure your door correctly you may end up having to cut your door
or make extra trips to the hardware store.

Prepare Ahead Of Time

Make sure you have everything you need before you start. Before you begin, double-check that
you have all of the tools, supplies, and door components needed. Although it is not as essential
as the other items on our list, it may be a real pain to discover you don't have the tool you need
or that you are missing a component while in the midst of installing your barn door. If you don't
prepare ahead of time, you may find yourself running around trying to gather items needed for
installation at the last minute which can make it difficult and frustrating compared to doing it as
planned.

 

Ready to find your new favorite door?

Search our full line of barn doors on BarnDoorz.com today!