A barn-style sliding door can either be a functional exterior covering for the large entrance to a barn or garage, or a sliding interior design statement bringing a traditionally rural element to an urban or suburban setting. One advantage of a barn-style door is that since it slides against the wall along the track, it remains out of the way when opened (like a pocket door but not requiring a cavity inside the wall). Exterior sliding barn doors have the advantage of not needing to be dug out of the snow to be opened in bad weather, but they can be heavy to slide. Typically, sliding barn doors are built much lighter than traditional doors, so they don't warp the track.
Typical costs:
Whether interior or exterior, sliding barn-style doors require a track and related hardware. Prices are based on the amount of weight the system can hold, size, basic durability, number of tracks (one door or two) and style (interior hardware is often more decorative). Plain, lightweight aluminum track systems (doors not included) start between $100 and $200 (holding 75-125 pounds) for all needed pieces, but more likely cost $300-$2,000 depending on materials, weight capacity and number of tracks. BarnDoorHardware.com sells a range of styles[1] of track systems for barn-style and industrial sliding doors.
Lightweight doors designed to slide on the track system cost about $100-$250 for standard-sized interior doors. For actual exterior barn doors or more of a barn-door effect indoors, it can cost $300-$700 for custom-order oversized doors with glass inserts and $500-$1,000 or more for all-wood models.
That brings total costs for track and door (without installation labor) to $200-$1,000 for a simple interior sliding barn door or $500-$2,500 or more for rugged exterior doors. In Washington, Uncle Howard's sells classic barn doors[2] (including hardware) for about $1,100-$1,400, plus shipping.
Installation can usually be accomplished in a few hours using a ladder, power drill and a carpenter's level. The process requires a couple of assistants to help lift the large door onto the installed track. Expect to pay a handyman from $100-$300 to do the installation, depending on local rates, tthe size of the barn doors and whether there are one or two doors. The price might be higher to have the doors installed by a carpenter in an urban area.
It's possible to build a sliding barn door for the cost of the lumber, but there's still the expense of buying the track system ($100-$2,000, depending on weight capacity, materials, size and style). DoItYourself.com provides instructions for building a sliding barn door[3] .
Sliding barn doors are hung on a rail and slide across an entryway in a manner similar to a pocket door, but the sliding door is visible on one side of the entryway. They can be the size of a standard interior door or large enough to cover the opening to a barn or garage. Sliding barn doors typically have heavier/sturdier hardware than pocket doors, to keep the door from swinging at the bottom. Renovation-Headquarters.com provides an overview of sliding barn door hardware[4] .
Sliding barn doors are relatively easy to install, and unlike pocket doors they do not require any wall demolition. The brackets holding the track to the wall need to be mounted to wall studs or ceiling joists. Sliding barn doors should not open across electrical outlets, windows, pictures or other items. DoItYourself.com lists the steps to install[5] doors on a standard pole barn.
There are a range of styles available. Examples of both interior and exterior uses of barn-style sliding doors are online at Remodelista.com[6] and Chic Coles Blog[7] .
Shopping for barn doors:
Manufacturers of sliding barn door hardware include Cannonball[8] , K.N. Crowder[9] and Crown Industrial[10] . Many building supply stores carry barn door hardware, as do websites such as BarnDepot.com[11] and Better Barns Hardware[12] .
Installation might be done by a carpenter or contractor as part of a larger remodeling project, or by a local handyman.
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