Barn Doors For Beginners: Our Simple Planning & Installation Guide

Installing a barn door is a fantastic way to upgrade your home’s interior aesthetic appeal and its space-saving functionality - all while adding a touch of charm to your home. This guide will briefly walk you through planning, selecting the right materials and assembling/installing your barn door.

Planning Your Barn Door Installation

Choosing the Right Location:

When picking the best location for your new barn door there are a few things to consider in order to reach the perfect balance between aesthetic appeal and functionality. Barn doors are popular for bedrooms, spare rooms, laundry rooms, dressers and storage spaces due to the fact that these doors are wonderful at saving space. Considering that barn doors slide on a rail instead of opening in an arched swing, they are ideal for areas that would become cramped with a wide, swinging door.

Barn doors are a fantastic option for those who want to create seamless transitions between rooms or those who need to conserve space, such as people in urban homes with a compact design or storage/utility spaces. Barn doors add a touch of rustic charm to your space while keeping your space open and neat. The absolute most important thing to consider above all else is whether you have the wall space for a barn door to slide open completely.

Do you Have The Wall Space For A Barn Door?

Before you jump into picking out your door and installing it, let’s make sure that you have the sufficient wall space for a barn door with the following 4 simple steps:

1. Measure the Opening - start by measuring the width of your door opening (the opening that your barn door will be covering). Traditionally, your barn door will have to be at least 50mm wider than your opening on both sides (this is about 2 inches on each side). This is to ensure full coverage of the opening while resulting in visual balance and a more aesthetically pleasing end result.
   
   
2. Calculate the Wall Space You Need - It is crucial to have enough space on your rail for the full width of your door plus any and all hardware (bumpers, anti jump discs etc.). This additional hardware can take up between 50mm and 100mm and sometimes more in some cases. To calculate the wall space required we thus need enough space for the entire door (opening width + 100mm or more if you need a larger door) and any additional hardware you may need or want (at least 50mm to 100mm). We highly recommend you speak to a professional to figure out what hardware you will need and the width of said hardware.
   
   
3. Double Check for Obstacles - Ensure that there are no light fixtures, switches or outlets along the wall where your door will be opening. It’s important that the rail is mounted on a flat surface with no interruption. It is possible to mount your barn door in such a way that it moves over certain types of light switches and outlets, however this can very easily result in an unintended or undesired finished look as barn doors are traditionally no more than 10mm to 15mm from the wall.
   
   
4. Ceiling Height and Header Installation - The final step is to ensure that your ceiling height allows for enough space to install your barn door rail. Generally you would need around 150mm to 200mm above your door opening to account for your railing and hardware, however, the exact space needed in your specific circumstance varies based on the door you want and any additional hardware that you may need. Most homes will accommodate the height needed for barn doors, but we suggest you consult with a professional to be sure. If your wall studs do not align with track placement, you are going to need to install a barn door header board.
   
   

Selecting the Door Style and Material:

Selecting the right barn door is quite straightforward, especially since these are commonly interior doors. This means that you rarely need to worry about durability and resistance against the elements, unless the inside of your home is extremely humid or has extreme temperature fluctuations. That being said, we always recommend opting for something high quality, with good durability and resistance. This will ensure that your internal doors remain pristine and last much longer. Popular wood options in South Africa include Pine, Meranti and Saligna. Which one is best for you mostly depends on your personal style preferences and your budget - just remember to ensure that you select the right size for your opening. We recommend you consult with a professional so that they can help you pick the best style and the best price for your project.

Preparation & installation

What You Will Need to Install Your Barn Door

Tools:

• Tape Measure
• Level
• Stud Finder (if applicable)
• Drill & Drill Bits
• Pencil
• Wrench Set

Material:

• Barn Door Kit (Door, Track, Rollers, Mounting Hardware and Floor Guide)
• Screws (ensure screws are correct for your wall’s material) and Wall Anchors
• Mounting Board (if necessary)
  
  

Assembling the Door:

Assembling your barn door should be a simple and straightforward process, seeing that with high-quality kits you get all the hardware you need, including tracks, rollers, and mounting components. If you’re interested in quality barn door kits, please check out our range of gorgeous wooden barn doors today. Your kit should come with detailed instructions, but here’s a brief overview of what to expect:

1. Prepare Your Space & Unpack Your Kit: You will need to clear a large flat area to lay out all components, tools and materials that you’ll need during the assembly. After this you can unpack your barn door kit to ensure you have everything you need.
   
   
2. Install the Rollers: Install your rollers on the top of your door. Ensure these are attached properly as they will have to carry the full weight of your barn door.
   
   
3. Install Your Header Board (If Necessary): If you have drywall or some other type of wall that won’t be able to support a barn door and your wall studs don’t line up with where you need to install your track hardware you will need to install a header board. You can then install your track to the board just installed.
   
   
4. Mount the Track: Measure and mark the placement of your track above the door opening. Remember to use your level to ensure that track is straight before drilling your holes. Drill your holes and install your track and wall anchors.
   
   
5. Hang Your Barn Door: Lift your door and hook the rollers on the track you just installed. This step may require you to get assistance. Once the door is hooked securely, slide it up and down the track slowly to ensure that it opens and closes smoothly.
   
   
6. Install the Floor Guide & Final Tests: Install your floor guide on the floor to ensure the door can’t swing out and that it slides smoothly. Ensure that the floor guide aligns properly with the track for optimal functionality and that it looks good. Again, after this is done, slide the door up and down the track slowly to ensure smooth operation. Tighten any loose screws and ensure all components are secured properly.
   
   

Again, your door should come with detailed steps, but if they don’t and you feel you need more assistance or information than we’ve provided above, please don’t hesitate to contact us for some expert advice or professional help. Maintenance and long term care for interior barn doors are simple and straightforward as they can be taken care of like any other wooden door. Just keep them dry, clean and reapply your chosen finish as needed, the only difference with barn doors is that you need to clean the track and other additional hardware every now and then so that it continues to function smoothly.

In sum, installing a barn door is a great way to improve your home’s interior in terms of style, space and functionality. With the right planning and the right door you will transform your home into a space filled with charm and character. Remember to measure accurately and don’t hesitate to ask for professional help if you’re unsure. Feel free to browse our range of stunning barn doors. Alternatively, if you want more blog about maintenance, home improvement, doors or windows, please have a look at our other expert blogs and guides.