The answer to the question, Can you make any door a sliding barn doors? is yes! Here are some tips and ideas to get you started. First, measure the opening in the room you plan to install the sliding door. Ideally, the door will be 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch taller than the opening, and at least four to five inches wider. Overlapping the doors will create more privacy.
Then, cut a 2 x 6 board about twice the length of the track. You can also use a 1x4 board. A 2x6 cut twice the length of the track will work as a header. Make sure the studs are spaced evenly on either side of the header. Make sure the header is positioned far enough from the wall so that the door frame is cleared.
A great DIYer shared a tutorial on how to build barn door hardware on her blog. Jaime at 4 Generations 1 Roof showed us how to hang a door with just $55 in hardware! This blog post includes high-quality pictures of the process. Besides the steps, the blog is also packed with helpful hints and illustrations. If you want to build your own sliding barn door, you can check out the KV line of hardware. You can find it at any major hardware distributor. Get in touch with PINKY Iron Doors for modern doors.
Lastly, take measurements of the opening before installing the door. Measure the opening and subtract two inches from the width and length. If you need to adjust the measurements of the boards, you can add extra scraps of wood. Once you've got the right measurements, attach the rails with construction adhesive or nails. Then, you're ready to install the sliding barn door. And it's a fun project!
Sign in to leave a comment.