The sliding barn door is simply a minimalistic and space-saving option for any home. Fortunately, that is the reason for its increasing popularity. With a very straightforward installation and easy setup, there is no reason for which you wouldn’t prefer one of these doors at your home.
Barn doors are wide and cover a wide-open space. So, you must take assistance because it can get quite heavy. Luckily, there is always top-notch professional help like – Serrurier Seraing and Serrurier Charleroi are ready for your call 24/7.
How to install sliding barn doors?
Hardware Requirements
- Speed square (Carpenter’s marking tool)
- Clamps
- Drill Machine
- Drill Bit 3/8″ – ½”
- Measuring Tape
Step 1 – Measure the Door Space
An ideal barn door should cover the doorway completely while also covering 1-2 inches extra from the sides and 1 inch from the top.
Measure and mark the position of the doorstop because the door should slide on the rail before it’s mounted on the wall. The doorstop is there to ensure the door does not slide off the rails.
A sliding barn door works best when there’s enough space adjacent to the doorway for the sliding door to open and close completely.
Barn doors are wide enough to cover a good open space on the wall so, and they are larger than the average door, weigh more too, which makes them difficult to maneuver. So, it’ll be best if you consider some assistance throughout the installation process.
Step 2 – Attach the Mounting Board and the Metal Track
To secure and add support for the mounting board, take a 1″ x 4″ thick pressure treated wood and use it to support your door track. The door’s rail system must be installed onto a good solid and extended headcase for proper support. There are other ways in which you can do it. Such as – surface mounting it into a structural board.
The track should be cut according to your preferred length. Ideally, it should be twice the length of the barn door. Next, attach the metal track onto the mounting board or the wall to support the heavy door’s weight.
Step 3 – Drill the Wall for the Hardware Equipment
If you have purchased a barn door kit, it should come with a template for assembling the door. Before putting it on, locate, and mark the holes that you need to align with the door hardware.
Usually, most doors have pre-drilled holes, and all you have to do is put on the peripherals and lock them with screws. Also, make sure that the holes are level and check them using a level checker.
Step 4 – Attach the Rail to the Wall
To attach the rail to the wall, take the flanges and the screws provided with the barn door kit. The installation process for this part is given pictorially in the manual. Make sure to follow that for the correct installation.
Step 5 – Install the Door Peripherals
The door kit usually comes with predrilled holes and is ready for placing the screws and flanges in its rightful place. Read the manual thoroughly to check the distribution of the peripheral hardware and the single load-bearing support location on the door.
Step 6 – Add Jump-Proof Door Guards
The jump-proof door guards should prevent the door from being displaced from its track. Also, having a door guard ensures that the door slides smoothly on the track. Position them in such a way that they are right on the edge of the door.
Step 7 – Hang the Door in Its Place
With everything done, it’s time to install the last few pieces of the hardware. The door should be pretty heavy at this point, which makes it a two-person job. Once that’s done, you should test the door to check if it slides smoothly along the channel.
Step 8 – Install the Floor Guide for Safety
The last part of the installation is done by placing the floor guide. To make one, you need to measure the thickness of the door while leaving 1 cm on either side of the door opening.
Mark the measurements and use a level checker to check if the lines are parallel to the wall. Now, take the floor rails and arrange them in a way so that they face each other.
While doing this, make sure to keep a 1mm clearance from each of the marks made prior to the installation. Remove the guides and drill on the screw holes needed to attach the floor anchors provided in the kit.
Finally, put the guides back in its place and screw it onto the floor. Use the manual for a better understanding of pictures.
Conclusion
The most comprehensive way to understand how to understand sliding barn doors differs from each person. Most people like visual demonstration like videos and pictures. But, if you’re down on time and willing to do one yourself just call Serrurier Seraing and Serrurier Charleroi professionals and have them do it for you in no time.