Installing a barn door adds rustic character and privacy to an existing doorway, without being difficult or time-consuming to complete! In just a few hours you could have your perfect entrance!
Before hanging a wallboard on the wallboard, first verify there are wall studs behind your wallboard using an electronic stud finder and install a supporting board measuring the length of track mounting holes.
Measure the Door
Before purchasing new doors, take measurements of your current door opening’s width in several places and take the smallest measurement as your desired door width.
If there is a door frame, take measurements from either inside (ie within trim pieces) or outside (excluding brickmould and trim pieces) edges of jamb width to add them to door height. It might also be beneficial to take two diagonal measurements on both sides to check that frame squareness.
Next, measure the height of the frame, including any moldings or trim pieces that will sit above it.
Measure the Wall
Barn doors provide more space than traditional hinged room closures, yet require substantial wall space to open and close them. Be mindful that light switches, outlets, windows and vents do not obstruct opening the door without hitting or blocking anything on that section of wall – they could become obstructions if you try opening or closing it otherwise!
Keep the height of your door in mind as well. Most hardware kits provide instructions for determining its height; for instance, a 4-foot door requires two times as wide a track to open fully. If unsure, contact the manufacturer.
Measure the Track
Many DIY barn door kits include a stud finder to help locate where the track should be mounted, but if yours doesn’t, please refer to its instructions for help in achieving an acceptable track height that won’t crush drywall.
In general, your track should be mounted high enough that it clears the floor when opening the door. You may require spacers at either end depending on your preferred mounting method and any trim you must clear away; typically supplied by your supplier.
Measure the Floor
As part of your room evaluation process, it’s necessary to determine its floor area. A quick way is by breaking it into rectangles and multiplying their length times width. Be sure to consider permanent objects like kitchen islands and staircases when doing this calculation.
For circular rooms, an annulus must be calculated–think washer with a hole in it. Use high school geometry to do this, measuring long radius and short radius then multiplying them for floor area calculation. Don’t forget to include radiuses of any doors as well.
Cut the Wood
Once you have your dimensions and wood for your barn door in hand, it is time to start cutting it. In order to do so efficiently, chisel and deadfall hammer tools will come in handy here.
Position the square edge of your chisel against the line you wish to create and hit it with the hammer until a deep, consistent cut has been created in the wood.
Repeat this process until your wood is perfectly smooth. This step will ensure that the door track will sit flush against the wall.
Paint the Door
Before beginning painting, be sure to cover any hardware or hinges with aluminum foil and painter’s tape for protection from any paint drippings that might occur and easier cleanup when your work is complete. This will also make cleanup much faster!
Paint the door using a roller to eliminate brush marks, or use a small brush “tip off” the surface for an even coat without any stipple-based spots or bumps.
Allow the paint to fully set before carefully reassembling and hanging your door hardware. Otherwise, it could still be tacky when touched and could scratch or mar the finish of hardware or hangers.
Install the Hardware
Your custom barn door will look its best and operate most easily when there is enough room for it to move freely along its track. To achieve this effect, ensure the wall it covers is free from pictures, decorations or furniture as well as being at least some distance away from power outlets or light switches.
Make sure to enlist help for this task if possible to ensure it gets completed quickly. Make use of your measuring tape, pencil and square to take measurements for hanger locations before consulting the instructions that came with your kit.