How to Install Barn Doors

Barn doors are an old idea that has gone very modern. They are fun and stylish, bringing character to any room of the house. They can be made from traditional, natural wood, or even metal or glass, to serve as a door, a room divider, or even just a decorative piece to add creative lines and dimension in a space. Best of all, barn doors are easy to install in your own home.

How to Install Barn Doors

There are really only a few simple steps to installing a barn door, and the more thorough you are, the better the outcome will be. Take the time to measure where the barn door and hardware will be installed and keep these things in mind as you work.

1) Plan Ahead.

Before you drill, make sure the door will fit the space. 

• Use a stud-finder to locate the door headers and supports behind the wall. Mark the studs with a pencil. Take note of the distance between the studs and how they line up with the door opening.
• The door itself should be at least an inch wider than the door opening. It should hide the trim completely, even at the top.
• Account for the space below the door - the bottom of the door should hang ½ to 1” off the floor, depending on the type of flooring. Be careful of any slant in the floor. Plan to mount the track high enough to accommodate the extra space at the bottom.
• Make sure there’s enough room above the door in order to hang the door to the rail. The hardware will rely on a wheel sitting on the track, so make sure there’s plenty of clearance between the track and the ceiling to allow the wheel and the hardware that attaches to the door.

Tip: Mark lightly on the walls with a pencil to show where the studs are, where the track should line up along the wall, and where the holes will go for the hardware. The pencil marks will help ensure the hole is drilled in the right spot, and any marks left over can be wiped off once everything is installed.

2) Attach the Track to the Wall.

Remember: Barn doors are heavy, bulky, and they move. They have to be mounted securely to the wall to support their use. Even with drywall anchors, the regular use of the door might weaken the drywall, so it is best to mount the hardware into the studs and door headers directly.

Once the measurements have been taken, the hard part is done, and it’s time to get the track on the wall.

• First, pre-drill the holes for the track into the studs.
• Attach the track to the wall.
• Check the measurements at each end of the track to be certain it’s mounted at the right height and angle to the floor. 
•  Make sure the track is installed properly before tightening the screws.

For fixed-rail hardware systems, it can get a little tricky to install a door along the studs. Don’t take shortcuts on this, though; barn door hardware should be installed directly into the wall to keep the hardware from damaging the wall when the door is used. 

One option is to open up the wall and install support backing between studs inside the wall that will line up with the fixed-rail measurements. This is costly and requires dismantling the wall, down to the studs, to install a length of board that will act as a solid backing behind the drywall for the door hardware installation. For a project like that, it is best to hire a professional contractor.

The less expensive and perhaps even more aesthetically pleasing option is to install the support beam on the outside of the wall. This option can also be used to add a little extra gap between the door and the wall.

• First, select and stain or paint a length of board to match the door and accent the room. 
• Make sure it is long enough to extend over the length of the area where you want to install the barn door, and wide enough to accommodate the track hardware. The board should be sturdy, quality wood, no splits or knots. 
• Mount the board directly to the wall over the door. Be sure to anchor the board to the studs. 
• Attach the fixed rail door hardware to the board.

Be sure not to overtighten the screws and bolts, and verify that everything is measured and installed correctly before making them snug.

3) Install the Endstops.

The endstops attach to the end of the tracks. They’re designed to keep the door on the track but can also be used to control how far along the track the door can move. For instance, it’s important to allow for overhang on both sides of the door opening, but doing so may require that an endstop be placed a little more central to the track, rather than at the very end.

4) Hang the Door.

Once the track is secure, all that’s left is the door. Most door hardware will screw or bolt directly to the door. Check the height that you install hardware at, as the placement of the wheels impact the height that the door hangs out. If the hardware is mounted too close to the top edge, there will be a gap across the floor. 

With the hardware fit correctly on the door, lift the door to place the wheels on the track. It should hang and roll smoothly.

5) Install the Floor Guide.

The floor guide is the important last step. It helps protect the walls from the sliding door. The floor guide should mount directly to the floor to keep the door hanging straight down from the track, rather than at a damaging angle, or bumping against the wall as it slides.

And voila, you have a barn door! They offer a unique and welcoming appearance to any room in your home. Enjoy!