How to Build Sliding Closet Doors

Sliding barn-style doors add instant privacy and are easy to install.

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Filed under: Closets, Doors, How To

Sliding doors are great for covering a large doorway and they are attractive too.

Add privacy and style to any room with these sleek hanging doors. They don't require any sort of bottom track, but you will need a soffit on top to install a track for the doors to glide upon.

Materials and Tools:

2x6s
2x4s
laminated door panel
stain
hanging door hardware (track, rollers/plates)
4" screws
paint
level
table saw with 3/4" dado blade
drill
chop saw
paintbrush
rubber mallet
straight line saw
paintbrush

Steps:

1. If you don't have an existing soffit in your room on which to hang your doors, you can build one by connecting two 2x6s to your desired length. To attach them to your wall, pre-drill for 4" screws about every eight inches along the edge and place the screws loosely inside the holes. Hold the soffit up to a header above your doorway, make sure it's level, then screw it into place. Paint it the color of your choice.

2. Cut four 2x4s for the door frame and miter each corner to a 45-degree angle. Our doors were 86-3/4" and the length varied.

3. With a dado blade on your table saw, make a dado cut along the edge of your framing so it's the same thickness as the door panel. In our case, we cut a 3/4" dado a 1/2" deep.

4. Stain or paint the wood.

5. Cut the door panel to the proper height for your doorway using a straight-line saw.

6. Peel back the plastic protective cover along the edges of your door panel and slide one of the two vertical framing pieces into place. Carefully tap it with a rubber mallet for a more secure fit.

7. Slide the bottom framing piece almost into place, then place glue at the corner where it meets the first framing piece. Adhere them and clamp together.

8. Continue this process for the rest of the framing.

9. Drill two pilot holes along the bottom and top of each of the four corners so they can't be seen. Start with a small bit to get things started, and then follow-up with the longer bit.

10. Insert 4" screws with a countersink bit to connect the frame.

11. Install the first part of the track on the underside of the soffit with 2" screws. Place the first set of rollers onto the track and then attach the second part of the track. Make sure the seam between the two track pieces are even.