How to Make a Sliding Barn Door

Get the modern farmhouse look in an afternoon with this DIY barn door transformation.

July 15, 2020

Master Bathroom With Barn Door Entry

Installing a barn-style door as the entry into the bathroom saved floor space in this master suite. It also tied in nicely with the room's other farmhouse details, like the shutter vanity.

From: Stephanie Hatten

Photo by: Amy Williams Photo

Amy Williams Photo

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In a way, sliding barn doors are the pocket doors of the modern design world, with the biggest difference being the exposed hardware and the ability to use almost any door. The trendy look combines farmhouse and industrial elements to take a standard door from drab to fab. Best of all, a barn door requires no hinges or door jamb, making it the perfect DIY solution for closing off hallways or areas with no existing door frame.

Materials Needed

door
barn door hardware
hammer
center punch
drill + bits

stud finder
pencil
adjustable wrench
safety glasses
level

Pick and Purchase Materials

Start by choosing your dream door. Whether you opt for a new door from the hardware store or take the upcycling route with a vintage or antique door, the choice is yours. As long as the door is wide enough and long enough to cover the opening, it can be turned into a sliding barn door with the proper hardware kit. There are several varieties of barn door hardware, so choose the color and design that best suits your style, but be sure the rail is long enough for your door to fully open and close.

Prep Door

To transform your door into a barn door, begin by laying out the included template according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use a center punch or other pointed object to transfer the template-marked holes onto the door and drill using the instructed bit size (Image 1). Keeping your drill level is key to ensuring the end result looks great (Image 2). If your barn door hardware kit does not have a template included, simply place the hardware on the door and trace the bolt holes to figure out where to drill your holes. Attach the hardware to the door with the included nuts and bolts.

Attach Rail and Mount Door

Use a stud finder and pencil to locate and mark the studs above your opening and on the side your door will slide to. Once marked, measure the total length of your door and hardware, then add 1 inch for clearance from the floor and mark this height on the wall. Once marked, use a level to accurately mark this height across each stud. Check that the pre-drilled holes on the rail line up with the studs and drill the holes using the instructed bit size. Once drilled, place the rail over top of the spacers and fasten in place using the provided hardware. Once mounted, fasten the door stops on each end and place the door on the rail to complete your fab farmhouse look.

Pro Tip: The barn door rail will likely have pre-drilled holes for studs located on 16-inch centers. In a perfect world, these would be perfectly positioned to line up with each stud you marked. However, many older homes have randomly placed studs on smaller or larger centers which may require you to drill out extra holes in your rail to line up with the studs. To drill through the metal, use a standard drill bit, but occasionally squirt the bit and surrounding area with water to keep the bit cool and lubricate the metal. If the metal is too hard, cutting oil may be necessary.

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How to Replace a Regular Door With a Sliding Barn Door

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Trade your ordinary interior door for a farm-chic sliding barn door with these easy steps. You'll need a set of sliding door hardware as well as a door that's large enough to cover your opening. Use a template to mark the holes for your door hardware, then drill the holes making sure to hold the drill perpendicular to the floor. Next, install the hardware. Locate and mark studs in your wall, then mark the wall to mount the track making sure that it's level and leaving an inch of clearance between the floor and the bottom of the door. Attach the track using spacers, attach door stops at the ends, and hang your new door.