Measurements for barn doors are different than measurements for swing doors. In an opening of the same size, you will need sliding and revolving doors of different sizes.

So, how do you measure a barn door?

Start by measuring the distance from the floor to the top of the door frame. Most standard interior doorways are 80 inches high. If there is casing around the frame, measure to the outer edge of the casing, not the top of the doorway opening. Whatever your final measurements are, add an inch to get the ideal barn door height.

To get an idea of how wide your barn door should be, measure from one side of the doorway to the other. Measure the outside edge of the door frame again. Most standard interior doorways are 36 inches wide. Add two inches to your width measurement and you now have your ideal barn door height and width. Why put extra inches on your barn door? This leads us to our next topic.

Many people love the idea of adding a sliding barn door to a bathroom or other smaller room. But they probably won't be asking this crucial question: Is the barn door private enough for a bathroom? The answer is yes, but it depends on how it is installed and the materials used. The sound insulation effect of solid wood is better than that of hollow doors, and the thicker the door, the better. But one of the most important things that will make a barn door more private is making the door overlap the opening.

We recommend adding at least 1" of overlap per side, but 2" is even better. The more overlap, the less light and sound will pass through. If you have the offset, you can also add high-quality weatherstripping to the door frame to make the sliding door fit the opening better when closed. Brush sweeping the bottom can also help soundproof sliding barn doors.

There are also sliding barn door locks, such as teardrop locks or hook and eye locks, which will help make barn doors more private.

This may seem like a small detail, but it's an important part of barn door installation: the sliding door rails. These small fittings are usually mounted on the floor, preventing the door from banging against the wall and from wobbling back and forth on the track each time it slides open. The most common and cost-effective type of rail is the T-rail. All of our flat rail hardware kits include a T-rail as a standard option, but if you don't have one or need a replacement, we offer a range of sliding barn door floor rails. T-rails are made of strong polymer material and are installed on the floor. It fits into a groove in the bottom of the door and keeps the door on the track.

If your door doesn't have a groove, you can use a track that fits snugly against the bottom of the door, such as a C-rail. Available in fixed sizes as well as adjustable options for unusual thicknesses so you can get your exact size.

Finally, if you don't want to drill holes in the floor, you can use wall-mounted sliding door rails. It slides under and around the door and attaches to the wall. As the door slides, a wheel rolls it to keep it in place. All of these options do the same thing - you choose the guideline that best suits your application.

One of the most common problems we see with barn doors is warping and twisting because the door is not sealed with a finish. Sliding barn doors are especially prone to warping because they have a central point of contact where the hanger attaches to the doorway, unlike swing doors that have hinges that provide support from top to bottom.

The finish not only protects the door from moisture and temperature changes in the environment, but it brings out the true color of the wood and enhances the rich detail of the grain pattern you wouldn't otherwise see. As a bonus, the finish also provides UV protection for doors that may be exposed to direct sunlight.

Different styles of hardware can withstand different loads. If your door is made of solid, heavy wood, or has glass or metal panels, there are a few styles you want to avoid. If you're looking for barn door hardware for a heavy-duty door, you'll want a style that wraps around the door and secures with straps to the front of the door. Avoid any styles designed for top mounting only, as these hardware styles are not strong enough to safely carry more than 150 lbs. If you have a particularly heavy or oversized door, look for industrial barn door hardware that can hold up to 800 lbs.

You can choose from different metals for your barn door hardware. So what are the best barn door hardware? Most hardware kits on the market today are made of aluminum. That means lower hardware costs, but at the lower end of the quality scale. If you need durable hardware, avoid aluminum hardware.

Steel is a stronger option, but there are several different types of steel finishes. Raw steel hardware is a good choice for anyone who wants their hardware to be strong but with a worn look. Over time, raw steel oxidizes and begins to develop rust spots. This effect looks great in industrial or shabby chic decor settings. Note how the appearance of your hardware will change if you choose this option. Let's say you need something really industrial that doesn't wear out as quickly as raw steel. In this case, hot-dipped galvanized steel sliding hardware is a reliable choice that performs well in outdoor environments and withstands corrosive environments better than any other metal.

If you are looking for a specific barn door hardware color, make sure it is powder coated. Powder-coated colors are more durable than the alternative - painted steel. Simply painted steel does not stand the test of time, like a powder coat baked on metal that creates thick, dense layers of color.

Stainless steel is another great option for a barn door hardware kit. Not only is it luxurious and modern barn door hardware, but it's also extremely strong, with a smooth, spotless finish that requires little attention.

If you want something chic and on-trend, you can even opt for specialty metals like solid brass barn door hardware, or gold, silver, or copper powder-coated steel metal shades.

Whatever metal you choose, be aware of the maintenance involved and the environment in which you will use it. For example, the only metals that work well in salty air are galvanized and stainless steel (and even then, performance depends on how much exposure the hardware is getting.) Brass is a softer metal, so don't install it where it might get caught. Brass also oxidizes unless you keep treating it with brass polish. Even solid stainless steel will use a polish from time to time.

Silent wheels look exactly like regular steel wheels, with the addition of a soft polymer ring insert. The polymer fits perfectly into the grooves of the wheels, so you won't hear the rattle of metal wheels on metal tracks as the door slides. If your barn door hardware is going into a quieter space, such as a bedroom or office, consider silent wheels. If you change your mind after installing the hardware, it can be difficult to replace the wheels.

Another noise-canceling component of the flat-track hardware kit is soft-stop. A soft stop grabs the gate and gently eases it to the end of the track before it hits the end stop. If your track is long enough, you can add a soft stop to each end of the track so the door will close quietly no matter which way you push it.

If you're wondering how to make your barn door quieter, the combination of a soft stop and silent wheels will work wonders.

A backing plate is not always necessary, but it almost always makes your installation very easy. Sometimes referred to as support headboards, barn door backboards, barn door headboards, or flat rail headboards; these boards allow you to mount the track to the board first and then mount the board to the wall. This is often easier than trying to line up the exact hole location in the track with the stud in the wall - sometimes the wall blocks just don't line up with the track holes. The ledger panels add a bit of offset to the door, which is useful for doorways with protruding casings.

If you did not use ledger board when installing, you will need to be careful not to crush the drywall.

By drilling a shallow 1.25" diameter hole where the mounting bolt will be, you can insert the drywall anti-extrusion ring and install your hardware. By using these simple little rings, you can save yourself a lot of hassle when repairing cracked drywall.

We hope this information answers questions you may have been wondering. If you have more questions, please contact us! As a professional custom sliding door hardware manufacturer with 18 years experience. Wekis sliding door hardware is designed according to the current fashion, using high-quality raw materials, mass-produced through our automatic assembly line, and then polished by skilled workers. We are always perfecting our hardware offerings and providing an up-to-date catalog to meet your project needs. Every hardware product represents the perfect combination of art and function. We'd love to chat and help you figure out the best doors and hardware for your unique space.