Trends: Barn Doors are Rolling In!

The installation of rolling barn doors for home interiors is one of the hottest new trends in Texas home building and remodeling. From closets to dining rooms to cover TV’s, this option is a great way to add pizzazz and that “wow” factor to any room! Trending in new construction and as updates in older homes, these popular doors offer an aesthetic design appeal, plus lots of versatility and functional, space-saving features. Not only popular in homes, demand is increasing in commercial applications too, such as in hotel rooms, offices, and restaurants. 

Barn Doors can be used in tight spaces where there is not a lot of room for a swinging door…such as entry halls or dining room to kitchen openings. They are also being installed in the master bedroom / master bathroom portals, and to cover closets and office spaces. From penthouses in midtown to suburban kitchens, rolling barn doors almost always are intended to be the visual focal point of the room.

Many options and designs are available…here are a few pointers to consider when adding these doors to your next project:

• 1.Parts of a Rolling Barn Door: In addition to the door or doors, the hardware consists of a steel Track, which is a flat steel plate commonly ¼” thick x 1-1/2 high x about 6 inches longer than twice the opening width to be covered. Rollers are the metal straps that mount to the doors (2 needed for each door). These rollers include a Roller Wheel or wheels that rolls on the track. (Make sure that you use “quiet-glide” rollers made from high-density polymer so that the door operates quietly). The Stoppers mount on the track to keep the doors from rolling off of the end of the track. Anti-Jump Disks mount on the top of the doors to keep the doors from jumping off of the track during use. The rail Stand-off Bracket spaces the rail off of the wall. And the Door Guide is mounted on the floor to keep the bottom edge of the door secure and stable and in-place. Options include a Header…generally wood…onto which all hardware can be mounted (instead of mounting the hardware directly to the wall). And finally, a “Soft-Close” option can be added to slow the door down during operation…similar to a soft-close feature on cabinet drawers.

• 2.Structural support. Can the wall support the barn door or doors and the track hardware? This all depends upon the weight of the door or doors that you will use. Most rolling door hardware is rated for doors up to 220 pounds each…and most doors weigh much less than this…probably half of this weight or less. But the door hardware must be securely mounted on the wall, regardless of the weight of the door. It may be easier and stronger to mount the rolling door hardware onto a wooden header which has been securely mounted to the wall above the opening. Don’t use drywall anchors…they are not made to support the weight of the doors and the potential force and strain from constant use. Also take into account the overall structural requirements of the barn door installation as it pertains to the quantity of doors to be installed. An installation of four 8 foot tall by 4 foot wide double by-pass doors requires significantly more support than one 3’ x 6’8” closet door.

• 3.Size of the opening and door. Generally speaking, the door slab should measure 2+ inches wider than the opening in width, and an equal height or higher. So you could install a 36” wide door over a 32” wide closet door opening. If the opening is 80” in height, then an 80 inch door will suffice, as the door is typically mounted about 1 inch above floor level. Keep in mind that, when the door or doors are in the “open” position, then you must allow an amount equal to the door width on one side (or both sides for a double door installation. Oversized doors can be great attention grabbers. So instead of using a double door installation over that 6 foot wide x 8 foot tall opening, you can use a 6-1/2 foot wide x 8-1/2 foot tall single door for real impact. Also, “by-pass” rolling door hardware is available where one door rolls in front of another door.

• 4.Design theme. Whether it’s modern/contemporary or rustic….French country or vintage industrial, there are rolling doors to fit your design aesthetic. The two most popular are the authentic barn door design and the modern/contemporary design. Barn doors are available with rustic wood and even with barn-wood textures. These doors offer lots of size options and design options, and fit into almost any design theme. Modern doors offer glass options with clear or glass textures. Or use a door with a mirror. For safety, consider using tempered safety glass.

• 5.Materials used. The doors may be new or reclaimed, or even antique. Many new door options are available that are specifically designed to be used as rolling doors. You can select a wood door or a metal door…or even an old screen door. Virtually any door…new or old…may be used. Keep in mind that most rolling door hardware is designed for doors that are 1.75” thick. And make sure that the door is not too heavy for the hardware weight rating.

• 6.Hardware Choices. Visually, most of the attention is on the door. But the design of the rolling door hardware is important…it must match and accentuate the design theme desired. In general, two design types are available. Dark black or bronze hardware for a traditional or rustic look…and stainless steel hardware for a modern sleek look. Most Rollers mount on the front “face” of the door…but others mount only along the top edge. There are additional hardware options available. Choose from a variety of available door “pulls”…either mounted to the face of the door or recessed and flush mounted. Be sure that the door will support the style and weight of a door pull. Also consider that the larger the size of the door pull, the more of an impact that it will make. And lock mechanisms are available for rolling doors which surface mount to the edge of the opening and attached to the back-side of the door. Or use a traditional hook-and-eye latch. Recently available is a “soft-close” option for the rolling doors. Similar in function to soft close drawers, this option can be added to your rolling door to soft-close and/or soft-open each rolling door.

• 7.Colors. Regardless of design theme, most doors can be painted to offer the impression desired by the designer or homeowner. Rustic, faux-painted doors can look fantastic! Other wood doors can be stained for a rick wood look….or distressed and stained for an antique look.

• 8.Installation. Depending upon the complexity of the application, the installation can be a DIY project…or one better left to the Pros. A simple single door installation is not difficult, and should only take an hour or two. A double bypass installation of four doors measuring 4 foot wide by 8-1/2 feet tall is an all-day job for 2 experienced installers. Regardless of WHO is installing the door, it is very important to make sure that the door and all hardware is mounted securely and safely to the wall.

• 9.Costs. Big “impact” bang-for-your-buck here. Count on a single barn-door style door costing from $390 to $1,630 depending upon design, options, finish and size. The door hardware will run from $275 to $353 for the black traditional hardware. Stainless steel costs about 50% more.

For more information visit www.barndoorz.comor call 713-400-6626.