DIY Barn Doors

The barn door needs to be installed on a track or rail above the closet doorway. It slides on the rail with wheels attached to a bracket. Measure the width of your barn door or the width of the closet opening. To open the door completely, you will need a wheel track twice this width. For example, if your closet doorway is 4 feet wide, the wheel track of the barn door must be 8 feet in length.

It is best to purchase a barn door hardware kit that includes all the necessary accessories. Make sure the hardware finish goes well with your interior decor theme. You can select from a variety of hardware finishes like matte, satin, brushed, bronze and rustic black. 

Use a measuring tape to find the height and width of your closet doorway.  Add at least 2 inches on each side of the width. This will give you the required width of your DIY barn closet door. The additional width of the barn closet door will cover the doorway completely and minimize any gaps on both sides. If your closet doorway is 4 feet wide, the width of your barn door must be at least 4 feet 4 inches.

Check and confirm if you have enough space on the side of the doorway to accommodate the barn door when it is opened. If you are planning to install a single barn door, determine on which side it will slide open. The left side is a common choice among most homeowners. 

Mark the measurements you have taken on the lumber. Use a miter saw to cut several wooden boards in appropriate sizes. The most common height for most interior doors is 80 inches. Then, tailor the width according to your preference. Usually, the width of a barn door ranges from 36 to 42 inches.  

Position the boards on a flat surface and apply wood glue at the joints. Screw two boards together using 3-inch screws to create a rectangular frame using a power drill. Wipe away excess glue and allow it to dry completely.

You can use trim boards to make interesting patterns on your DIY barn door. These vertical or horizontal patterns can make the door look more appealing. First sketch the pattern you want to make on a rough paper.

Measure and mark all the dimensions of the final pattern. Use a pencil to mark the patterns on the barn door. Cut the vertical or horizontal trim with a miter saw. Use wood glue and finishing nails to attach the cut trim pieces to the barn door. 

Check for any loose nails or gaps across the door. Hammer down the nails where required. If you find any gaps, fill them using putty or wood filler. Now, sand the frame with fine sandpaper to smoothen its surface. For a rustic appearance, apply a stain color of your choice.  

Barn doors need a track, hanger mount and rollers. The equipment includes instructions on where they should be placed. Mark their position accordingly. Take help of a level to ensure the track or rail is perfectly horizontal. The position of the screw hanger mount should be at the back top of the door. 

Affix the rollers to the bracket using the screws provided in the installation kit. Take help to lift the door and place it into the sliding track. Follow all steps and instructions included in the user manual of the barn door hardware kit. Slide the door right and left to check if it freely moves. 

You can now install multiple decorative handles, locks and door pulls to the doors. Make sure to use a drill and tightly screw them onto the frame.