1. How Much Does it Cost to Install an Interior Barn Door?
The cost to install a sliding barn door will vary, depending on door material, size and hardware. Plus, it will cost more if you hire someone to build and hang the door for you. In general, the average cost of installing sliding barn doors can range from about $300 to $1500 and up.
Of course, you can save money by doing the job yourself – and in most cases, installing a sliding barn door is not difficult or time consuming. In fact, these days you can purchase a DIY kit that includes door slab pieces, sliding track and door hardware. Plus, you can find several different styles of doors, from rustic to modern.
- Glass and Metal Frame Barn Doors
- Natural Wood Barn Door Slab
- Assemble-Yourself Herringbone Barn Door
- White Glass Sliding Barn Door Kit
Some people ask how to turn a hollow core door into a barn door. Although you can easily turn a standard door into the sliding version, the size becomes the obstacle.
For instance, the door needs to be a few inches taller and wider than the opening itself. Therefore, you can’t simply use a standard-sized door as a barn door over a standard size opening.
2. How Long Does it Take to Install a Sliding Barn Door?
Typically it takes about 4 to 8 hours for one person to install a barn door. If you have more people helping you or you are experienced in home renovation projects, the project wil likely take less time.
However, if you need to build or assemble the door slab, this can add more time to the job. Double barn doors take more time as well.
3. How Do You Keep a Sliding Barn Door from Swaying?
Most barn door hardware kits include a floor guide. If your kit doesn’t include one you can purchase one separately. These inexpensive accessories attach to the floor along where the door slides, thus preventing the swaying movement.
4. Can You Put a Sliding Barn Door Over a Light Switch?
This is a situation that I had with one of my doors, and the best solution was to move the light switch to a different location. That said, you may be able to keep the light switch where it is. Here’s how:
First, you’ll need to have trim around the door frame so that the door slab lays flush against the trim rather than the wall. This allows extra space for the slab to slide over the light switch instead of into it.
Second, if you have a toggle light switch, you may be able to change it out to a paddle switch. This style lays flatter against the wall and may allow the door to slide over it without hitting it.
5. Can You Put Sliding Barn Doors Over Glass Doors?
Yes, this set-up can work as long as the barn doors don’t hit the handles of the glass sliders. If the handles don’t project out further than the door frame itself, then most likely you can go ahead and hang barn doors.
However, if the glass sliders have large handles that you cannot change out for smaller ones, you may need to add trim around the door frame (like in the light switch example above). This way, the barn doors can lay flush against the door trim instead of the wall, proving extra room for the door handles.
6. How Do You Lock a Bathroom Sliding Barn Door?
You can lock a sliding barn door 3 main ways: a teardrop latch, a hook-and-eye latch or a bolt lock. The best option for you will depend on your doorway. You can check out all 3 locks here.
All options are inexpensive, easy to install and convenient to use. Plus, you can attach them to the wall/door at various different heights.
7. How Do You Open a Sliding Barn Door from the Inside?
You can open a sliding barn door from the inside by installing a flush door pull. They are comfortable to use and have a clean, finished look.
In fact, I used these flush door pulls on the outside of some of my barn doors in a narrow hallway. They look great, and they don’t stick out far in the narrow walkway.
