sliding barn door designs or plans

[Anonymous-0]

I just got done building a a gambrel style barn and need to make some sliding doors for it. I want a 12' door with a walk in door built in to it. I also want to cover the door with either vinal or aluminum siding to make it maintenance free. You guys have any tips or good plans for such a door. I also want to make the hay mow doors and livestock walk through doors (36") slide also. Thanks for your help!

 

[J.C.in AZ.]

If your local Lumber Yard is a Dealer for National Steel Products they should carry all the Parts you will need to construct and hang a sliding Door. Although I have never liked Cannonball Products they too have all the parts needed to consruct and hang a sliding door .Your steel siding supplier should have every Steel Trim needed also to finish off the door after Framing and hanging the Track on the Shed and the Roller Assemblies on the door. I would advise to avoid putting a Walk Door in the Sliding Door due to the constrictions a Lock Set on said sliding door creates. In other words the Handle for the lock set on the Walk in Door will stick out and thus will be in the way for the Sliding Door to open fully.If wanted I can send you Plans for Sliding Doors from my Astro Building Construction Manual.Let me Know. JC

 

[Goose]

Are you sure you want a sliding door?

I had a 12' high by 11' wide sliding door on my shop and it was the biggest pain in the butt I've ever encountered. It was heavy to push, and in the winter snow and ice would build up under it and freeze it shut.

I finally got tired of pouring buckets of hot water under it so I could get it open, and replaced it with a 10'X10' overhead door.

 

[Anonymous-0]

That would be great! I like to mull over a few different plans to see what I will use. The only reason I wanted a walk in was to use in the winter and then open it up in the spring for cleanout etc. thanks for your help.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I do not know the reason you need a walk door in your slider. I must warn you we have done it numerous times, but its like having two men, one on each handle pushing a wheel borrow. If there is any chance you can bust a hole elsewhere give it some consideration. If you do find it necessary you will have to step over a decent size bottom to maintain strength.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have been fighting square door track for 40 years.Stanley makes square track that is too light and bends inward ,then the track falls out of the brackets.Hanger bolts rub on the track an wear thru.I made a 4x8 door using Cannon ball round track 15 years ago.It runs so easy the wind can push it along its track.I have an inside latch to keep it closed.I have 2 more 4x8 doors to make that will get cannonball track.The big doors will get a new cannonball track this summer.Stanley does make a round door track.Their square track is junk.Sliding doors dont have to drag on the ground.make them a few inches short.Put a board across the bottom to keep snow from blowing in.Cannon ball makes a good inside latch that will keep them shut.

 

[John S-B]

Spitz, I built two doors 10' high by 12' wide and have not had any problem with them. I began by using 2x6 treated boards to make the top, bottom and sides. I then put 2x4 treated boards equally spaced, horizontally in the frame made by the 2x6's. I put 2x4's at a 45 degree angle in the corners. I used flat mending plates and spiked gusset plates to join the boards on both sides. You can get them from any lumber store. I then hung the frame with the hardware. After the door frame is hung and sliding good, I put on the siding which is the same steel panels as the rest of the shed, they also keep the frame from flexing. The red and blue panels on the shed are the doors.

 

[Ted in NE]

Interesting reading all comments about slideing doors. Am presently working on an old pole shed.
Also want to put in a slideing door. Do not have
room for an overhead door. Bought a used one will use the door but make it slideing. Thinking of rolling it on the inside wall. Has anyone ever done it this way? Thank you for any comments.
Ted

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you choose not to put a walk door in your slider, check out a product called rapid rail. Just can't be simpler, and maybe a little pricey. Foolproof and will stay straight, cover with pole building type steel. By all means provide a object to keep the door from acting like a kite open or shut. Insurance companies have played the game to often to loose on doors in the wind. We will not install sliding doors without a solid wind stop in any position.