Installing barn doors isn’t as easy as it appears. There are many common mistakes that inexperienced homeowners make. Doing them can ruin the doors or even damage your home.
Don’t let that deter you from installing barn doors yourself. Once you learn a few basic things and use some common sense, you’ll be able to them up without any issues.
Here are a few barn door installation errors and how to avoid them.
1. Measuring Wrong
When installing modern interior doors, most people know that they’ll need to measure the space. However, this doesn’t stop people from measuring incorrectly.
First, you need to have enough space for barn doors to make it to the room they will be in. For example, you have to measure the front door, hallway, and any other obstacle the door has to get through.
You can’t just measure the spot it will hang. You have to make sure it can make it through your house to that location.
2. Not Following Directions
After you’ve brought the door in you have to read the instructions. These detailed instructions will guide you through the installation process.
In addition to written directions, there are usually drawings or blueprints of some kind that will make everything clear.
The directions won’t be complicated. Save yourself a lot of aggravation and follow them.
3. Hanging Incorrectly
Hanging a barn door upside down happens more often than you’d think.
Another problem that comes up when hanging barn doors is track placement. You must install the hangers on the door before attaching the track to the wall.
If hanging the doors seems too complicated, you can always hire a door installation service.
4. Using the Wrong Hardware
Gather all your when you’re preparing for door installations. All the barn door hardware you need will not come in the packaging with the door. Make sure you have the proper screws, drill, tape measure, and hinges.
If you’ve never done any home improvement projects, you may have to stop at a nearby hardware store to pick up the essential tools.
When buying hinge screws, double-check the size. It’s easy to accidentally get the wrong kind. Using screws that technically fit but are too small will cause damage over time if they hold the weight of the door at all.
5. Refusing to Use a Leveler
You may think that you have a good eye for telling when something is level. You’d be wrong. Whether it’s a barn door design or any other type you will end up with a crooked door if you don’t use a leveler.
Avoid Barn Door Installation Errors
Now that you know what the common mistakes are, you can avoid them. Most barn door installation errors happen because the homeowner is inexperienced and didn’t do the proper research.
Since you’ve learned all you need to know, start installing!
To learn more about remodeling and basic home upkeep, visit our Home Improvement page. You’ll find countless articles to help you keep your house looking up-to-date.