Does your sliding barn door keep slowly opening on its own? Sometimes if the track is off slightly, a barn door will seemingly slide on its own. This can be inconvenient if you’re planning to come through the doorway with full hands. If you’re looking for help on how to prevent your barn door from sliding, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled this guide to help you find a solution without having to do all the work.
The best way to keep sliding barn doors from rolling open on their own is to install door stops that work with barn doors. They can usually be found in finishes that match your door’s track, making for a polished presentation.
There are many other ways to go about it, but the barn door stop is the most refined look of them all. To learn about other methods of keeping your barn doors from rolling, keep reading.
Keeping Your Barn Door from Sliding Open
We sometimes include affiliate links and curated AI content to highlight top design styles.
Let’s take a look at the various kinds of door stops that will work with your barn doors.
Magnetic Door Stop
Magnetic door stops for barn doors have two pieces: one attaches to the floor and one to the door. Depending on the look you prefer, they can be placed on the edge of the door or in front of it. You can even put one on each side of the door, so it will stay open or shut depending on your needs.
Magnetic Door Stops
These doorstops come in a pack of two, and they’re available in different finishes. Click here to check them out on Amazon.
Barn Door Track Stopper
A track stopper is applied directly to the track of the barn door, and they allow you to choose where the door stops. Track sliders like this are fantastic for keeping your door from sliding too far in one direction or the other, but they don’t do much to hold it in place. They’re great to have if you find the door slamming to the side of the track when you open it.
Barn Door Stopper for Track
Click here to see it on Amazon.
Eye Hook Latch
Another way to keep your barn door from sliding open or closed is to install an eye hook latch on the side you want it to remain on. Attach one part to the door and the other to the wall, and use the latch when you need to keep the door in place. This method is more evident than the barn door stops, but it can still look nice if it’s done right.
Raswik Hook And Eye Latch for Barn Door
These 4-inch hook and eye latches are explicitly made for barn doors. Click here to see it on Amazon.
Are Sliding Barn Doors Hard to Install?
Barn doors aren’t too difficult to install, but measurements must be precise to ensure the door functions properly. If your barn door is large and heavy, it would be a good idea to have an extra set of hands around.
When installing a barn door, follow the instructions included with the track for the best results. Here’s a brief step-by-step guide and a video to give you an idea of how barn doors are installed and just how difficult of a project it is:
- Prepare and install your backer board for the door track, then fasten it to the studs above the door opening.
- Attach the track to the backer board using the hardware included with the track.
- Attach the rollers and handles to the door.
- Lift the door up and place it on its track.
- Install the anti-jump discs onto the track.
- Install the bottom track guide.
How Do You Keep a Barn Door on its Track?
The anti-jump disc keeps the door from bouncing off its track. If your door is lifting up off its track, you may be missing an anti-jump disc. There should be one on each side of the door’s track.
YBT Barn Door Anti-Jump Disc
These replacement anti-jump discs should work in most barn door tracks. Click here to take a look at these on Amazon.
What Stops Barn Doors From Swinging?
The guide on the floor at the bottom of the door prevents the door from swinging from side to side when opening and closing it. They usually have brackets or rollers that hold the sides of the door in place. There are several different styles available, and they can be found in many finishes.
Barn Door Floor Guide
This flooring guide has rollers to hold the front and back of the door in place when it opens. Click here to see it on Amazon.
Do Sliding Barn Doors Need a Bottom Track?
Yes, barn doors need to have a bottom track to function correctly and safely. Without a guide on the bottom to hold the door in place, it could swing back on forth or fall off the track when being used, which can cause an injury. Using a barn door without a floor guide can damage the track hardware when it rocks, bending the fasteners.
Can You Put A Lock On A Barn Door?
Yes, you can purchase locks that will work on barn doors, including privacy locks and locks that can be accessed from both sides. This can make barn doors an acceptable use in more applications, like bathrooms or bedrooms. Barn door locks come in many different styles and finishes.
Barn Door Lock
This barn door lock is accessible from one side only, making it a good solution for bathrooms. Click here to see it on Amazon.
Can A Sliding Barn Door Be Hung From The Ceiling?
Yes, barn doors can be hung from the ceiling if you have the right hardware. You will need a ceiling-mounted barn door track and rollers, and you will need to account for the extra height required for ceiling mounting. This can be a useful option to save space in constricted wall areas.
Ceiling Mount Barn Door Track
This barn door track is ceiling-mounted for special applications. Click here to see it on Amazon.
Can Any Door Be Used As A Sliding Barn Door?
No, not all doors can be used as barn doors, but most can. You will want to avoid hollow core doors that don’t have anything solid to screw into at the top and bottom. Most doors that are solid can be converted into sliding barn doors with the right track and hardware.
Can You Use a Barn Door For Exterior Doors?
[PIN id=”263249540708748069″ description=”hide” size=”large”]
[/PIN]
Yes, using a barn door in an exterior application is possible, although it is not recommended. It can be challenging to get a good seal against the elements with barn doors, so it may not be a good idea unless it’s in a very well-protected area like a three-season porch. Exterior doors tend to be heavier than interior doors, so this project will need a second person to help with heavy lifting.
How Much Do Sliding Barn Doors Cost?
According to HomeAdvisor.com, sliding barn doors can cost anywhere from $200-$1,000 depending on the doors size and quality, as well as the hardware you choose. Installing the door yourself will save you the cost of hiring a professional, which can help bring the price down.
If you have any old doors in storage, or if you can spot a used one for a reasonable price, look it over to see if it would be a good option for your barn door application.
S&Z TOPHAND Barn Door Kit
This barn door kit has all the hardware you’ll need and the door. It’s also available in different sizes. Click here to see it on Amazon.
Should A Barn Door Cover The Trim?
The barn door can cover the base molding at the foot of the wall, and if you have a ceiling mount track, you can leave the crown molding at the top of the wall in place. The doorway that the barn door will cover should have all trim removed before installing a barn door. The trim will interfere with the door track and can prevent it from opening and closing correctly.
Barn Door Beginnings
Now that you know everything you need to about barn doors and how they function, you’re ready to start your journey towards installing one in your home. Make sure to measure carefully and accurately before making any purchases. Have fun installing your new door.
If you need more help trying to figure out how to hang your door, read our article “Which Way Should A Sliding Door Open?”
If you need help trying to decide how to finish the door once you get it, read our article “Should Interior Doors Be The Same Color As The Walls?”
