Swinging Barn Doors vs. Sliding Barn Doors- What is the best choice for you?
We will show the pro and cons of both sliding barn doors and swinging barn doors. The best decision will vary but we think either style is a win! Swinging Cafe Doors is proud to offer both Sliding Barn Doors and Swinging Barn Doors.
When deciding to install a interior barn doors there are many things to consider. Sliding Barn Doors are a very popular barn door style.
Top 4 Things to Consider When Installing or Purchasing a Sliding Barn Door:
1. Sliding Barn Door Designs & Styles- You can do a single sliding barn door or double barn doors. Both single or double barn doors add a beautiful and rustic style to your space. Double sliding barn doors do require extra space, see #2 for additional information. Barn style doors come in many different style and wood options. Look for a company that can customize the doors for your requirement. The most poplar barn door styles are board and batten, single X barn door style, Z barn door style, double X barn door style, and the British brace barn door style. The barn sliding hardware is also part of the barn door style and there are many options with sliding barn door hardware.
2. Spacing for Sliding Barn Doors- Barn Doors can help to free up space vs a traditional single action swing door. The Sliding Barn Doors will have no swinging out action, however, barn doors require additional room to slide open on its track. When mounting a single barn door, you will need wall space on one side of your door opening that is at least the width of the barn door, so that the door can slide completely open. If you are installing double barn doors you will need wall space the width of each individual barn door on each side of your opening. Make sure to make consideration of outlets, vents, windows, or additional doors when planning on a sliding barn door. When choosing the double barn doors, each barn door will be smaller than if you are choosing a single barn door style. If you have limitations to your spacing or find that you will be blocking an important switch, outlet, or window you might want to consider swinging barn doors. Swinging Barn Doors offer the same styling as barn doors but different hinges.
3. Sliding Barn Door Sizing- Sliding Barn Doors need to be wider than the doorway. Unlike a traditional door there is no precision measuring, cutting or shimming the doors. Since sliding barn doors hang from a track installed above the doorway, it needs to cover the whole door opening and the trim. Since the door hangs from a track there are small gaps at the side between the wall and sliding barn door. We will custom make your sliding barn door to make sure it covers your door opening. If you have a 36" door opening we would recommend a 42" wide door to a allow for 2" on each side of the doorway. The track will need to be twice the width of your door opening.
4. Sliding Barn Hardware- Sliding Barn Doors require a sliding track twice as long as the finished barn door(s) size. You might need to split and attach additional track depending on the width required. We suggest strong sturdy barn door hardware that will last. Most people also install a latch and a pull on the barn doors once they are installed. There are many variations of sliding barn door hardware. The sliding barn door hardware is available in a variety of styles and finishes. Select a barn door hardware that works with your existing interior whether its modern or rustic.
Top 4 Things to Consider When Installing or Purchasing a Swinging Barn Door:
1. Swinging Barn Door Designs & Styles- The beautiful look of barn style doors with the function of double action hinges. Swinging barn doors can be customized for your door opening size, including spacing for hinges. The most poplar barn door style are board and batten, single X barn door style, Z barn door style, double X barn door style, and the British brace barn door style and these style are available in the swinging barn style doors.
2. Spacing for Swinging Barn Doors- If you love the look of sliding barn door but not enough space for the sliding hardware, the perfect alternative is swinging barn doors. Swinging barn doors are styled like barn doors but stay within your existing door frame. There is no additional space required, no need to worry about the sliding door hiding a light switch, a window or an additional door. Swinging barn doors can fit in traditional door opening and non-traditional doors opening. With non-traditional door opening we recommending using trim boards. Double swinging barn style doors also take up less space than traditional doors.
3. Swinging Barn Door Sizing- Swinging Barn doors fit in the existing door opening, they can be custom made for your opening size so no shimming or cutting is necessary. Swinging door companies can custom design the doors including spacing for hardware, having the customer just provide the door opening size. This requires minimum work for the customer.
4. Swinging Barn Hardware- There are 4 different options of hardware with swinging barn style doors with a variety of finishes. All hardware is double action, swings in either direction and come to rest in the middle. Standard gravity hardware will allow a hold open in either direction at 125 degree. The standard hardware is available in brass, satin chrome and oil rubbed bronze and mounts to the top and the bottom of the doors. Premium grade gravity hardware has a hold open in either direction at 90 degrees. Premium hardware is available in a brass finish only and mounts to the top and the bottom of the doors. Commercial grade spring hinges have no hold open feature and the hardware mounts to the side.