DIY a Barn Door With These 7 Steps

October 3rd, 2022 by Wagner Realty

Barn Door Tips

Barn doors look lovely in country chic homes and even in some cottage-style houses. They work well as closet doors, pantry doors, and even as laundry room doors. While there are plenty of pre-made barn doors for sale, making your own barn door is a fun project — and a great way to personalize your new home! Follow these steps from our real estate agents to make your own barn door.

Purchase and Mount the Hardware
Your barn door will need a track to slide on. Visit a home improvement store, and look for a barn door track in your preferred style. You want it to be at least 4 inches wider than the door opening. Follow the instructions on the package to mount the garage door. Screw it directly into the wall studs for maximum security.
Measure and Cut the Vertical Boards
To determine the width of your door, measure the door opening and add 4 inches. Measure the height of your door, start at the track, and measure down to the floor. Subtract 1/2 inch so the door has plenty of clearance over the floor.

With these measurements in hand, start cutting your boards down to size. For a simple barn door, it is easiest to use 1 x 6" pine shiplap boards. They are inexpensive and take stain well. If your door width is not a multiple of 6, then you will need to cut one or more boards width-wise.
Cut the Horizontal Boards
In addition to your vertical boards, you will need three boards to stretch horizontally across the door. Cut these as long as your door is wide.
Sand Everything
Once your boards are cut down to length, sand them well. Start with coarse sandpaper, such as 50- or 60-grit. Then, go over the boards again with a fine, 100-grit sandpaper. You can sand the boards as smoothly as you like. Leave them a little rougher for a more rustic look, but be sure there are no patches rough enough to cause splinters.
Assemble Your Door
Lay your sanded, vertical boards out on the floor, side by side, in the shape of your final door. Then, lay the horizontal boards across them. One horizontal board should go across the top and another across the bottom. The third should stretch across the middle. Measure to make sure it is properly placed.

Have someone help you hold the boards in place as you drive screws through the horizontal boards, down into the vertical boards.
Stain the Door
The great thing about making your own barn door is that it can be any color you like. Choose a stain you love. Apply it according to the instructions on the tub or can. Usually, you have to apply the stain, wipe off the excess, and let it dry for a day before handling the project again.
Mount the Hardware
This is the final step. Once your stained door is dry, mount the sliders to the top of the door. Usually, they will hook over the door, and you'll secure them with a couple of screws.

When the hardware is in place, have a friend or family member help you lift the door and hook the sliders over the wall-mounted hardware. Slide the door from side to side, step back, and admire your good work.

With these instructions, you'll have a DIY barn door to be proud of. If you're still looking for the perfect home for your barn door, contact us. We'll help you find incredible Sarasota homes for sale and Bradenton homes for sale in your style.

Categories: DIY Before Selling Home

Tags: Home Selling, Home Design, Sarasota, FL, Bradenton FL, Bradenton Beach FL, Home buying, Home Maintenance, Dream Home, DIY Before Selling Home, Home Selling Tips, Home improvement, Bradenton, FL, Sarasota County

Related Markets: Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Sarasota

Matthew Faul Cell: (941) 345-3255 Email: mattfaul@wagnerrealty.com

Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 03/03/2026. The listing information on this page last changed on 03/03/2026. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of Delta Media Group MLS (last updated Tue 03/03/2026 12:32:12 AM EST) or Stellar MLS (last updated Tue 03/03/2026 12:14:05 AM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Wagner Realty may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy / DMCA Notice / ADA Accessibility

DIY a Barn Door With These 7 Steps

Login to My Homefinder

We have detected that you have cookies disabled.