Barn door information needed!

[Mjdubya]

So I built a 30x40 pole barn and am now wondering what to do for the door. It will be going in the 30' end and I was hoping 10' high by 16' wide. I'm hoping to not roll with a conventional garage door because I'm not rich. Was thinking about a slider but not sure if that will work because of room. Does anybody have what I'm describing? Thanks! Hope you are all having a great weekend!

 

[readhead]

The downside for where you live will be keeping snow and ice cleared where the door will slide. By my math you don't have the room unless you don't mind having the track extend past the corner. Sealing rolling doors can be very difficult. If you are heating the space I would bite the bullet and get an insulated overhead door.

 

[red61cj5]

Sliding doors don't seal very well, so any insulation is going to be compromised, plus the above-mentioned snow and ice blocking. 8 foot hanging doors are going to sag eventually. My garage has 2 12ft overheads in the front but I tried to save money by putting 2 6 foot swingers in the back, and I hate it, already sagging a little, wind blows them shut if not secured, etc. buy cheap overheads if nothing else.

 

[mechanic217]

Sliding barn doors are tricky, if you make them so they seal well or so they can be cinched in tight then they become a pain to use, you might want to look at making some big bifold doors that hinge out and slide on a track at the top, I would use two eight foot wide doors and also build a personal door into one of them, good luck

 

[Warrenator]

I have sliding barn doors in one shop, hate them hate them hate them. You can buy better quality ball bearing rollers which help a bit. But they don't seal at all and blow in the wind, also if the ground heaves with frost they will get stuck.

I'd spend the money in a roll up door. Cheaper if you buy them unassembled and DIY.

 

[Mjdubya]

Perfect info guys! Just what I needed! Thanks!

 

[Fueler]

You will come to hate sliding barn doors especially if you like to keep warm or cool. Biggest leakers ever. I used to stuff blankets around the edges.

Last year I had the front of my building redone switching from barn doors to conventional. I could not believe the difference in the comfort and smaller utility bills.

 

[blair683]

I am having a 16'x10' door installed on my pole building. It is R13 insulated and will be $2000 installed.

 

[bob15]

Go here to look for the barn door items I used for my 14' x 11.5' barn door: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=361361

I like the sliding door, but as others have said, it doesn't seal well and you must shovel a path in the snow along the building for it to move which is a negative...... But, I wouldn't trade the door for a roll-up either......

 

[rburke65]

As said, bite this bullet and buy an overhead track garage door. Be happy.