Building barn loft doors

[mvortex1]

I need suggestions. I have a 4' X 4' loft opening framed out with 2 X 4 lumber and a single T1-11 sheet covering all the way to the opening. I bought pressure treated 7/8" x 6" decking and plan on making two doors with cross frames or like a "Z" barn style frame in the front with the boards placed vertically behind that. I was going to do an inside door with the large hinges flush mounted but the more I think about this it seems that water will easily get in the frame and rot it out over time. The other option would be to make two doors larger than the opening, frame pressure treated around that and mount the hinges to the frame and the door. Then tack a 2 x 4 over the door, seal that well and have a lip on one door that covers the other. Does anyone have any other ideas or plans to make doors like this?

The other option was to use rollers. the box stores sell them for $160 a piece and I'd need to but two kits. Too much money. I should note that we extended the ridge beam out, capped it with old barn board and hung a pulley from it. Neighbors love it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Look at the loft doors I built for my garage in this picture: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=132836&d=1315099349 They're 3/4" plywood, with 5/4 redwood 'frames' simply nailed to the front of the plywood. The center sections of the doors are 1 x 4 beadboard. It was easier than trying to totally scratch build the doors with stiles and rails, and they've held up well - they're nearly 20 years old now and still look about the same as in this picture. They're hinged so they open out, rather than in.

 

[kbs2244]

Many of the mid-west barns have hay loft doors that are a single slab that overlap the opening and slide up and down to open and close.

 

[Alan Douglas]

These date from 1898 and seem to have held up well enough. I think the t&g boards are fir. Excuse the paint job; I'm working my way up.