Before we get started, let’s talk about what a barn door is and isn’t. While the popularity in recent years of barn door aesthetics in your residential home is everywhere, ACTUAL barn doors are not. If you own a barn, you are likely fighting degradation, warping, or out of square doors, so what are your options?
You could go to the wonderful internet, start searching for options, and you’ll see doors for sale. You’ll sift through the multitude of residential style interior barn sliding doors, but inevitably, you’ll find a company selling barn doors for an actual barn.
What's Already Out There?
They are typically plank, shiplap, or tongue and groove, in either 1x or 2x material, with a 2x frame, maybe glued, nailed or screwed together. Most typically in a 4x7 or 4x8 configuration and range from $1,200 to $1,600 before shipping and hardware. They weigh roughly 200lbs (100lbs per half), and can take 6-8 weeks to build.
The other option will be steel framed doors. These are amazing doors, with long-lasting design, powder coated, and weigh as much as a commuter car. There is no doubt that these are the pinnacle of barn design and aesthetics. And you pay for them. It’s not uncommon to have a full steel door in excess of $2,500 to $3,000 before shipping. They weigh roughly 350-400lbs, and likely take 6-8 weeks to construct.
The Problem With All Of It
Both require special equipment to haul, offload, and hang in the barn and will likely take 2-3 people to hang. They all require an LTL (Less than truck load) flatbed for delivery, and are likely coming from out of state. Rural access for these trucks can be challenging, and the buyer is responsible for offloading the truck. If you order more than 1 door, you’ll need a decent size tractor with forks, but more than likely an offroad type forklift rental.
All of these challenges force barn/farm owners to take things into their own hands. Likely building their own doors. But if you’ve been on Youtube lately, the examples are limited and dated.
A Better Way
Having worked in the barn kit industry for years, and having experimented with different kinds of materials, we've found that Cross Laminated Timber doors are a game-changer for barn doors — and a way to save the backs and wallets of barn owners everywhere.
We've developed a Dutch Door made from European Spruce, cross laminated with 3 layers of alternating lumber. It's pressed and edge glued, then cut via CNC for exacting dimensions. The frame and crossbuck are made from the same material, CNC cut, and joined together with exterior grade adhesives and stainless finish nails. The result? A Dutch Door that weighs only 200lbs (100lbs per half), light enough for one person to hang without equipment, stable, resistant to warping, and shipped via standard carrier directly to your property. Our prices include shipping through Amazon fulfillment, and your door can be delivered in days.
Innovating in an industry hundreds of years old takes intention and experience — and we built this for you. We're confident it'll be the last barn door you ever buy. Let's get started.