0

I'm brainstorming for building a cabin this summer and am wondering if anyone has had luck making a sliding barn door airtight (or at least, pretty airtight).

One cabin design I've been pondering is a south facing shed style structure with a little deck on the front. I'd like to have a way to open a significant portion of the front during non-buggy seasons and am thinking making a portion of the front wall into a sliding barn door on a runner might be a way to do that. The kicker is that I am planning to insulate the place and use it once in a while in the winter, so avoiding drafts would be a plus.

Improve this question
7
  • You can get brush type seals or you can design the door to be clamped onto a seal.
    – Solar Mike
    Feb 23, 2020 at 12:05
  • Thanks Solar Mike. What kind of a seal material would you use for the clamped set up?
    – 4restg
    Feb 23, 2020 at 12:21
  • And also, what kind of hardware for the clamp?
    – 4restg
    Feb 23, 2020 at 12:24
  • Clamps can be threaded or over-centre cams - whatever you want or based on what you want to pay... As for a seal - some rubber equivalent that is compressible but not too soft...
    – Solar Mike
    Feb 23, 2020 at 15:57
  • Would lift-slide doors do what you need? Or do you really need the overhead style track for aesthetics? I have installed this type that allowed 16' of open wall
    – Jack
    Feb 23, 2020 at 16:30

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

Here is a good picture showing the bottoms of the lift slide doors I installed. The 16' ones were on another job, these are only offer a 10' opening. The pics showing the upper half are kinda dark.

Is this something that may work for you? Liftslide1

Liftslide2

Liftslide3

Improve this answer
2
  • What do the lift and slide cost? I've installed some before and they were pricey. The sliding door systems like the eclipse systems run ~$800 per foot but that is the top end. Kind of unclear if the OP is asking for a solid door that would slide or is picturing something that has a window.
    – Fresh Codemonger
    Feb 23, 2020 at 17:50
  • 1
    I know it does not come cheap, I was installing GU brand, I think But if the OP wants a system that will seal up and operate smoothly, that is the way to go, unless the overhead hardware is a must. I would hope it would be closer to 800 bucks an operable panel
    – Jack
    Feb 23, 2020 at 22:45

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.