How to Build a Sliding Barn Door | This Old House

In this video, This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers builds and installs a sliding barn door. (See below for shopping list and tools.)

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Many of our readers have asked us what’s the best way of tackling homemade sliding barn doors. It's easy to see why: building a sliding barn door means you don't have to rip open and reframe a wall for a pocket door.

DIY sliding barn door hardware is available in all manner of styles and budgets, and the door options are limitless—from salvage finds to original DIY creations like this one, a mix of pallet wood and common cedar. Follow this tutorial on how to build a sliding barn door from TOH senior technical editor Mark Powers.

Shopping List for Installing a Sliding Barn Door:
- track and rollers [amzn.to/30Zx6EF]
- 1x6 pine [amzn.to/34u4tBq], get seven 8-footers for the back
- 1x3 strapping [amzn.to/2PRBUL8], get one 8-footer for blocking
- 1x4 pine [amzn.to/2UyEYdP], get one 8-footer for the mounting board
- 1x5 pine [amzn.to/2Q795dV], get one 10-footer and two 6-footers for the filler strips
- pallet boards [amzn.to/2N0PSIi], salvage about 40 pieces
- 1x6 rough common western red cedar [amzn.to/2UBmXeS], get three 8-footers and one 6-footer to make the face frame
- 1 1/4-inch deck screws [amzn.to/2ZE26xk]
- 18-gauge 1 1/4-inch brads [amzn.to/2ZBYcVK] for the pneumatic nailer
- 1 1/4-inch pocket-hole screws [amzn.to/2ZApU53]
- 3-inch deck screws [amzn.to/2MYVNxk]
- panel construction adhesive [amzn.to/2LIKsyL], get two tubes
- wood glue [amzn.to/2zYr3V2]
- paste wax [amzn.to/2ZAANns]
- 100-grit sandpaper [amzn.to/2MZbuom]
- latex paint [amzn.to/2PQpoLW]
- door handle [amzn.to/2UygEsm]

Tools List for Installing a Sliding Barn Door:
- tape measure [amzn.to/2MXmOkN]
- miter saw [amzn.to/2zZbqMY]
- bar clamps [amzn.to/2ZF0cfJ]
- drill/driver [amzn.to/2ZQS4nM]
- speed clamps [amzn.to/2ZC0tAg]
- straightedge [amzn.to/2Lx1qzH]
- combination square [amzn.to/2zZmLwA]
- pneumatic nailer and compressor [amzn.to/2ZGnJNm]
- caulk gun [amzn.to/2UtWobu]
- pocket-hole jig kit [amzn.to/2N0cLf1]
- 1/8-inch drill bit [amzn.to/2MZLER3]
- cotton rag [amzn.to/2MYYmzs]
- small paintbrush [amzn.to/311iKUb]
- stud finder [amzn.to/312qaq3]
- 5/16-inch drill bit [amzn.to/312KTdo]
- 3/8-inch socket wrench [amzn.to/2PLTsrN]
- 2-foot level [amzn.to/2ZLPXpd]

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How to Build a Sliding Barn Door | This Old House
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