Reusing Barn Doors

Inspect barn doors for termites, mold and any other possible invaders. According to the Old House Web website, barn doors are susceptible to damage from moisture and a variety of insects, including powder post beetles and carpenter ants.

Remove barn doors from their original location. Detach the doors from the barn structure with the original hardware intact whenever possible. You may also choose to purchase your barn doors from a company that specializes in reclaiming timber. Companies like Historic Flooring often take great care to remove and protect old barn doors when dismantling old stables and barns.

Save all overhead tracks and hardware from barn doors when removing them from their original location. According to the Timber and Beam Solutions website, many of these elements may also be reused in the door’s new location, whether as part as the door or as a complementary accent piece. Saving the original overhead track and hardware also increases the chances that you will be able to maintain a recycled barn door in full working condition.

Clean the doors and lubricate hinges and other original hardware that you wish to reuse. Dirty hardware may retain moisture, which will cause your hardware to rust. Cleaning and lubricating is especially important if you wish for your barn doors to remain in usable condition.

Refinish barn doors if needed. In many cases, the original weathered finish of your used barn doors will offer the unique decorative effect you wish to achieve with no refinishing required. You may wish to refinish your doors if the paint is peeling badly or simply does not match the decor of their new location. You may choose to remove old paint prior to refinishing. Paint, enamel and other pigmented finishes can often be reapplied without first stripping the old finish.