FREE SHIPPING ON ALL US ORDERSDIY Barn Door Insulation in 5 Easy Steps
Posted by The Barn Door Hardware Store on Feb 9th 2024
Does your home boast stylish barn doors? If so, you may have wondered whether it was possible to insulate them!
While barn doors add modernity and sophisticated design to a home, the downside is that they tend to leave large gaps which let in both droughts as well as unwanted noise.
The good news is that there are several insulation options for your barn doors!
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know by delving into the various materials you can use for insulation, as well as a simple five-step approach you can follow.
This guide will cover:
- An overview of insulating barn doors
- Different insulation options for barn doors
- A five-step guide to insulating barn doors
- DIY vs. professional insulation.
Let’s get into it!
An Overview of Insulating Barn Doors
Barn doors are a focal design point of any house, and they offer superior functionality and aesthetic in comparison to other door options.
However, the gaps left between the door, door frame, and floor can be problematic!
This is where insulation comes in. However, one of the main problems associated with the insulation of barn doors is how it affects the ability of the door to continue to slide open and close with ease.
We’ll keep this problem in mind as we look at all your options when insulating barn doors. Let’s get started!
Different Insulation Options for Barn Doors
The first thing you will need to consider when insulating your barn doors is the material that you use.
There are several different materials available, each with their respective benefits. In this section, we’ll go over each material option including its merits and weaknesses:
Foam board insulation
The first option you have for insulation is to use foam board strips to place around the edges of the door.
These strips can be found in self-adhesive rolls which you then cut to the desired size, and place onto the edges of the door.
The advantages of foam board strips are that they are easy to cut to size, affordable, and they are also usually waterproof.
However, if you want your insulation to stand the test of time, foam boards may not be the most durable material to use.
Spray foam insulation
Spray foam insulation is another good option, with the benefit here being the ease of application.
With spray foam, you can skip the measuring and cutting and instead, simply spray on the insulation to the door edges with a spray gun!
Spray foam is also another more affordable option. However, like foam boards, spray foam may not be the most durable option to last over time.
Insulating blankets
A quick and easy option is to use insulating blankets to keep out the cold!
Insulating blankets are hung in the doorframe of the door to cover any gaps. The benefits of insulating blankets are that they are inexpensive and easy to install.
However, the downside is that they may look out of place in the room and cover the barn doors themselves which are meant to be a focal design point of the room!
In addition, insulating blankets won’t do anything to keep unwanted noise out.
Weatherstripping and draft seals
Weatherstrips are seals made of hardy materials such as vinyl and rubber. These seals can easily be attached to the edges of your door!
The benefits of weatherstripping are that they are durable, waterproof, and relatively easy to install.
They will effectively keep your home free of droughts and keep out noise pollution from adjourning rooms.
However, the main downside is that weather stripping tends to be more costly than other options due to the more durable material used.
Brush seals
Lastly, a great idea for insulating the gap between the door and the floor is brush seals!
Brush seals can be fitted to the bottom of the door, and block droughts effectively while still allowing the barn doors to slide open and close with ease.
Step-by-Step Guide to Insulating Barn Doors
Once you’ve decided what materials to use to insulate your barn doors, it’s time to get started with insulating!
In this section, we’ll take you through each step of the process:
1. Identifying gaps and leaks
Before you jump into insulating, you’ll want to assess where exactly the gaps are in your barn doors.
Locate and measure the gaps you want to fill before you start the insulation process so you know exactly what you need to cover.
2. Checking for signs of wear and tear
Next, check your barn for any signs of wear and tear!
Before you put any additional insulation materials on your door, you will want to make sure you repair any existing chips or cracks. This will ensure your insulation is fully effective.
3. Preparing the barn doors for insulation
Before you install your chosen insulation material, check that any debris is removed from your barn doors.
You may need to clean your doors thoroughly to remove any dirt or other debris! This step will help to ensure your insulation material stays in place and is durable.
4. Installing the insulation material
Now that you’ve done all the necessary preparations, you’re ready to install your insulation!
The method of installing your insulation may depend on the material you’ve chosen, though you will generally need to ensure your insulation material is measured and cut in accordance with the measurements you previously took of the gaps.
5. Check the effectiveness of the insulation
When installing the insulation it’s important to ensure you leave enough space for the door to still open and close effectively.
Once the insulation is installed, check the functioning of the doors. You may need to readjust the insulation if the doors are not still sliding seamlessly.
DIY vs. Professional Insulation
When it comes to installing insulation on your barn doors, you may wonder whether it’s a project that you can do yourself or whether it’s worth hiring a professional to do the job for you!
Let’s take a look at some factors to consider when weighing up the two options:
Cost
Unsurprisingly, hiring a professional to insulate your doors is going to take more money out of your pocket!
However, if you choose the DIY route, you will save yourself money but potentially save yourself a lot of time.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the materials you choose to use will also factor into the cost of the project, and you will still have to purchase these if you go the DIY route.
Competence
If you choose to hire someone to do the job, you’ll have greater peace of mind that the job is done correctly!
This may be more important to you than saving a few extra dollars. However, if you are a skilled DIYer, you may be just as competent with your own skills.
Complexity
Lastly, before choosing to install insulation yourself, you’ll need to consider how complex the job is first.
Do you have barn doors that are made of a more delicate material or that have complex latches?
In more complex cases such as these, it may be worth your while to hire a professional with plenty of experience with barn doors.
Final Thoughts
While barn doors are a stylish and modern focal point of the home, one of the undisputed downsides is that they tend to leave pesky gaps between the doors which allow droughts and noise to seep through.
As we’ve seen, there is a solution! Barn doors can be insulated through a variety of materials, including weatherstripping, foam boards, spray foam, insulating blankets, and brush seals.
Each of these options has the benefit of being either more inexpensive or more durable – the choice is yours!
Installing the insulation is a relatively easy and straightforward process following our five simple steps.
However, if DIY is new to you or if you have a more complex insulation job on your hands, hiring a professional to do the job for you is well worth consideration to ensure your doors are airtight!