Should A Sliding Barn Door Cover Trim?

Sliding barn doors are one of the most explosive trends in interior design that support just about any aesthetic. Their timeless appearance and simplicity make it unlikely that sliding barn doors will fall out of popularity anytime soon. Proper installation is critical. So, should a sliding barn door cover trim?

Your sliding barn door should cover the trim for the most impact and visual appeal. Sliding barn doors should stick out 1 ¾” or up to 2” or more depending on the size of the track and door. There is a trend of having an extra 1”-2” of trim on each side where the barn door track ends.

Trim is a must for sliding barn doors, despite some of the inconveniences such as lack of privacy. However, you can improve your privacy if you close the gap in your barn door with weatherstripping or a piece of wood. Follow along as we explore why a sliding barn door should cover trim.

A sliding barn door should cover trim and stick out between 1” and 2”. This space allows for proper clearance and 1 ¾” is the perfect distance for standard barn door tracks. Barn doors simply look great against trim, and that’s why it is ideal to let it cover the trim.

There are many styles of trim to choose from for your barn door. One of the most common trends is to have an extra 2” of trim on either side that extends past the door’s track. That isn’t required for your barn door trim to look great, however, but it is a trendy style.

A barn door with trim creates a gap that some homeowners don’t like, but it looks better than no trim. Sound, smells, and light can enter through the gap that is often present with trim. However, the gap is unavoidable in many cases anyway depending on what kind of track your barn door has.

In that case, trim is ultimately just a case of personal taste and style in your home. You can fill the gap in your barn door with a door sweep or weatherstripping in most cases. This allows you the benefits of barn door trim without sacrificing privacy or welcoming pests.

A barn door should stick out up to 1 ¾” from the wall if not further. Some barn doors can stand out 1” from the wall without a problem, particularly if you have a standard track. How far your barn door sticks out from the wall ultimately has a lot to do with how thick the door is.

The door’s thickness as well as far the track sticks out determines how far the barn door will extend from the wall. Barn door tracks typically extend between 1” and 2” from the wall, but it varies between companies and installation. Some homeowners don’t like that their barn door sticks out from the wall, but it is unavoidable.

Barn doors vary from hinge doors and rely on a track to open and close. The track extends from the wall which leaves your barn door no choice but to stick out. Thicker barn doors stick out from the wall the furthest between the track and the door’s width.

Sliding barn doors have become quite popular for bathrooms, but they can limit your privacy. They still have a 1”-2” gap which is not as secure as a standard door with a hinge. With that said, you can improve a sliding barn bathroom door’s privacy with a latch.

Teardrop locks are also useful if you have a sliding barn door for your bathroom. Soundproof foam corner blocks can help insulate your bathroom barn door and prevent sounds from escaping. You can also put acoustic foam on the door, but that may take away from the rustic appearance.

Recessed door jambs can also help make the gap more narrow which is ideal for a bathroom. However, barn doors aren’t the best for bathrooms when it comes to privacy, so you may need to replace them if the problem persists. Swinging doors aren’t as unique, but they allow for more privacy than barn doors.

The most common way to hide the gap between a wall and a barn door is weatherstripping. However, there are other methods to fill the gap, but it will generally still be noticeable. A gap is unavoidable for most barn doors with trim, even if it can be annoying.

The main downside to a gap between a wall and a barn door is that it limits your privacy. This is especially important if your barn door leads to a bathroom where privacy is critical. Luckily, there are several ways to fill the gap to prevent pests from entering and improve your privacy.

A door sweep is a great way to seal the gap at the top or bottom of a barn door. You cannot necessarily use a door sweep to hide the gap in the side trims as you could with weatherstripping. Even still, a door sweep is among the simplest ways to close a barn door gap.

Door sweeps are essentially metal strips that feature a seal to prevent energy loss. They are useful for any type of door, especially if it is an entry door from the outside. While they are useful, a door sweep is best used in conjunction with other solutions such as weatherstripping to soundproof the door.

Weatherstripping is a great way to seal the gap for any door to prevent energy loss. It can also help muffle sounds on either side of the door, and that is important when it comes to barn doors. You can choose between rubber, felt, and foam weatherstripping depending on your taste and what is available.

Rubber is the best weatherstripping material because of its durability and performance despite the trickier installation. Install the weatherstripping over the bottom of the barn door as well as the side trims. Weatherstripping is just as effective for soundproofing as it is for improving energy efficiency.

Insert a piece of wood into the gap between the wall and barn door. This will help seal the gap to soundproof the door and improve your privacy. Use wood if you want a quick and easy way to hide the gap between a wall and barn door without spending much money.

Simply measure the gap and cut a section of wood to fit the space. Bring the measurement to a local hardware store if you don’t have the tools to cut wood because they can typically do it for you. Just make sure that the wood isn’t too thick so that you don’t affect its ability to open and shut.

You should always cover your trim with your barn door for the best appearance. The sliding barn door should extend 1 ¾” from the trim, or as little as 1”. Anything smaller than 1” won’t fit well or allow enough space between the barn door and the wall.

Some homeowners avoid trim for their sliding barn door to minimize the gap, but that isn’t necessary. You can always close the gap between the wall and door with weatherstripping, pieces of wood, and a door sweep. Weatherstripping is the most effective method because you can close the gap at the top, bottom, and side trims.

A sliding barn door without trim is less visually appealing and limits the dynamics of the room. Use your trim to match and complement the barn door or create a contrast. White trim pairs perfectly with a dark sliding barn door and will make it stand out.