Asked on Jul 31, 2016

Draft proofing an indoors barn door

Tone
by Tone
(Picture is not mine, was found online)
We have arrived very small entryway leading into a bigger hallway. Since this is an old house there are some draft issues. We have had av double curtain hung in the doorway between these two rooms. It is not av Great look but it works. Now my mind is set on replacing the curtain with a barndoor. But I am worried about all the air and draft running in between the door andre the Wall. IT is obviously not andre airtight solution, but is there anyway I can close it a little extra? Any good advise?
  8 answers
  • William William on Jul 31, 2016
    You can add foam weather strip to the door on the side that will be against the trim and bottom of the door or a door sweep on the bottom. The foam strip will create a seal when the door is closed.
  • Susan Bechamp Susan Bechamp on Aug 01, 2016
    Most barns are drafty, uninsulated , unheated spaces. The doors were never designed to provide an airtight seal. They run parallel to the wall on a track. I suggest fixing the other air leaks at their source.
  • Geri Ann Geri Ann on Aug 01, 2016
    I guess I would heavy duty weather strip the windows rather than the door 'cause doing the door could ruin the look...
  • Sophia,M.,McConnery Sophia,M.,McConnery on Aug 01, 2016
    Your best solution is to add the thick foam weather strips.
  • Patti Patti on Aug 01, 2016
    I agree with Geri Ann to prevent the draft in the first place by weather stripping the windows and door that leak air. We have a barn door and we built up the trim around the barn door. In order to do this we had to plane the trim down until it was almost touching the barn door as it moved back and forth but not completely touching. You certainly don't want the woods to rub. Beefing up the trim prevents drafting around our barn door.
  • Johnchip Johnchip on Aug 01, 2016
    Rubber 'bumper' style stripping, not foam.
  • Emily Emily on Oct 04, 2017

    Not a fan of barn doors here. Way overused IMHO and will date your decorating to a certain time. I would be concerned about weather proofing the space where the cold is entering and not worry about the barn door. Is it that you don't care if the entrance hall is cold but do not want the barn door room to be cold?


  • Jonny Traco Jonny Traco on Oct 03, 2018

    Anyone find a good solution with pictures to this question? We want to use a sliding barn door to separate our living room from our all seasons porch. Want it to be insulated though.