Dominating the eye line, Barn-Entry Doors are one of the first things you notice when you enter a horse farm.
Whether you are planning a backyard horse barn or a commercial horse barn, your choice in barn doors is important. The right barn doors add to your barn’s look and feel. They also serve a big role in the overall flow of your barn.
To begin, we always emphasize the importance of two factors in barn door design: ventilation and light.
Proper ventilation helps remove heat, moisture, and any toxic gases. This then helps avoid any build up of mold, dampness, or respiratory problems with your horse. In addition to ventilation, light is key in a barn environment. Ample light helps your horse from being cautious when entering a dark barn.
Most barns feature Barn-Entry Doors on both ends. While some clients prefer hinged doors, sliding doors tend to be the most popular choice. These barn end doors have a similar width as the aisle-way (12’ minimum). Our standard barn door height is 10’, but clients often choose 12' and 16' heights. Barn end doors will often use a full wood fill option or partial wood fill. In the case of partial wood, glass inserts are usually on the upper half while wood fill in the lower half.
In addition to fill options, all Barn End Doors should be made out of galvanized steel tubing. Galvanized steel ensures that your barn end doors stand the test of time against rust. Our standard frame features 2" steel, but clients often choose a, 4" steel frame to give the doors substance and weight.
Our custom barn doors come in a variety of styles, materials and finishes. Both exterior and interior sliding barn doors can feature arched or square tops and a wide selection of hardware. These days, the design and style options are truly endless. If you are not sure where to start, contact American Stalls and put us to work for you. At a minimum, you can expect the following from custom American Stalls barn end doors:
- Durable, heavy duty steel frames
- Welded, raised cross buck designs
- 4" wide cross bucks, rising 1-inch off the face of the door
- Seamless joints and corners
- Highest quality track hardware for years of use
Rest assured, your Barn Entry Doors will not only look great, but will also operate seamlessly after years of use.
Aside from barn end doors, next way to add style and function to your barn is the Dutch door (also known as "exterior stall doors").
Dutch Doors are a great way to add ventilation and safety to your barn. Standard door sizes are 48” x 88” and 48” x 96”. Another basic requirement is for doors to be solidly welded and pre-hung. This ensures that your doors are weatherproof and easy to install.
Our exterior stall doors can be in one (1) piece units or the Dutch door style to allow the horse to look outside and increase ventilation. Our one piece units can be hinged or mounted on a track and slide open. If you do choose a hinge option, hinges should be fully adjustable and both the hinge bolts and compartment latches made of high-quality steel for long-term durability.
We also strongly recommend to consider dutch doors that open from either the inside or the outside for optimal barn safety (read more here). Similar to our barn end doors, our dutch doors are robust and feature:
- Durable, heavy-duty steel frames
- Fully welded crossbuck designs
- Thick crossbucks, rising 1-inch off the face of the door
- Seamless joints and corners
- Upgrade to prepare door for glass in-fill
- Multiple latch options
- High-quality seamless hinges that serve you will for years of operations
To conclude, here is a quick checklist of things that are prerequisites to a high quality barn door:
- Heavy-duty steel gauges (minimum 14-GA steel)
- Galvanized steel (to maximize longevity of your barn doors against rust)
- Architectural grade powder coat finish that is well suited for exterior and outdoor applications
- Heavy-duty track systems with self cleaning designs
- Heavy-duty hardware such as door stops and door guides (for barn entry doors) and hold back latches for Dutch doors
Do you have more questions about stall components or barn safety in general? Contact an American Stalls team member today!
