Matching doors and sliding hardware (custom barn door hardware) is a challenge for many contractors. We offer 8 tips to help you easily match the right door with the right type of hardware.
1) What is the style you are looking for?
Door panels are made of glass and wood, and likewise, there`s a dizzying array of different kinds, colors and styles of hardware. A sliding door hardware specialist with an in-house interior design service will be able to help you make a selection.
2) Determine if there are any special features on your door that need to be matched, like a glass panel or specialty handle.
This will make your design choices much easier.
3) What features are you looking for to maximize safety?
Sliding doors have evolved from the old barn style, to attain the ultimate in modern design sensibilities. And every available opportunity for safety has been addressed. For example, many door tracks are now engineered to be “soft-closing,” with special damping meaning it can`t slam.
This is an important aspect that many contractors neglect when shopping for a door and sliding hardware.
4) Consult an online catalog for all available options in matching doors and sliding hardware.
Many manufacturers have catalogs, which can be found on their websites, and on sliding door hardware retailer sites too; for example, this blog: modern sliding door hardware describes a particular door hardware supplier that has certain manufacturer catalogs available upon request. They even list the range of different sliding doors they sell by each manufacturer.
A good place to start is with manufacturers of the sliding hardware you are looking for, and then search through their catalogs from there.
This will provide an overview of all available options in matching doors and sliding hardware that can accommodate your needs. In particular, look for the available track lengths.
If you are not sure what size best matches your installation, consult with a dealer with qualified customer service.
5) Look at the aesthetics and design of each product before making a decision
Even with the expert advice of a professional interior designer, ultimately, the style you want is uniquely yours. You`ll want to extensively look at pictures of each track to see if it matches your needs. That`s when you know when the right hardware is in front of you.
6) Choose a door of a bright color to make it stand out from the rest of the space
Your interior space can really pop out with unusual design elements. While we`re not asking you to get at war with others, it`s a good idea to have the door or sliding hardware of a bright color.
7) Is the hardware an unsupported track?
One last thing you`ll want to do before making your final decision is make sure that if you`re installing a door in an unsupported track, then it has beveled edges for safety purposes and peace of mind. You can never go wrong with following safety precautions.
Complete hardware kits will bundle the right rollers with the track, so this peace of mind is built into your purchase.
8) Consider harmony of your interior design
While you can choose to make certain elements stand out, as described in #6, there are many instances and areas where you don`t want the door and hardware to clash with the rest of the interior design.
This is where considering how well-matched your door and hardware are with your décor can be a game changer in terms of making sure that everything looks cohesive, professional, and complete.
With custom sliding door hardware, you`ll make a professional design choice that you won`t regret. It`ll also match your dimensions perfectly – provided, of course, you`re responsible for describing those dimensions in great detail.