huge door question

[logical]

I have finally started building my shop and the plans have changed considerably. I am building a 58'X 32' metal roofed pole barn and am putting my shop (20X32) under it in the back. The center of the barn has a 14' high by 15'9" wide opening for my travel trailer. Here's the question; What kind of doors do you guys suggest for this big of an opening? I'd rather stay away from the metal rolling garage door look.

Thanks,
Wes

[TDHofstetter]

Wow, Wes! You don't ask much, do you? :)

Is there a place for an old-style side-slide barn door to slide sideways? I've seen 'em spanning openings up to about 16' high x 20' wide. Ya hang 'em on big rollers on big tracks.

Barring the "blue-tarp" look, just almost the only real alternative for such a structure would be a rollup. Could be a WOODEN rollup, though, with windows & everything.

Uuuuh, I trust your pole barn will be sided.

Come to think of it, it'd be possible (if the structure is fully stabilized) to put in a tambour-style "roll-sideways" door too. Be different, but it'd work.

-- Tim --

Argue for your limitations,
and sure enough - they're yours.
- Richard Bach -

[SteveS]

I have a large doorway in the middle of my one shop wall also. It currently has a BIG, UGLY fiberglass door right in the middle of it.

I want to replace mine with a sliding door. Anyone have particulars of how these things mount? Where can I get one?
Thanks!

[Frank]

I agree with Tim, go with sliders, running on overhead tracks. A friend just built a shop, and designed his own doors. They are quieter than metal, better insulated, and he used weather strip and a method to "cinch" them tight, making them water-tight. I'll try to get some info from him.

Frank

[Sawduster]

If it is the looks you are concerned about, you can get all sorts of "looks" in the way of garage doors if you go to an Overhead Door place. Odd sizes and custom looks. Other than that, one that slides on rollers would be the best bet. Swinging doors that size would bring up a lot of questions concerning support and the space needed to swing the things open.

[srpoly]

I would check with your pole barn guys. My dad's was just included in the package. There are two doors that slide apart from each other.
The down side to this system, is that it is designed for a barn. It does not have a threshold or very much seal at all. They work great though. The shop will be completely self contained within the barn so weather titeness is not an issue.

Also, all of the major hardware manufacturers have "barn door hardware". Even our Home depot carries them.( course I live in barn country so..... maybe downtown LA's HD wouldn't?)

For my own shop, I used the heavy-duty gate making brackets. I used the Easy Gate brand from HD. I built two doors out of two-by stock then sheeted it with my siding material. Each door is 4'x7'. I then used used large gate bolts at the top and bottom of one door to lock into the top and bottom jambs. Keeps everything nice and solid.

[logical]

>I would check with your pole barn guys. My dad's was just
>included in the package.

I don't have any guys doing this for me. No package. I wish I did though. It's a little frightening getting up on the top roof. I had to spend an extra 200.00 just to get a ladder that would reach. Note the 16' ladder in this picture is perched upon a table and barely reaches the trusses. I now have a 24 footer and it's much nicer. I have tied a Swiss seat and hook on to the 2x6 up top when I'm up there.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...e/fd1c7959.jpg

[TDHofstetter]

Whoa - is that deja view or did I just meet you? :)

The sliding barn doors I've seen are hung on rollers attached to the tops of doors you're kinda' expected to build for yourself. The rollers ride on steel tracks at the tops of the doors. You can get the rollers and tracks at agricultural-supply stores & online vendors.

-- Tim --

Argue for your limitations,
and sure enough - they're yours.
- Richard Bach -

[TDHofstetter]

Looks like a good start, Wes! Brings back lotsa' memories...

Is that a New Holland or a Ford?

-- Tim --

Argue for your limitations,
and sure enough - they're yours.
- Richard Bach -

[logical]

1972 Ford that needs work. I haven't had a place to repair anything since finishing in my garage. (see "cabinets" thread) I used an auger attachment to dig the first 8 post holes for the barn then the tractor decided it wouldn't go out of gear anymore. That's why it's sitting in the middle of the picture. I have to finish the roof of the barn to get a dry place to work on the tractor before I can finish my shop. It's rained for 3 weeks here. Should have planted rice as a hobby.