People love to hold the old traditions in modern lifestyle. Introducing sliding barn doors to their modern houses is another example of that. We understand your love for the rustic and versatile feel in your living space.
Some people think that a barn door is not that safe because they cannot see any visual locking system on the door.
There are multiple locking systems available for this type of door. Hook and eye locks, teardrop privacy locks, and barrel slide bolt locks are most famous as sliding bar door locks. Some more locking system is also available.
However, stay with us throughout the blog to know the details about those locking systems. It is time to say goodbye to your old traditional doors.
Types Of Sliding Barn Doors
There are various types of barn doors available in the market. Before you decide what type of lock you are going to buy, you should know the barn door style you have. Every lock is not compatible with each door type. So, it is important to know.
Depending on the sliding action, you will see 5 types of sliding doors. Here they are:
Standard Sliding Barn Door
This type of sliding door has one panel of the door. It could be made of anything or any material. It slides along the sliding track and both corners of the door attach to the sliding track with the help of a hanger.
Pocket Type Sliding Door
You can see this type of arrangement in both single and double barn door setups. It has an opening in the wall and the barn door fits with that wall.
Biparting Sliding Barn Door
This is a pretty common type of sliding barn door. It has double doors attached with a similar sliding track. They meet in the middle and you can open either of them or both of them at the same time.
Biflod Sliding Door
When two panels on a single track slide along and overlap each other while opening, it is called a bifold sliding door.
Bypassing Sliding Door
Bypassing sliding door includes two different doors with one panel on each of them. Those panels cross each other while opening and closing.
When you know the style of your barn door, now you can select the lock that will be compatible. A wrong selection may cause a flaw in your interior and a lack of security or privacy.
How Do Sliding Barn Door Locks Work?
Sliding doors are not like the standard doors or those fancy swinging doors. They are quite different than them.
So, it is obvious that usual door handles or locks will not work with it and will look awkward. The interior of your house will become a mess.
There is no value in a door without a locking system. When the sliding door was invented, the inventors have founded several locks for locking the door. They have different designs and working procedures.
But at the end of the day, every lock’s basic principle is the same; lock and unlock. Do not worry; barn door locks will not destroy your rustic farmhouse vibe.
8 Ways To Lock A Sliding Barn Door
The different designs and styles of barn doors made many people think that locking is not possible on them. But that is completely wrong.
Here are some ways to lock a sliding barn door:
Hook And Eye Latch
Hook and eye latch is the easiest and simplest locking system among all barn door locks. You do not have to spend much money to buy and install this lock.
The style of this lock is quite simple where two sides of it are mounted on two different surfaces pivotally.
You can install this lock on every type of barn door both inside and outside. But, it is better to install the eye side on the door and the hook side on the door jamb or on the wall.
Tear Drop Latches
The name says it all. This locking system has a teardrop-shaped metal that is attached to the door or the wall. On the opposite surface, there is a catch plate on which the tear shape of the metal rotates.
This locking system is familiar for the easy installation system. All you need is a drill machine, a screwdriver, and a measuring tape.
Just remember one thing, when you install the lock inside, mount the teardrop to the door jamb. In this situation, the catch plate will be on the door.
Barrel Slide Bolt
Want to lock your barn door with a lock that opens with a key? A Barrel slide bolt is the best answer to your question.
You can avoid the key if you want a keyless option is available for this. But this lock with a key is surely a secure option.
Assemble the sliding bolt and the latch just as the teardrop latch. When you close the barn door, the latch should rotate and catch the bolt.
The bolt with the latch attaches to lock a sliding barn door. With an easy installation process, this is one of the popular locking methods for these doors.
Cane Floor Bolt
Cane floor bolt locks have a sliding rod which you will see at the bottom of the door. It should be a little lower than the door. For that, you can make a hole in the floor and it will stop the door from sliding open.
Some people do not prefer this locking system as they have to drill a hole in the floor for the rod. Less security is another reason why people avoid this.
Flip Latch
Flip latch locks are best for double sliding barn doors. Usually, double sliding doors are not so secured and can be easily opened. A flip latch can make it a lot harder.
The lock hardware will be on the doors and there is a padlock for extra security of both the flip latch and the door.
Hasp And Padlock
When you have an exterior barn door and want to open it from outside, the hasp and padlock is the better option for locking it.
Well, you might be wondering why I am not suggesting it for the indoors. Because, when you put this inside, every time when you will open the barn door, you will need a key for that.
A little extra tip for you, use longer screws instead of short screws to install this lock. It is easy to rip off the short screws. This lock is compatible with almost every type of sliding barn door.
Single Cylinder Rim Lock
Among all types of locks, this one might the toughest one to install. You may need an expert to install this. The tools it needs to install are rare ones to be present in someone’s home.
This might be the safest and the best way for locking your sliding barn door but it will surely cost you some extra bucks for it.
A single-cylinder rim lock is best for locking the door from the outside with a key. From inside, you can lock it just with your finger.
For the easy lock and unlock facility, these locks are so much popular as barn door locks.
If you do not understand cylinder locks, you can read my other door lock comparison between Mortise Locks and Cylindrical Locks.
Smart Lock
Smart locks are getting popular for locking sliding barn doors and other standard doors in recent times. These locks offer you maximum protection and other facilities.
Finger scan door locks, app-controlled locks, and keypad door locks with password protection are some of the smart locks. This locking system is convenient and better than a latch lock.
Things To Consider While Installing A Sliding Barn Door Lock
If you want to install a sliding barn door in your house, it is always good to have the lock from the inside. It increases your safety and privacy. With the help of some simple tools and a little knowledge of DIY, you can do it yourself.
You should use heavy hardware while installing the lock because they are less vulnerable. While you attach the latch lock, it is good to use stronger and bigger bolts and avoid the bolts that come with the lock.
A lock for a barn door should be easy to access from both inside and outside. Give most priority to this topic as these doors are mainly interior doors to enhance the looks or privacy of some specific place inside the house.
Conclusion
A sliding barn door inside a house gives a vintage farmhouse feel. They are not built to be used as the main door of a house. This is the reason why these doors do not come with a locking system like the standard doors. You can always set a lock on your own.
In the upper part of this blog, I have shown you various barn door latches and locks that you can use to lock your sliding barn doors. They are easy-functioning and easy to install.
Know what type of sliding barn door you have and choose a lock that best suits it and your interior. Do it yourself or call an expert to install the lock for you.
