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Less Dead Space for More Living Space

Traditional swing doors have long been the standard in home, office, and hospitality design. However, because of their sweeping door travel, a lot of space is rendered unusable, especially with bigger doors. Sliding barn door hardware systems, however, take up a minimum of space whether opening or closing—space that can be put to better use.

Here’s how to use sliding door hardware systems to save space and open up a building’s potential:

1. Keep Hallways Free Even With Multiple Doors Open

Use sliding barn doors in hallways with multiple doors to maintain access to all rooms at all times and prevent collisions from doors opening into passersby. Because a sliding door’s dead space due to door travel is only along the wall, it works especially well where there is multiple rooms opening into a single hallway as in retail spaces and clinics.

Taking high quality photographs in an interior space is deceptively challenging. Everything from technical concerns like lighting and composition, to equipment settings and cropping can undermine a shoot. However, there is hope. Krownlab’s in-house photography team, Akiko Noguchi and Steve Savas, have some basic best practices that can elevate you photos to match the quality of your installation.

1. Use natural light

Whenever possible, use natural light. Not only does it help bring a space to life, it prevents strong shadows and color casts.

“Natural light is always my first choice,” says Noguchi. “Unless it’s necessary, such as in windowless rooms or a low light office environment, I don't use any artificial light. Open your blinds!”

This rule maintains even if the weather outside isn’t cooperating with sunshine.

“You don't have to worry so much about weather,” Noguchi says. “Actually light is more stable on cloudy days, and you can always adjust with longer exposure.”

If the natural lighting isn’t quite highlighting what you’d like, consider using a reflector rather than flipping the light switch.

“I am a heavy user of reflectors to cast the light just right over the hardware,” Savas says. “It helps spotlight what should be the focus of the photo.”

1. Use Glass

The best shower designs feature glass prominently. Not only does glass convey a premium design sensibility, as a material, it lets light filter cleanly through the bathroom to make the space feel bigger. Glass also works well to showcase one of the most beautiful features of a premium shower, the tiling.

“I prefer full glass panels and doors to enclose showers, as opposed to partial walls or curtains,” says Beth Kooby, owner of Beth Kooby Design. “Usually the biggest expanse of gorgeous tile is in the shower, so I want to be able to see that!”

Also, glass enclosed showers, especially frameless systems, show off a shower’s tilework even when a visitor isn’t actually using the shower. For frameless glass shower enclosures, consider sliding door hardware. A sliding door shower system will also cut down on dead-space due to door travel—of special importance in bathrooms.

“In most bathrooms, space is such a commodity,” Kooby says. “The great thing about a sliding shower door is the space saving capability!”

Sliding barn doors are an iconic and useful element in modern design. They minimize dead space caused by door travel, are better for ADA access, and easily transform two static-use rooms into one living, adaptable space that can be divided or opened up according to need. Krownlab offers sliding door hardware in three configuration to fit projects with varying amounts of wall space and a wide array of intended uses. Between Single, Bi-Parting, and Bypassing, there is a Krownlab sliding door hardware solution to fit the project.

Single Door Configuration

Our Single Door Configuration is our most popular and is available with all of our sliding door hardware systems. Use oversized door panels to create an adaptable space that can easily change between open or divided depending on need. Create large, custom door panels to add design detail and tie in to overall interior decor. With Krownlab’s wide range of door panel weight capacities—the Oden, Baldur, and Ragnar sliding door hardware systems handle door panels of up to 400 lb—enjoy complete design freedom.

We offer the Axel sliding barn door hardware system in three standard lengths, 70”, 94”, and 116”. All of these lengths come with mounting holes pre-drilled and will work for most installations. However, sometimes a door opening lands between sizes and the door travel needs to be modified. No problem. Simply order the next length up and customize your Axel sliding door track for the desired door travel. This is a very easy modification to do in the field with common tools. All you will need are:

• A drill ⅜” drill bit for metal
• Lubricant (optional)
• Masking or painter’s tape
• A small block of wood

Using these tools, perform the following steps:

1. Order your Axel sliding door hardware system in the next size up

If you find your door opening is in between standard Axel track lengths, simply order the next size up.

2. Install your Axel sliding door hardware system

Complete installation of the Axel sliding door hardware system by following each step in the included instructions.

3. Determine and mark desired door travel

a. Move the door panel to the desired fully open position. b. Tape track with masking or painter’s tape. c. Mark the tape 9/16” from the trolley bracket as shown.

4. Slide door panel to fully closed position as shown

When we moved into our new building in the Northwest Industrial district, we used glass walls throughout. Glass walls are the perfect way to update an industrial building with modern elements. We used our Oden sliding door hardware system for the entrance. Take a moment to see our work.

Oden was designed with glass in mind. We know that glass is not a forgiving material to work with, which is why we’ve built flexibility into the system. Our door stops are continually adjustable and can be set anywhere on the track. Krownlab’s trolleys can be adjusted on the jobsite in a number of directions. Set the exact distance between the fixed glass panel and the moving panel to clear any obstructions on the jobsite and install acoustic seals to control noise pollution. With systems compatible with glass panels between ⅜” and ¾” thick, pick the right glass thickness for your project.

Not only do sliding barn door systems have a modern aesthetic, they are compatible with fully frameless glass panels and glass walls, go-to modern office elements. And because sliding door systems work so well with glass, you can incorporate more of it into your design. This gives you the option of using local glass and easily upping your LEED ranking.

Krownlab’s sliding door hardware systems can be mounted to a variety of surfaces. Ragnar, Oden, Baldur, and Rob Roy are compatible with each of the wall types below, while Axel works with only framed walls. There is nothing special you’ll need to buy to install your Krownlab hardware, just make the appropriate wall type selection as you checkout, and we’ll include all the needed materials in your shipment.

Some general best practices to follow when installing your sliding door hardware, no matter the surface, include:

• Double check your specific hardware’s mounting height requirements before you begin drilling (excluding glass walls).

• For framed and concrete walls, drill a pilot hole for each mounting point.

• Make sure that each mounting point engages an appropriate amount of structural material.

• Loosely install one end of your track with the appropriate track spacers and hardware first, then swing up the track and fasten the other end rather than trying to install the track in its final position to start.

For more specific considerations based on wall type. See below:

Framed Walls (Wood or Metal Studs)

Framed walls with wood or metal studs must have 3” of solid wood blocking secured to studs or other framing materials. Our framed wall kits include the appropriate-sized lag bolts to fasten the sliding door track into the blocking. Click here for more information on blocking for sliding door hardware with metal or wood studs.

Glass Wall

Our glass wall mounting kit includes hardware compatible with glass walls 3/8" and 1/2" thick. We can include custom hardware for thicker glass walls by special request, just let us know in the comment section at checkout. Please note that bypassing hardware systems are not available for glass wall installations.

All sliding doors need some kind of bottom guide. Bottom guides are mounted in the finished floor and are always hidden by the panel (wood doors) or engaged with the panel (glass doors). Bottom guides ensure consistent door travel, keep the door plumb, and prevent door panels from swinging out from the track and possibly dislodging. Also, a door panel in a sliding door system naturally wants to hang slightly angled toward the wall. A bottom guide prevents door panels from rubbing against and possibly damaging walls or baseboards.

We include a bottom guide with every sliding door hardware system we sell. However there is some variation in bottom guides, depending on your aesthetic preference and the kind door panel you’re working with.

Bottom guide post for wood doors

The bottom guide post can be installed in three different ways, depending on door panel material and aesthetic preference.

The first way is to simply route a channel in the bottom of your door panel. This routed channel allows the bottom guide post to keep the door panel true and plumb through the full range of door travel.

The second way is to install our bottom guide channel instead of routing a channel directly into the door panel. The sleek, stainless steel c-shaped channel is affixed to the bottom of the door and works with the bottom guide post in the same way as a routed channel. It is a great option for door panels without the structural integrity to handle routing, panels made from materials like steel, which are hard to work with, or for panels 1 ⅜” inch or thinner. And, because you aren’t relying on a perfect routing job, door travel is often the smoothest when using a bottom guide channel.

The third option is a combination of the first two. You route the bottom of the door panel, and then install the bottom guide channel in this recess. Because the bottom guide post will run against the uniform bottom guide channel, you can afford to be less precise in your routing, and still get the smoothest door travel available. Also, as the bottom guide channel is recessed into the door panel, you preserve the clean, continuous look of the door panel.

Bottom guide for glass panels

Bottom guides are even more vital in glass installations, especially in high use environments, where a knocked off panel could shatter. We offer glass bottom guides for four glass panel thicknesses: 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4", and in two materials—a high-quality plastic guide, or a premium stainless steel option, depending on the system you order.

We offer three families of door pulls: Ebba, Olav, and Inger. Each have distinct features to consider when choosing the right door pull for your project. And with multiple finishes available for each, no matter what your project calls for, there is the perfect Krownlab door pull solution.

For Maximum Opening Width

In some installations you need your sliding door to open to the maximum width. For this you‘ll select a low-profile door pull so there is no impediment. You can even configure door travel so that when your door is opened at its widest, the door panel and the wall are even.

The Ebba is our ring-style door pull and sits almost flush with the panel. It is available in two different configurations. In the open setup, Ebba provides a knothole glimpse of the adjoining room. Closed, the hardware has more surface area to showcase our premium material, while maintaining a deep gripping surface. Both configurations protrude a scant 3/16” from the door panel and are the perfect match for any of our stainless steel sliding door systems.

Your sliding door travel is controlled when the trolley hits a door stop attached to the track or the door panel impacts a bottom stop attached to the floor. You can employ either method, or use both. Find out how both of our stopping systems work below:

Door Stops

Ragnar is our newest line of sliding door hardware and features an industry-first: continuous fast and easy door travel adjustability, even after install. Ragnar door stops fit into a bottom channel that runs the length of the track. Move door stops to anywhere along the track with just a few turns of the included Allen wrench.

Our Oden, Baldur, Axel and Rob Roy sliding door systems have door stops integrated into their mounting points. This means that you can install a door stop at any one of the mounting points along your track. However, if your mounting point proves to be too close or too far away from the end of the track for preferred door travel, you can fine-tune by installing your trolleys at different spots on the door panel. The farther from the edge of the panel you install your trolleys, the more your door panel will go beyond the door stop.

With any architectural hardware product, the foundation and reinforcement that you don't see can be just as important to the performance of your opening as the hardware you do see. For sliding barn door hardware, this foundation is wood blocking. It's required for proper installation of your hardware, and ensures smooth operation. We'll cover some of the basics.

What is the wood blocking actually reinforcing?

Blocking reinforces the header of the framed opening, and (along with drywall spacers) allows the weight load of the barn door hardware and panel to be properly distributed. This prevents any of the weight load being transferred onto the drywall.

Also, it is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to hit studs when mounting your track system due to the spacing of the attachment points. Wood blocking placed between the studs ensures that each connection point of your track system is securely fastened to the wall framing, no matter the spacing.

If you have specified, or would like to specify, Krownlab sliding barn door hardware for your project, ordering online is simple. We walk you through each step with our online configurator-- and if we have any questions, we'll make contact right away.

As you work through the Configurator, we've included guidelines and instructions to ensure that you're selecting the best options for your opening. If you have specific questions, we're often available to chat, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1. Select your product line (Ragnar, Baldur, Oden, Rob Roy, or Axel.)
2. Start with "Build Yours Now" to launch the Configurator.
3. Choose your mounting system. At this stage, you'll want to know a few things about the door panel(s) such as material, panel thickness, and how much vertical adjustment you'd like to have after the door is hung.
4. Now, let us know how many door panels you'd like to hang on the sliding track system by selecting a single door or bi-parting double doors.

When looking at sliding barn door hardware, your eye typically starts with the track. Barn door track systems have a tendency to make you think that they're doing all the work. In fact, the track and the trolleys do handle the weight load and the movement of the door. However, there is another critical piece to the system. It is small, yet incredibly important-- the bottom guide. Let's take a look at our barn door bottom guides for both wood and glass panels.

What is a barn door bottom guide? The purpose of the bottom guide is to keep the door plumb, preventing it from swinging and damaging the wall or baseboard. Sliding door guides simply help the door to travel in a straight line and are not load-bearing in any way.

• For wood (or similar material) panels: The door panel travels on top of the guide. We include a 1/2” diameter bottom guide pin.

• For glass (or similar material) panels: The door panel travels inside the guide. We include a small, sleek, stainless steel
  c-channel.

How is a sliding door guide installed? Both our bottom guide pin and small c-channel door guides are intended to be installed in the floor.