Barn Door without Trim - Help please!

8 years ago

I just installed a barn door to close our home office. The problem is my contractor failed to install a trim at the tap behind the hardware that would push the door out a bit. I suggested this to him, but he said it won't look good. His argument was it would look messy at the top. So what he did instead is remove the baseboard/trim on the bottom. Pictures are below.

He removed the baseboard to allow the door to open, and also on the other end, to make sure the door close behind my 3/4 brown frame. As you can see I don't have extra wall space so the door would just need to close flush to the wall.

I think for this end, I'm just going to paint the floor strip (where the baseboard has been removed) white to match the baseboard and keep a continuous line going.

I don't know what to do on the other end though. They had put a grey stain right now to match the floor, but it doesn't look good. I'm planning to ask them to sanded a bit to soften the separation and also maybe do a thin caulk/paint to create a neat line on the edge where the wall meets the floor. Do you think this will look good? Should paint the bottom strip white instead? Or should I add 1/4 inch baseboard here? Looking for ideas. Help please!

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

8 years ago

What you needed was hardware that had the door hang in front of the baseboard and the fix is not good so tell the contractor to get new hadware and stop butchering the house

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

starnyc
Original Author
8 years ago
I know right?! He already threatened to walk out and I don’t want to deal with lawsuits. So trying to figure out the best solution without re-doing the job.
Related Professionals
Decatur Flooring Contractors · Fort Smith Flooring Contractors · Saint Marys Flooring Contractors · Rochester Tile and Stone Contractors · Honolulu Tile and Stone Contractors · Calgary Interior Designers & Decorators · Portland Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Williamsburg Interior Designers & Decorators · Dubuque Interior Designers & Decorators · Rockford Interior Designers & Decorators · Bismarck Interior Designers & Decorators · El Dorado Furniture & Accessories · Des Moines Furniture & Accessories · Sioux Falls Furniture & Accessories · Eureka Furniture & Accessories
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
8 years ago
Sorry but you need to stand up for yourself. The track could have been ordered with deeper standoff’s or a board put behind the current track (which the installer talked you out of). His solution does not work, he needs to take down the track, reinstall it the correct distance from the wall, and put your baseboards back. This is always going to look like a mistake with the cut baseboards.
starnyc
Original Author
8 years ago
I did, and he said he'll walk out if he needs to re-do the tracks. So I don't have a choice now unless I take him to courts. Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult but I'm looking for alternate options. Sadly I need to settle the 'second best thing', just not sure what that is.
Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
'if it was me' (and it's not) i'd just leave it for now. its wrong but its not tragic. don't paint the floor, or do anything to call attention to its un-right-ness. as long as it functions no harm is happening. when you are having another project done in your home, have the new contractor fix this if it still bothers you. have a photo showing exactly what you want.

sometimes its just not worth the aggravation to be right, as long as its functional.
starnyc
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks all! I searched all over the web for inspiration and came up with this solution of creating an L shape baseboard. Actually looks not bad I think. Thought i’d post for people with the same issue. Seems like a common issues with barn doors... hope you like it!
PRO
Business_Name_Placeholder
8 years ago
The L shape baseboard is a good solution for the situation.

Shame on that installer threatening to just leave. That's wrong.

Next time someone in your house threatens to leave, let them & find someone else. Pay installments. Do not pay someone fully until it's done fully.

A good Pro respects his clients wants. If the client wants something different sure no problem. More work = more pay. A change will cost more, but if client wants it, a Pro will happily find a solution & appreciate more work with more pay.

I would not hire that person ever again. Thankfully, it wasn't a big job & it all worked out.

Nice door, btw.