As you prepare for your pole barn building project, you may wonder about which pole barn doors are best for your build. There are a number of different options available, each providing its own set of pros and cons. Before you make a final decision, we encourage all of our clients to carefully review the pole barn door options available to them so they can make the most informed decision possible.
If you’re unsure about which pole barn doors are right for your build, Beehive Buildings is here to help! Use our online design tool or reach out to our team to discover what options we have available today.
What Types of Pole Barn Doors Are There?
There are four basic types of pole barn doors that can be used to complete your build: man doors, overhead garage doors, sliding pole barn doors and horse stall doors. For the purposes of this post, we’ll compare the differences between overhead, sliding and horse stall doors. Each is characterized by a unique style and provides different functionalities for specific applications.
Overhead (Garage) Pole Barn Doors
Perhaps the most commonly used pole building doors are overhead garage doors. These standard garage doors come available in multiple colors and sizes, offering a lot of versatility in terms of stylistic preference. Optional stylistic upgrades for overhead garage doors include:
- Woodgrain finish
- Custom door styles
- Custom windows
You can also elect to have an acrylic full-view overhead pole barn door installed. These unique doors offer natural light and panoramic views while providing the same safety and security as a standard garage door.
Sliding Pole Barn Doors
One pole building door option that has gained popularity is the sliding pole barn door. These sliding doors offer a unique barn aesthetic that’s difficult to replicate with other door options. While sliding pole barn doors are stylistically fashionable, they don’t offer the same level of safety or security as standard overhead doors. This is due to the following:
- Sliding pole barn doors are more difficult to lock, so your belongings may not be as safe as they would be with an overhead door.
- These doors don’t offer a snug fit like overhead doors do, allowing outdoor elements such as leaves and dirt to more easily get into your pole barn.
Despite these shortcomings, Beehive Buildings offers unique solutions that can help bolster the security of your sliding pole barn doors. For example, our team often recommends installing an overhead door directly behind the sliding pole barn doors to help keep unwanted intruders and debris out of your building.
Pole Barn Horse Stall Doors
Planning a pole barn build for your equestrian friends? Pole barn horse stall doors are available in a couple of different varieties: sliding stall doors and Dutch doors. At Beehive Buildings, we offer each of these doors in a variety of sizes. Our pole barn sliding horse stall doors have the following styling options:
- No crossbucks
- One crossbuck that covers the whole door
- Two crossbucks per door
A Dutch door provides a more traditional horse stall aesthetic, with the top half of the door able to swing open for easy feeding and monitoring.
Which Pole Barn Doors Are Best for My Build?
The short answer? It depends on your personal preference! However, there are three things that we strongly encourage each client to consider before making a final decision on their pole barn doors: security, application and cost.
Security
As aforementioned, some pole barn doors don’t offer the level of safety or security that clients want for their personal property. For example, Dutch and sliding pole barn doors are more difficult to secure than overhead doors. This can put your personal property at risk for theft or increased wear-and-tear due to exposure to the outdoor elements. One way we help combat this issue is by offering customers the option to combine different door types so they’re still able to achieve the aesthetic they desire without sacrificing safety and security.
Application
It’s important to think about how your pole building will ultimately be used once it’s completed. If you’re planning to store valuable items, such as ATVs, cars or lawnmowers, an overhead door is your best option. Those who are building a horse barn or high-traffic building that won’t be used for storing valuables may find that a sliding pole barn door or Dutch door is a better fit to meet their needs. Ultimately, choosing the right pole barn doors all comes down to personal preference and intended use.
Cost
The cost of your pole barn doors is a factor all clients consider when making a final choice.
Overhead (Garage) Doors
In terms of affordability, the most cost-effective pole barn doors are standard overhead garage doors. Not only are they the least expensive, but they also offer enhanced security for your personal belongings. While the base price of a 10’ x 12’ overhead door runs approximately $1,616, additional upgrades – such as custom finishes and windows – can drive up the total cost.
Sliding Barn Doors
On the other hand, sliding pole barn doors are on the more expensive end of the spectrum, with the average sliding door setup costing around $2,600 depending on its size. Still, it may be worth the spend if you’re seeking pole barn doors that offer easy accessibility, particularly if you’re building a horse stable.
Acrylic Overhead Doors
While the total cost of an acrylic overhead pole barn door varies depending on its size – to provide a frame of reference – a 10’ W x 8’ H door costs approximately $3,177.
Dutch Doors
Classic Dutch doors typically run around $1,750; however, customizations and upgrades may drive the price up depending on the items selected.
How Can Beehive Buildings Help?
Beehive Buildings works carefully with each client to identify a solution that’s affordable and on budget for every job we perform. Our deeply personalized approach ensures that each of our clients is 100% satisfied with every detail of their pole building, right down to their pole barn doors. Reach out to our team to schedule a consultation for your pole building project and discover which pole barn doors are best for your build!