Barn Door Hinges vs Heavy Duty Hydraulic Wood Door Hinges

Every project has its own hinges requirements, including barn doors, or the result may be a poorly performing application. Just like this case:

“I have two ACM barn doors that keep slamming and swinging open in the wind. They are 80″ high × 36″ wide × 2-½″ thick, weigh about 50 lbs. How do I fix this?”

It is not pleasing when your wooden barn doors swing open and slam shut. But can traditional barn door hinges solve this problem?

Can Traditional Barn Door Hinges Stop Slamming and Swing Open in the Wind?

Wind can cause barn doors to swing uncontrollably and slam shut. Wooden door hinges with motion control inside the hinge itself will help solve this. Unfortunately, traditional barn door hinges mostly fail to provide control. This is because they are not integrated with a controlled closing system, such as a hydraulic anti-slam closing feature.

Without controlled closing, barn doors will swing freely and slam shut when the wind comes.

How Durable Should Barn Door Hinges Be?

The strength and effectiveness of a door hinge depend on a few key factors. The door’s size and weight, door material, and the surrounding environment will determine which could be the proper hinge grade. In the end, all of these points will lead to the hinge material decision.

Common barn door hinges are made from plated carbon steel. But, is it the best material to support heavy wooden doors? Here is a table of common hinge materials’ durability:

In exterior barn door applications, 304 and 316 stainless steel offer the best strength and durability needed. They provide reliable performance and longevity for heavy duty wood doors, even in harsh weather like windy or snowy conditions.

Winter Season Disaster: Why Do Barn Doors Sag and Drag?

Winter comes, snow starts to fall, and the level of moisture also increases. The wood is a hygroscopic material that constantly “breathes”. In the dry winter air, large wooden panels shrink and contract, often leading to structural sagging or misalignment. That is because the door hinge system doesn’t have enough adjustment range, structural support, or durability to handle seasonal movement.

Style isn’t enough to beat the winter sag—it requires a heavy-duty hinge system with built-in adjustability to realign the door as the environment shifts.

Barn Door Hinges vs Heavy Duty Wooden Door Hinges

In our initial case study, the two ACM barn doors are relatively lightweight at 50lbs, but their large dimensions (80″ x 36″) create a ‘sail effect’ that causes them to slam in the wind. Waterson wooden door hinges are single-action hinges with the hydraulic anti-slam feature that fixes the slamming problem. Moreover, with the self-closing feature, no more unwanted swinging open.

Will a Hold Open Feature on an Exterior Wooden Door be Useful?

Hold open is a feature on a door hinge that keeps door open at a certain angle, typically 90°, 135°, or more. This feature can be highly useful for barn door applications:

• Convenience for Heavy Traffic: If you frequently move large items, groceries, or strollers, it helps prevent the door from closing on you.
• Provide Accessibility: Allows everyone, including the elderly, children, or a disabled person, to pass through without fighting the weight of the heavy wood door.
• Reduced Wear & Tear: Fewer opening cycles during high-traffic periods minimize strain on the hinges and hardware, extending the life of a heavy door.
• Air Circulation: On mild days, holding the door open can provide significant cross-ventilation, helping to cool the home naturally.

Integrated hold open on hinges is a beneficial feature, but traditional barn door hinges are not designed with it. Waterson heavy-duty wooden door hinges not only provide a hold open feature, but also durability and strong performance.

Waterson Heavy Duty Wooden Door Hinges

Waterson heavy duty wooden door hinges combine the function of an overhead closer and a hinge into a single, sleek component—complete with optional hold-open and door-stop features. Designed for commercial openings, gates, and glass doors, these hinges are easy to install and adjust to meet ADA and ICC A117.1 standards for opening force, while ensuring quiet and secure closure. Crafted from durable stainless steel, they are NFPA 80 compliant, UL 3-hour fire-rated, and built to perform reliably in both interior and all-weather exterior environments. See all our features.

In addition to these performance advantages, Waterson offers custom hinge services. As a direct manufacturer, we can tailor hinge sizes, finishes, and especially hinge leaf designs to meet the specific structural needs of your doors. This makes our hinges an ideal solution for door manufacturers seeking custom options that integrate seamlessly with their existing frames.

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Please note that Waterson Closer Hinges start from a size of 4″x4″. If you’re in need of smaller self-closing hinges, we’d recommend checking out some other resources! Also, we only provide single acting closer hinges. Thank you.

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