Evolution of the New Barn Doors

Hello again!

Well work continued this weekend with Francis building and installing a beautiful set of Dutch barn doors. (PS I designed them). It may not seem like a gargantuan task but you have to realize what he had to do to get to the finished product. He re-serviced old 2"x6" boards that were previously part of the stalls we had dismantled. These he had to haul all the way up to the wood hobby shop at Garrison Petawawa where he had to convert them from ordinary boards into tongue -and-groove boards so he could have them fit together to make the door. Actually he made 4 doors- 2 panels for each of the Dutch doors. 

Sunday afternoon saw us installing them and they fit perfectly! ( well, okay he had to saw of 5/8" on one side so they would fit perfectly, but I still think that is pretty dam good for a first try!). I held the door panels while he shimmed them into position and then he screwed on the hinges. Silly lumber store didn't have enough hinges so for now one of them is a mismatch  and of course, that will just not do and Francis will replace it when more stock comes in!)- Until then it will drive him crazy......lol

The last week has seen me closing the barn up for the night with a tarp with a board across the entrance. These new doors will make it much more cozy, but will allow us to keep the top part open on warm summer nights for ventilation. We are going to make fly screens for the top sections (haven't quite designed them yet, but I'm working on it).

You will notice a small gap between the upper and lower sections, but this will be covered up by another "Z" board facade on the outside of the doors (still to be developed), but the gap is nothing compared to the huge gap we had with the tarp so it's all good.

Below is a photographical series of the evolution of the barn doors-- from the rickety old ones that had holes in them and jammed on the ground when trying to open,falling off its hinges,  to the lovely new Dutch doors ( or really maybe I should call them Francis doors!!)- or Quebecois doors? Francophonie doors?? ( just kidding )

Original barn doors ( notice the plywood patch on the bottom covering up holes!)

The "make-do" door for the last week--note the big gap at the bottom through which the wind howled
Note the little " TV screen" on the top left above the doorway-- its really a solar panel for a light

Francis' creation!!! ( my design:) )-outside

Doors from the inside--- Also note the solar light Francis put in for me ( white rectangle at top right of door)-- as we have no electricity in the barn- the solar panel is attached to the outside of the barn just above the doors; you can set to manual or have it motion sensitive-- we decided the horses would not appreciate the motion sensor aspect; so we turn it on as we need it.

Doors with the bolts now attached to keep the top/bottom together- one or both top sections can be opened and swing inward to allow in fresh air/ sunshine

There are a couple of finishing touches still to be added--- We are going to add handles that will be more of Romy's old horseshoes that I painted. Design under construction.........

PS Did I say on here yet how much I love this amazing man in my life??? He never ceases to give all he has to make my dreams come true... 

PPS  Did I say yet how thankful I am for all his hard labours?... THANK YOU MON AMOUR!!