Sliding Door Channel in Ground

farmallboy15 · May 2, 2016

I have a sliding door on one of our barns and the level outside is much lower than the inside, so much so that ramps are needed to drive in... I'm wanting to put some kind of a channel in to bring the outside level up while still allowing the door to slide. I was thinking of C-Channel facing up 4" wide 6" tall, only problem is that no one makes that. Has anyone done something similar or have any other ideas? Other options I was thinking of is burying a railroad tie to keep the dirt back or pour a concrete trench. Thanks!

urbancase · May 2, 2016

my work shop has a ramp going into it and have my sliding doors in trench in the concrete ramp. apx 3.5 wide and have apx 2 inches of clearance under the door and ends open to drain water. keeps wind out and have not really had any problems. just form up and pore the concrete and pull forms out when dry.

ss55 · May 2, 2016

If you get snow or ice you might consider keeping the outside ramp at or below the height of the concrete under the door. That leaves a short step to drive up, but it reduces some problems.

Mud and snow will regularly pack into a tench and freeze, those are easier to scrap or chip off a step than out of a narrow trench. When freezing rain runs down the door and freezes around the bottom of the door, a step allows you to run a crow bar under the door to lift it free from the ice. If a door is frozen inside a narrow trench it is much harder to lift free or chip out. The door may have to remain closed until the ground thaws.

David G · May 2, 2016

I had one of those that was always full of ice in the winter, hated it.

ohiojim · May 3, 2016

you'll wish you never did that, always full of dirt or ice,

Wheatfarmer · May 3, 2016

Need to know more info. How high is the inside over the outside. How high is the bottom of the door below the inside floor. Can the bottom of the door, and outside be raised?

Kirk Grau · May 3, 2016

I achieved that via the RR tie option (actually used treated 8x8.) As others have noted it is kind of a mixed solution as I regularly have to scrape the dirt/hay/etc. out of it. Have probably had this 10+ years, did mine when I paved the drive to the barn. Have not had mine freeze closed yet, but can see where it might if situation was right. I think keeping it cleaned out probably helps and this particular door faces such that it gets quite a bit of morning sun, that whole side of the barn is quite sheltered and I usually end up working in shirt sleeves if it is a sunny day even when it is well below freezing.

Kirk

David G · May 3, 2016

You can buy a channel that is about a foot wide, put that in the middle so the doors stay vertical when closed, leave the rest open so it can drain.

farmallboy15 · May 3, 2016

The bottom of the door hangs around 6" below the interior floor. I was estimating the trench/channel needs to be atleast 8" below the interior. The exterior is about 10" below the interior and has a fairly good slope to it. The door could be shortened but would probably be a major pain...

Mike M · May 3, 2016

I hate sliding doors ! I'd be looking into putting an overhead door in there and pour a footer below frost line under where it closes.

Wheatfarmer · May 3, 2016

I would either cut 4" off the bottom of the door and build a concert ramp with drain holes in it up to the door, or can the tracks at the top of the door be raised.

Sliding Door Channel in Ground

farmallboy15

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urbancase

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ss55

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David G

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ohiojim

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Wheatfarmer

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Kirk Grau

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David G

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farmallboy15

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Mike M

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Wheatfarmer

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