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I’m building a workshop & came across 2 antique sliding doors, each 5′ wide, from an old gas station. They have cool old iron pulleys on the top that probably suspend the weight of the door & run along a metal track while (I think) the bottom of the door rides above the ground surface. My question: What is the best way to keep the bottom of the door from swaying in & out? Does it make sense to embed a aluminum U shaped channel in the foundation to act as a guide? Any advice or experience with this is appreciated. Thanks.
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On old barns, have seen a channel between the concrete approach and interior floor that "guide" the doors. Fills up with debris, but you can clean it out. Also, have come across a wheel guide at the opening edge. Wheel on a pin keeps the door in place while rolling and holds it close to the wall when open. Might try a bent iron "footbolt" (gate hdwr) to pin one side when shut. Other side would close behind an astragal.
You should have taken the whole garage. Always was a dream of mine to renovate an old service station into a home. Build a room on the lift and let it take you upstairs. The older I get, the more I wish I'd have followed my dream.
Best of luck.
You reminded me of the old Sawdust Arena my partner and I had. We built a salvaged front in the garage door opening behind the sliding doors. Full lite door and some div. lite panels to light the shop. To close it up we'd slide the original doors shut. Life was so much simpler then.
*Jim Try an Inverted U channel mounted on the bottom of the door ,it slides over a Z metal guide as the door opens . National Hardware makes it , check with Menards Home Depot or your local lumber yard .