I just finished a 75x100 hangar. Didn't really need anything that big but figured for long term use, other future airplane desires and knowing that you can never have too much room I did it. I think a hangar is a terrible from an investment standpoint, especially built on land that I don't own, with the associated airport restrictions. But leaving an airplane outside seems even worse.

A few things I wish I did differently:
1) Maybe less of an issue during covid times, but I wish I had ordered everything earlier, took 3 months to get a roll up garage door that I didn't realize I needed until after the building was delivered.
2) I don't care for a bi-fold door. My neighbor has a hydraulic door that opens up twice as fast.
3) I haven't built any sort of bathroom yet but I wish I had planned that out before hand. It was a total after thought.

I did get remotes for my hangar door, and after using hangars for years where you had to "hold the button" to open it, it's so nice.

** Whatever you do I would not do business with RM Steel of Caldwell, ID ever **

I’m greatly appreciative of the detailed guidance everyone. This is now an unofficial “keeper thread” for reference, at least in my book!

I am concluding that private land “In the middle of nowhere” with a small hangar is the best solution. I don’t need a runway right now, just a small cement pad. There is a menagerie of farms, ranches and/or wooded land for sale all over the western states and Alaska. Was on Zillow.com which is fascinating.

Here are some general areas:

Christmas Valley - Fort Rock
Silver Lake
Summer Lake
Paisley
Anywhere with zero/few neighbors

Note: I’m aware of the brutal winds of the high desert in these general locations. And would hopefully develop accordingly.

HuskyCountry wrote:I just finished a 75x100 hangar. Didn't really need anything that big but figured for long term use, other future airplane desires and knowing that you can never have too much room I did it. I think a hangar is a terrible from an investment standpoint, especially built on land that I don't own, with the associated airport restrictions. But leaving an airplane outside seems even worse.

A few things I wish I did differently:
1) Maybe less of an issue during covid times, but I wish I had ordered everything earlier, took 3 months to get a roll up garage door that I didn't realize I needed until after the building was delivered.
2) I don't care for a bi-fold door. My neighbor has a hydraulic door that opens up twice as fast.
3) I haven't built any sort of bathroom yet but I wish I had planned that out before hand. It was a total after thought.

I did get remotes for my hangar door, and after using hangars for years where you had to "hold the button" to open it, it's so nice.

** Whatever you do I would not do business with RM Steel of Caldwell, ID ever **

Very stoked to see your hangar! Sorry about RM.

Too small. They fill up fast with non-aviation stuff. Make it as big as you can afford.

Cheap / flimsy doors are a big mistake, fortunately not for me. Expect to spend 20 to 30% of the hangar's total value on a quality door.

Not enough power outlets around the sides, extension cords are no fun.

Poor lighting. You will do repairs in the hangar at some stage.

Small aprons out front, or aprons with a slope or step.

There's my 5.

along with lots of outlets, I'd place several 220v outlets as well. especially near or outside of the hanger door. much better welding outside when the weather allows.

And water. I'd have a water spigot in the hanger and outside. With hot water too if you can.

I would really like a utility room outside of the hanger for the air compressor as well. Those get loud.

I was all set to build a 40' by 60' shop hangar combo, 14 yrs ago, all on one level, one space. At the last second, with the trusses already built, I changed the layout (using the trusses as ordered), to a 40' by 40' shop, and a 20' x 40 hangar "downstairs". Literally, a lucky 13 steps lower from the main shop. Best thing I ever did, all the welding, grinding, table saw work, and other messy shop type stuff is separate. Plus I have large windows (south facing, for winter time solar gain) in the shop with a killer view, and I wouldn't want that in the hangar. If a casual visitor stops by the shop, The UPS guy, some hunter wanting access, or others of the gen pub, the plane is out of view, and no one is the wiser. The select few, get the guided tour down the staircase to a closed door, and to this day every time I open that door its: "HOLY SHIT, I HAVE AN AIRPLANE!! I have an unheated outbuilding for my tractor and general junk, and I have never regretted building smallish, it's much easier to heat, radiant floor mostly, plus spot heating by an electric radiant portable. I have no intentions or desire to get a C180 or other bigger plane, not with my 400' mountain strip, and the S-7S has a 29' span, so my 38' HydroSwing door is plenty big enough. Best of all, it's 30 foot from the house.

I can’t pick 5 but these are all relevant

Not big enough - build as big as you can afford then increase it by 20%. Whatever code says for snow loads, increase by 15% for increased safety.
Too small of a door - build at least 50’ wide
Not tall enough door - build at least 15’ clear opening. Higher Power Doors are the best all around doors. I have installed 3 so far and will use them in the future. Far superior to any bi-fold of which I have installed 3.
*No in-floor heat - radiant floor heating will pay for itself in no time. No hot air blowing around.
*No mezzanine - most hangars have lots of wasted space towards the top.
*No bathroom - I don’t need to explain
*Not enough outlets / both 2-gang 120v’s and 240’s for compressor/welder. Extension cords all over the place sucks.
*No exterior outlets - put them in now. You’ll be happy later.
*Not enough light - put in more LED fixtures than you think you need. Exterior lighting is also a must.
*Small access door - 3’ 0” door is small when moving stuff in and out. Get a 3’6” or 4’ 0”. Yes you can opening the hangar door for large stuff but you also lose a shit ton of heat at the same time.
*No compressed air lines run in the walls - put air lines in/on all walls.
*No floor drain - at least have a catch basin. No need to deal with fuel/oil separator system that are $$$
*No interior/exterior hose bibs - you need to wash stuff right?
*No ceiling hoist - a fixed or movable hoist is extremely helpful for all sorts of stuff.
*Putting the hangar door on the sloped side of the building. Huge mistake.
*Not compacting the ground hard enough - concrete will crack regardless but smacking the crap out of it will make it crack less. Saw cut the slab as soon as possible after pouring. Cut smaller areas than suggested. Just poured a 62x53 and largest area is approx 10’6”x10’6”

Your hangar will never be big enough…

We have 3 on our property… and they are all full…

Oldest one is a 30 X 40 with bi food door… used to have a Stearman in it… now it has my 1969 Cougar project.. a bunch of crap from when I moved, a pair of PA-12 wings and a Tri-Pacer..

Our maintenance hangar is 50 X 50 in the main shop.. 55X20 engine/parts/restroom on one side and office space.. also have a 15 X 30 paint booth on the back of the building… upstairs is packed with junk.. currently working on a KitFox fuselage and RF-5B outer wing panels plus bringing in the normal annual inspections… this is the second oldest building..

The new big hangar is 70 X 90 primarily used for storage of our own airplanes.. it has a 52 foot diameter rotating floor centered in the forward 70 X 70 section and currently has a 108-2 Stinson, our PA-18 Super Cub, our PA-22/20 Pacer and our Cessna 172 XP on the floor… in the back is a Tri-Pacer, another PA-12 disassembled, another disassembled Tri-Pacer, dads 74 Ford Ranger truck, some odds and ends.. one wing from a Cessna 140, my Diva kit car project, dads 64 Comet is in the front corner also.. and can’t forget about the motorcycles too… and, and, and… yah full of junk…

You can watch an older video I did of the building here:

https://m.facebook.com/stevesaircraft/v ... l&mt_nav=0

It’s the untitled one, 7th down on the page…

I am eyeing another location on the property too build another 40 X 40 building… this one would be used for the car projects.. have more than one to do..

Brian

No ceiling hoist - a fixed or movable hoist is extremely helpful for all sorts of stuff.

I forgot about that, my pet peeve also, a hangar or a shop NOT having a beam trolley (my shop has one, runs the length of the building, with two 1/2 K chain falls on rollers), or at least several hard points scattered around strong enough to hoist from. My hangar has one right where the ass end of my plane sits, it's very handy for lifting the tail up for whatever reason.

HuskyCountry wrote:I just finished a 75x100 hangar. Didn't really need anything that big but figured for long term use, other future airplane desires and knowing that you can never have too much room I did it. I think a hangar is a terrible from an investment standpoint, especially built on land that I don't own, with the associated airport restrictions. But leaving an airplane outside seems even worse.

A few things I wish I did differently:
1) Maybe less of an issue during covid times, but I wish I had ordered everything earlier, took 3 months to get a roll up garage door that I didn't realize I needed until after the building was delivered.
2) I don't care for a bi-fold door. My neighbor has a hydraulic door that opens up twice as fast.
3) I haven't built any sort of bathroom yet but I wish I had planned that out before hand. It was a total after thought.

I did get remotes for my hangar door, and after using hangars for years where you had to "hold the button" to open it, it's so nice.

** Whatever you do I would not do business with RM Steel of Caldwell, ID ever **

Do you mind saying what your cost was for this? I'm wanting to do a 60x120 and would think the cost will be similar.

akgreg wrote:.....*Not enough light - put in more LED fixtures than you think you need. Exterior lighting is also a must.....

I just bought an existing 50x50 hangar last year.
It had 5 of the big old sodium lights--
they took forever to come on & sucked up a lot of power.
I replaced them with 5 smaller "UFO" (cuz thats what they look like) high bay LED lights-
they come on instantly, use much less power, and are supposed to have a 100K hour life.
I don't recall the exact model or wattage, but they were about $100 apiece.
I also wall mounted a couple of 4' long LED shop lights from Costco above the workbenches--
I think they were on sale $30 for two when I got them.

Not having enough money.

My Bifold 45 ft door (Schweiss) has a remote control and automatic locking and unlocking. It works very well when getting home from the backcountry. I push the open button and I taxi in. SWEET

flyer wrote:My Bifold 45 ft door (Schweiss) has a remote control and automatic locking and unlocking. It works very well when getting home from the backcountry. I push the open button and I taxi in. SWEET

My 46' Diamond door is the same way. Love that feature, we'll worth the small extra cost.

Zzz wrote:Not having enough money.

All of the above is true but a cheap hangar is better than no hangar.

I built my own, post and beam frame and then a truss package. My own built bifold with 12v system and counterweight. I would go with a single piece door next time, I lose a lot of height. Wish I had gone wide enough for Wing X. I am 40 x 40.

Packed gravel floor for 4 years, then poured 10x10 slabs by hand. Still have two to go.

I have no hydro or water ( not available), but my lease is $350cdn a year. $425 in taxes

I'd skip the airplane or leave it in a rented hangar on an airport. Build for the helicopter and house you want. Barndominiums is the term for turning hangars into homes. I'd do that with a big enough bay for your helicopter and a friends helicopter plus snowmachines/atvs etc. Build way away from airport and neighbor drama. Ditching the airplane opens up so many more locations and not having to build a runway saves money. Helicopters saving money, is there anything they can't do?

62150B wrote:

HuskyCountry wrote:I just finished a 75x100 hangar. Didn't really need anything that big but figured for long term use, other future airplane desires and knowing that you can never have too much room I did it. I think a hangar is a terrible from an investment standpoint, especially built on land that I don't own, with the associated airport restrictions. But leaving an airplane outside seems even worse.

A few things I wish I did differently:
1) Maybe less of an issue during covid times, but I wish I had ordered everything earlier, took 3 months to get a roll up garage door that I didn't realize I needed until after the building was delivered.
2) I don't care for a bi-fold door. My neighbor has a hydraulic door that opens up twice as fast.
3) I haven't built any sort of bathroom yet but I wish I had planned that out before hand. It was a total after thought.

I did get remotes for my hangar door, and after using hangars for years where you had to "hold the button" to open it, it's so nice.

** Whatever you do I would not do business with RM Steel of Caldwell, ID ever **

Do you mind saying what your cost was for this? I'm wanting to do a 60x120 and would think the cost will be similar.

Sure, I'll send you a message.

daedaluscan wrote:

Zzz wrote:Not having enough money.

All of the above is true but a cheap hangar is better than no hangar.

I built my own, post and beam frame and then a truss package. My own built bifold with 12v system and counterweight. I would go with a single piece door next time, I lose a lot of height. Wish I had gone wide enough for Wing X. I am 40 x 40.

Packed gravel floor for 4 years, then poured 10x10 slabs by hand. Still have two to go.

I have no hydro or water ( not available), but my lease is $350cdn a year. $425 in taxes

My first hangar was built out of salvaged power poles ($5.00 each), post and beam style. Bolted together with big galvanized bolts, also from my local utility (I had a neighbor who was a line man). Home made mono pitch trusses (back when the building inspector didn't need to see engineered plans, just used his common sense) and I dug the pole holes by hand, in very rocky ground. What concrete there is was hand mixed. Dirt floor, not level (too many rocks) but level enough, no power or bathroom. The lumber that tied all the poles together was also salvage, 4" x 6" x 20' lengths, and since some of the pole holes only went down a foot before hitting a rock too big to move, the entire structure was cross braced with the same lumber. I did the building demo to get this material, so lots of work but the price was right. Bought new tin for the walls and roof, (so it all looks "normal") built a flip up door using hand winches, salvage steel pipe, and '64 Rambler front wheel rims as sheaves for the salvaged wire rope. The 3/16" wire rope, and pipe came off the same used car lot demolition I got the lumber from, and was used to string lights on, hundreds of feet of it. I had less then $1000.00 in it when finished. 20' by 40', and the new owners of my property love having it for storage.

This all happened about 40+ years ago, when what money I had was all going for buying property, but the point is...... I HAD A HANGAR, and have had one ever since! Nowadays, when I walk in my radiant floor heated hangar, with a full bathroom up the stairs in the shop, LED lighting, music system, and all just 30 feet from the house, I still can't quite believe it. The earlier scrounging and hard work, and doing it all without a loan, really paid off. The punch line was when I sold the property, how much the hangar added to the property value as an out building, I think it was 20 or 30 K, ha ha.

Pretty well covered!

My two cents: It would be a mistake to go light on the insulation. Unless your hangar is in some kind of meteorological paradise, an under-insulated hangar will be too hot and too cold, sometimes on the same day. Insulate it and then you control the temperature instead of letting the weather do it.

Everything starts with a good base. Blue board under the slab with in floor heat. If it freezes in the winter you will save money by extending the blue board 4 ft around the perimeter that way you do not need a deep foundation to prevent frost heave. Natural light from big windows is great if you are going to spend a lot of time in the hanger, LED lights are a given. Floor drain and overhead trolly is well worth the price. Adding wings to the side of a hanger is great for simple storage or fix it up for an apartment. Lots of great advice in this post!!
DENNY