I got approval from my local airport commission (Plymouth, MA; KPYM) to build a hangar so I'm knee deep in research asto which door and which hangar. Looking for something in the 50 by 40 range with a 12' bi fold door. Got a quote from Erect A Tube for one of their cookie cutter 42 by 33 hangars with their bi fold door...32k, that was a shocker. One of the issues I'm having is our wind loading @ 140 mph..just that increased a quote for a 46' Schweiss door from $7600 for a door rated at 90 mph to $10,300 rated at 140 mph.

Anyway, I'm also getting quotes from Numerous steel building companies but I've focused on Start O Span and Cleary...both have been around awhile and hopefully both will be more reasonable. Looking for any advice. I've reviewed all the other hangar and door threads. This hangar must be built on a foundation, I cannot get approval on anything like a pole barn where the posts are buried.

Thanks. Don...

How about a foam building?

It is called Premier SIPS , I am building a new house with it. 10 inch thick walls.

A few years ago I helped a friend build his hangar with them. 50X50.

We then built the door with 3 inch and 2 inch square tubeing.

Ken in Alaska

I built a Cleary hangar about 12 or so years ago. It is pole barn style on a slab. It is 60x50 with a 13 ft door height below the bi-fold door. The materials supplied by Cleary were top notch. The erection team was a Cleary group that did a very respectable job on the erection/construction. There were three of us on site building very similar hangars from Cleary relatively simultaneously. The others were a little ahead of mine, and when I saw the metal roofs were being put on without a vapor barrier, I immediately told them I had to have a vapor barrier. They said it was a change order, so it would be $500 processing fee on top the cost of the changes. I couldn't understand how it was reasonable to even consider building a structure in the northern climes without a vapor barrier. (Without, if conditions are just wrong, moisture can condense on the under side of the roof and it will rain inside-when it is not raining outside!) it was an item I was dumb enough not to think to discuss and include in the contract. I tried to get them to waive what I saw as a $500 penalty for a change order. No deal. I paid to get it done right, and the local kid that was the area salesman and "manager" really stuck it to me for materials and labor, too.
Oh, don't let them bring the bi-fold (metal skeleton) door cross country in winter. All that de-icer on the highways of the Midwest will coat the door skeleton on the flatbed and, voila, rust!
Overall I am happy with it. Make sure the contract spells out everything exactly as you want it to be, lock, stock, and barrel.

lc

An aside- that was 12 or more years ago. Things can change at all levels in most any company in that length of time....

I think being built on a foundation it a good thing. Am starting to have problems with posts rotting on some of our older farm pole buildings, that is a pain and expense having them replaced. The new hangar had some post heaving problems this winter, it had been engineered and was supposed to be right, still did it, in your climate that may not be such an issue. We have two steel buildings and really like them, you will too.

I have three different door brands, two that are bi-fold, Wilson is the favorite, aluminum, no rusting. Might want to check them out if you have not already.

Steve

Guys thanks for the advice. I have lots of pricing rolling in. Right now low bid on the building itself is Rapidset. The low quote for the door...45 by 12 bifold is $7300 delivered from Hi-Fold. Next week I'll make some decisions and report back.

If you spring for the slab of concrete for both a floor and foundation-and to anchor the "poles" to, I'd recommend either add rebar, or the newfangled fibers in concrete mix to reinforce the slab for longevity (some areas/regions/soils the soil/clay swells and shrinks with seasonal moisture content, which can vary greatly, and this cracks and breaks concrete over an amazingly short time)(an experienced QUALITY local contractor can advise).
Attaching the "poles" on top of the slab with "in slab" anchors stops the poles from rotting off at ground level with time.... (decades aren't what they used to be .....)
The reason I say "poles" is because Cleary used three 2x12s layered (bonded?) together instead of actual poles. Poles can twist and bend as they age and dry (very dry climate here where I built) wreaking havoc, and the independent grain of each of the three 2x12s evidently solves those issues....

We have a resident concrete contractor on BCP that knows WAY more than I do, if he wants to weigh in here, I'll certainly defer to his knowledge...

Of course all extra$ and improvement$ have to be "accounted" for......
lc

Have you looked at R and M Steel out of Caldwell, ID. I haven't built a hangar but some of my friends that used R And M had a good experience and like their hangar.

Dave

Dave,

I do have a quote coming from R&M.

I've also decided to go all steel.

I've found I can also shrink the door and save a few bucks...this has been such a learning process. I was asking for a 12' clear door, which is probably way overkill. 10' clearance to the ground when open should be plenty for just about any GA plane...my previous quote on the door was for one a tad over 13' . Should save on the door and the building.

Littlecub :

I do have some good help on the concrete side but I like the idea of fibers in the mix...I know that is done a lot in my area. A walk thou of some of the T hangars here at PYM shows lots of cracked slabs...nothing reinforcing in the slab and also the saw cuts not in the right places,I plan to saw cut in about 10'' squares...that should help considerably.

I still may go Strat O Span as I have to work the pricing, but since I've decided on all steel, Cleary is out.

Thanks. Don...

Then there's Morton Buildings

Can someone summarize things like what is right or wrong with different makes and services, total costs, and other relevant aspects of the question?