Hello,

Looking to build a hangar on my property. I am researching prefab steel buildings that will be suitable for a 50x50ish building. If any of you can provide recommendations on suppliers, I would greatly appreciate it. I am in VA.

Thanks!

Matt

Rino steel buildings does a pretty good job. I've put a lot of steel buildings together, for the most part the kits are the same from one supplier to the next. The cheapest is probably a local supplier to avoid shipping. The other thing nice about a local company is if you damage a panel it is easy to get a color matching replacement panel.

Talk to R & M Steel.

MTV

mtv wrote: Talk to R & M Steel.

There are a number of R&M buildings on my airport, I own units in two of them.
Not a fan.
Poor design on several of them-- not enough roof pitch,
lack of weatherproofing options at some details--
mainly where a lower roofline intersects a higher roofline.
It'd be pretty tough for them to screw up a 50x50 box,
but just make sure the roof pitch is acceptable to you.
Doors are a pretty significent cost...
FWIW strap-operated bifold doors seem like a better option than cable operated ones.
Hydroswing & other door options are available also.

These guys supposedly are having a 15% off Sale on their 50' x 60' hangar kits...

https://gensteel.com/building-specials/

hotrod180 wrote:

mtv wrote: Talk to R & M Steel.

There are a number of R&M buildings on my airport, I own units in two of them.
Not a fan.
Poor design on several of them-- not enough roof pitch,
lack of weatherproofing options at some details--
mainly where a lower roofline intersects a higher roofline.
It'd be pretty tough for them to screw up a 50x50 box,
but just make sure the roof pitch is acceptable to you.
Doors are a pretty significent cost...
FWIW strap-operated bifold doors seem like a better option than cable operated ones.
Hydroswing & other door options are available also.

Straps work ok, but keep in mind that the door gets faster the higher it gets. Also, if you stop the door midway it requires much more torque to start going up again due to the gearing. I've used both and prefer cables.

A1Skinner; thank you very much for your strap vs cable info. I built my door in 1992 with cables and am thinking about upgrading to straps. Torque issue makes perfect sense- I never thought of that. I'll just do a couple of needed upgrades and keep the cables.
Thanks again.
Jack

flyingjack wrote:A1Skinner; thank you very much for your strap vs cable info. I built my door in 1992 with cables and am thinking about upgrading to straps. Torque issue makes perfect sense- I never thought of that. I'll just do a couple of needed upgrades and keep the cables.
Thanks again.
Jack

I had not thought if it either until someone pointed it out to me. It does make perfect sense though. My door has plastic cable feeds that are right where the cable wraps around the drum. This keeps the cable spaced apart and not rubbing on itself, reducing wear significantly. I dont foresee needing to replace cables for a very long time.

A1- can you post a picture of plastic cable guides. When we built our door- no guides and that needs to be added along with new closer handles. Or if easier please email your set up: [email protected]
Thanks
Jack

I just built a Morton 80x80 at WY05. Built like a fortress. Installed a Schweiss 50x16 bifold with the new wind lock system. Pay a bit more for Morton but its worth it with the warranty and the fantastic insulation. I also installed radiant floor heating and the Sparta Coat Polyaspardic floor coating

gregwyatt: You need to wear sunglasses in there? Sweet hangar!

Radiant floor heat is a perfect match for a hangar. Besides having it in my shop, hangar, and home, I also have it my building in town I keep my crane in.

With the thermostat embedded IN the slab, and set at 50 degrees, my total cost is zero to heat it as it is totally offset by a 2 KW solar grid tied array, that produces enough power on an annual basis to 100% offset the heating loadings during the winter months. The one time expense of the solar array, 15 years ago, makes me think I now have have free heat, like buying my plane gas in bulk and then for the next few months, flying for free, a little mental trick that is also actually more cost effective. Electric boilers are key, unlike gas fired ones they have no flue losses! With the electric floor heat, an auxiliary air heater (4 KW wall hung fan forced) keeping the slab at 50, quickly brings the temps up to a higher temp when needed. I have found this two heat source system to be more responsive and efficient then a single source. Rad floor to keep things well above freezing, 50, then only when needed aux heat gets things cozier quickly. It's not rocket science to install yourself, I did anyway.

Thanks. My first time with radiant floor heating. Love it!!!!! My boiler is run off of a 1000 gal propane tank. When we had -15F a few weeks ago my thermostat was set on 60 and it was a comfortable 70F in my hangar. Perfect for Wyoming weather. Im finishing the 1600 sq ft apartment in the back of the hangar which is also heated the same way.

I had a 60x75 fully insulated Morton in Michigan. I did not have radiant heat in the floor and I thought that was a huge negative initially. The heat source was a gas Reznor unit that actually worked incredibly well. The Morton building is so good that either source works great. I do prefer radiant in the floor but I bought the hangar already standing. I heated that hangar all winter long in Michigan for under a hundred bucks a month, kept the heat at 65 degrees. Coming from Fairbanks I am not going to compromise on temp, I want it where I want it especially if its a well insulated Morton. Greg, love your hangar and of course you own a great airplane! Tires are a bit small though.


Kurt

I agree Kurt. Made a big mistake a few yrs back. Sold my 31's and stupid me sold them on the wheels. I was just learning to fly and was always on a paved runway and figured it would be a long time before I got good enough to need big wheels. I have been accused of many things but smart was never one of them!!

flyingjack wrote:A1- can you post a picture of plastic cable guides. When we built our door- no guides and that needs to be added along with new closer handles. Or if easier please email your set up: [email protected]
Thanks
Jack

Here you go. Not sure where you can get them, mine came with my door. It is a Diamond door.
I agree, floor heat is awesome. It is the sole heat source for my hangar and I wouldn't do it any other way. Adding a lean to will be easy as my boiler can easily run another zone as well as domestic hot water for the washroom I'm putting in.

gregwyatt wrote:

IMG_0230.jpeg

I just built a Morton 80x80 at WY05. Built like a fortress. Installed a Schweiss 50x16 bifold with the new wind lock system. Pay a bit more for Morton but its worth it with the warranty and the fantastic insulation. I also installed radiant floor heating and the Sparta Coat Polyaspardic floor coating

Wow!!! Now that's a dream hangar right there.

Thanks, it's been a 30 year dream. Raised a family and retired then said, " what the hell"

gregwyatt wrote:Thanks, it's been a 30 year dream. Raised a family and retired then said, " what the hell"

It’s probably cheaper than a 2 bedroom condo in California. Good for you Greg! Awesome hangar, post more pics!

Kurt

Thanks Kurt, we are still about a month out from having the living quarters complete. We have been living in our fifth wheel since last summer and moved into the hangar about a month ago a day before the real winter weather arrived here in SE Wyoming. Its very comfortable and Ive started to set up the man cave a little. Stays nice and toasty!! Anybody have a walk behind commercial floor scrubber they want to sell let me know. It's a job trying to keep the floor clean.

Niiiiiice!!!