Hangar Door Buyers Guide

The right hangar door investment will add value to your new or existing structure. In this article article we share how to avoid common purchasing mistakes the manufacturers don’t want YOU to know about!

Save yourself time and money knowing the facts and options available for your new hangar door.

Mounting style ( Interior mounts inside your door opening and supports the door frame this should include side columns and header also know as free-standing. (Premier quotes all doors this way.)
Power unit motor size ( 5hp submersed oil cooled premium motor for quiet hydraulic operation is Premier’s standard size and offers fast opening and closing speeds. We see 2-3 hp as standard with other MFG’S along with out dated LOUD hydraulic operation.
Hydraulic cylinders ( cylinders are sized according to door width by height ensuring unsurpassed column strength for door span integrity.
Compare your quotes based on what is provided. Take note of what your responsibilities are.
Many manufacturers are in a race to cheapen their product costs. This results in the customer getting far less than what they had anticipated. We see many advertisements with ridiculous claims of “best” “bigger” “faster” while hype may fool some, we know that reviews speak volumes.

Hangar Door Options

While their are many hangar door options for your airplane hangar. Some of the most popular are Hydraulic, Bi-fold and slider doors.

When it comes to function and reliability the Hydraulic Hangar Door is the top choice. The door has no cables that need replacing or straps that stretch and require adjustments. This door type uses hydraulic cylinders to quickly open and close the door. Hydraulics open outward and up outside of the door opening. With this door you have no loss of headroom. The hydraulic door should also seal tightly, close completely without a latch or floor pin. Door latches and floor pins are required for wind-load purposes only..

This is a problem we’ve noticed with many hydraulic door manufacturers. Most of them cut their costs with cheap door components and parts from China leaving you with a door that does not close properly or creeps open. This is also due to improper engineering and zero hydraulics knowledge.

Many of you have been told “that’s just the way it is with this door type.” We can assure you this is false. Premier Door Co. is a hangar door manufacturer of Hydraulic Doors that seal tight the first time and every time. This door type can also easily retro-fit to any existing building opening without headroom loss.

The Slider door, bottom rolling door has been around for many years. This door type functions with rollers on the door bottom that move along a metal track.. Much like a patio door. If you live in humid conditions the rollers and tracks rust making the door operation near impossible. If you live in colder conditions it’s near impossible to open the slider door as ice and snow build up. Slider doors are far less reliable and durable. This door type has less upfront costs. But many problems and expenses are waiting just around the corner. Making this door type the least functional and a bad investment. We replaced many sliding hangar doors with our Hydraulic door. Our customers have never been happier, they no longer chip away ice from the door tracks or deal with other seasonal issues. They also gain easy in and out access for their aircraft.

The Bi-fold door is another option for airplane hangars. Some choose that door type thinking their getting a better deal. Unfortunately hidden costs await you down the road. Many times the moving parts need service or replacement. This door type is also slow moving up and down. The doors with straps stretch and don’t close properly. These manufacturers will hit you with service call bills and hefty replacement part fees. This door type opens in to a V on the outside of the door opening so you loose headroom because you cannot open the door out and up to a 90 degree angle. Often we hear many complaints from Bi-fold door owners wishing they had seen our guide before purchasing a Bi-fold door.

What to expect with door options..

Hydraulic hangar door standard options vary by manufacturer. We provide every customer with wireless remotes, 5hp submersed oil cooled power unit and safety valve cylinders. Other manufacturers charge extra for remotes and offer basic, slow, loud 2-5hp power units and cheap cylinders with NO safety valve. With all the technology available today we can offer you some pretty cool options for your new door. From out-door lens with indoor screen monitor and one touch soft open and soft close with our Smart Door Technology (exclusively Premier Door Co.)

Don’t be fooled by advertising gimmicks showing “New” parts for doors or frames. Often times the manufacturer didn’t do things right the first time and has had problems so they cover their issues with attention to something that really has NO significance to the operation of your door. Instead of using cheap parts from China and worrying about getting profit margins up these manufacturers should have considered you the customer first..