I'm starting to think about what type of hangar I want to put on my property. A post-and-pole building is high on my list. They're pretty conventional and it'll probably be easy to find a construction outfit that can put it together for me. But I've also been looking at fabric airplane hangars like these. I'd love to know if anyone has any experience with them and can recommend to stay away or look into them further. Of course the companies that make them say they're the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Well, I'd like it to last forever. Ha ha. The companies I've talked to so far suggest the covers will last for about 20 years before you have to replace them. Not sure how accurate that claim is though.
Ask the companies for customer contacts for similar installations near you. Then go visit and talk to the owners and see how they are holding up. Pay close attention to installations over 10 years old.
Then put a replacement in your budget. If they warranty it, make sure labor is included and check whether it pro-rates. A steel or sheet aluminum roof fails by leaking here and there. Lots of ways to patch it or to replace individual panels. Once the tent material degrades from UV exposure, it eventually tears in a wind event. I don't think they age gracefully. Probably a good solution to shelter some trailers in the industrial park. Not sure it is a great solution for a residential property.
Pole barns are decent and will last 50+years if taken care of regarding termite/wood rot issues. Personally, steel/red iron-frame buildings are the ones you want if you want top of the line. The corrugated tin can be replaced easily if damaged on steel frame/pole barns, and is much easier to insulate (if desired) than a fabric hangar. The trusses used in the fabric buildings take up a good about of wall space, too, which just gets in the way. Stick with the corrugated steel buildings, they'll cost a bit more up front, but are much more easily modified and will likely provide more functional floor space in a given footprint.
I turned 50 last year and while that isn't what I would consider old you start thinking that way. Well the house is going to need a roof in 10 or so years and they last 30 years probably the last one I will put on....
You present some good points. I'll need to take another look at the trusses and see if they're a problem. It seems like a steel/red iron frame building would have at least a couple of beams that protrude from the walls too. I guess there would be less of them than you would have inside a fabric building.
You can save money with wood post hangars, but the quality is not as good. There is always a problem with where the post meets the ground and the seal at the bottom of the siding. The big expense is a door. Hangars without doors (sun sheds) are considerably less. I think a standalone metal beamed hangar with a 40' door costs about 50k around here now. And that doesnt include utilities, apron (the slope and drainage are critical. You dont want water and you dont want steep uphill in. You want it just steep enough so you dont get water in under the door). Etc. Take a level and get the inches per foot downhill coming out of the door at a hangar that doesnt get water on the floor and is still easy to push. Dont face north in snow country. You can always get a tug or mount a winch on the back beam. Put post in the middle for that purpose. When you get old it gets harder to push the bird back in. Good luck!
Regardless of the design, get a door opening that's taller and wider than you think you need. Trust me, you'll need it.
Yute Air put one those fabric hangars up in Deadhorse, Alaska. It seemed to work pretty good for the 4 years that I dealt with it. It was installed on a gravel bed. Not sure if it's still up or not. I haven't worked for them for about 12 years.
I just saw a story about a guy who built a 4,000 Sq foot home out of ocean shipping containers. It's valued at $800,000. I'd say, whatever makes you happy and is allowed by zoning, works. One good storm away from nothing anyway.
Thanks for adding the photos, Anymouse. That is one huge bifold door on that hangar. Looks like it's doing it's job, alright! I see what you mean by getting the biggest door you can.
