If you are unsure whether a bifold door is the right fit for your hangar project upgrade, here are a few things to consider.
- Do you use your hangar door daily? Weekly? Monthly?
- Do you worry about the safety of your plane (and current hangar) during severe weather?
- Is your current door easy to use? Or do you dread opening it every time you fly?
- Do you really want to spend your flying time and hard earned money fixing your old hangar door again?
If any of these concerns resonate with you, a bifold is a good candidate for your hangar door upgrade. Here’s how a Diamond door makes your hangar a secure, convenient place to store your airplane.
Convenient and Easy Door Operation
Push Button Operation
Diamond bifold doors offer convenient and easy door operation for your hangar, a huge advantage if you use your hangar door regularly. An electric operating system and push button operation make our doors a great option for anyone who’s tired of wrestling with their current doors.
“After two years of enjoying the new door, I am completely satisfied and regretting only of not having made the investment sooner! It has worked flawlessly during both winter and summer and in between. This door has extended my flying hobby by many years, not having to wrestle with a large door every time I use my airplane.” M. Baril
Additional bifold door options, like the autolock system and the remote opener package upgrades, allow you to operate your hangar door without ever leaving the seat of your airplane.
“Had a 40’x16.6’ insulated Diamond door installed this summer. We absolutely looove it. We also did the optional autolock system that allows the door to open and close with the push of a button. It’s amazing. I have a couple remotes, one for the plane and one for the quad. I can fly over hit the button and the doors open ready for me to taxi right in. It’s a real time saver in the work I do.” P. Fortier
Customer Gil Gauthier says that the autolock and remote opener options give him peace of mind when flying with passengers, as he no longer needs to leave them and his plane unattended to open and close his hangar door.
“Passenger safety and being able to open and close the door without me getting out of a running airplane, which is not doable, or having passengers come do it, which is not safe, or me leaving them outside alone in the plane while I come back to slide these sliding doors, none of those were viable safe solutions for me… So the safety of having the auto lock really is a huge plus.” G. Gauthier
No More Jamming or Frozen Sliding Doors
A bifold door is installed to the face of the hangar, meaning that if the building shifts, the door and all its components shift with it. This eliminates many of the common problems faced by sliding doors, like misaligned tracks that cause jamming.
Another common issue with sliding doors is their tendency to freeze up during winter. It was a problem that Gauthier quickly recognized the very first winter that he owned his quonset hangar.
“I’m a decent sized guy at over six feet tall, and I often had times where I couldn’t go flying because the [sliding] doors had frozen in place, or they had iced over, or the track was binding, or the frost had heaved,” says Gauthier. When Diamond Doors delivered his bifold door and he had it installed, he was quick to say that it was “the best investment I could have ever made.”
Bigger Clear Opening
Do you need just a few extra inches for your airplane to fit comfortably through your hangar door? A bifold door is the perfect choice for both easy operation and a larger clear opening that gives you room to breathe.
As we discussed earlier, bifold doors are mounted to the exterior of the hangar. Unlike a traditional overhead door, they open upward and outward. They don’t take up any space inside your hangar. Their design also means that they can cover the entire face of the hangar, maximizing the width of the clear opening.
Finally, the self-supporting header option allows for the bifold door to be mounted above the roofline. It’s like an entire walls opens up for your to move your airplane into your hangar.
“Very pleased with the way the door turned out. Sent some dimensions for a quote and got a drawing right back with a price, checked a few dimensions and ordered the door. With the design we didn’t lose any overhead clearance and we were able to make the door opening two feet wider on each side that wasn’t possible with the sliders that we replaced. We did the install ourselves. It’s a very well built door and the craftsmanship is also top notch.” M. Schnell
Low Maintenance Reliability
Diamond bifold doors are designed for low maintenance reliability, with fewer moving parts and high quality features that eliminate the most common points of failure on other bifold door designs.
A few of these features include our greaseless hinges, innovative cable lift system, and simple locking systems. These features ensure that your hangar door will operate reliably – flight after flight, and year after year.
If something does go wrong, our service team is available, helping you troubleshoot the issue and making sure you have what you need to get it repaired quickly and easily.
“Our 60 wide by 18 high has been going up and for eight years now. Just minimal maintenance. Used rain or shine in summer 24/7.” G. Bonkowski
“I have two doors from Diamond Doors and overall they are a high quality, quiet, and dependable product. Customer service was great with quick responses. Second to none operation. When I did have a small issue, tec support was knowledgeable and walked me through troubleshooting in short order.” Greg
Safe and Secure, No Matter the Weather
Airplane hangars serve one primary function – to keep your aircraft protected. Whether that’s from harsh weather and unwanted visitors, your door plays an important part in keeping what’s inside your hangar safe.
Bifold doors have a few advantages over sliding doors and overhead doors when it comes to protecting your hangar. Overhead and sliding doors are susceptible to damage during high winds, leaving the interior of your hangar exposed to the weather.
“The wind tore my sliders off of my 60×40 shop. Best thing that ever happened. I replaced them with a Diamond door. Easy DIY install, with great support. Always opens and closes.” A. Neufeld
However, the sturdy frame of a bifold door means that it holds up against high winds. Each door is designed to meet the 1/50-year highest wind speed of the door’s location, including those in hurricane and tornado zones.
A bifold door also seals tightly against the frame of your building, preventing cold air drafts, rain, and snow from sneaking in where it’s not welcomed. And if you’re looking to insulate your hangar, Diamond Doors offers ridged board insulation panels in R12 and R16 values that provide a complete thermal break across the width of your door.
“Had two Diamond doors installed this past fall. The shop door proved to be very well insulated and sealed perfectly. Also did a self standing door on the quonset… So much better than the old sliders. Very happy!” D. Weatherald
Is a bifold door right for your airplane hangar upgrade?
Bifold doors have become a popular hangar door design because they provide the clearance you need to maneuver your airplane. When you upgrade to a Diamond door, you’re also getting a door that provide convenience, reliability, and protection.
To learn more about our doors, or to request a free quote, call our sales team at (866) 325-7600 or send an email to info@diamonddoors.com. We’d be happy to chat, and to design a door that’s the perfect fit for your hangar door upgrade.
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