An airplane hangar is one of the more demanding building types you can take on. Door openings have to clear the aircraft. Clear spans have to perform without interruption. Drawings have to match what gets built.
Every decision about budget, regulations, and design has consequences that show up later if they aren’t resolved upfront. This guide walks through what actually matters before the steel is manufactured.
What Is Your Budget For Building The Airplane Hangar?
Start With the Budget
Before anything else, the numbers need to be real. Materials, supplies, equipment, and the land itself all have to be accounted for. Building a custom airplane hangar often costs less than purchasing one, but only if the budget reflects what the project actually requires.
Most hangars are built with pre-engineered steel. It’s quick to erect, sustainable, and the most recycled material on Earth. It also delivers the clear span widths aircraft storage requires, which wood and concrete struggle to match at the same cost.
Site factors that affect budget:
- Soil conditions and what the foundation will require
- Lot size and how it limits or expands your design options
- Whether you’re building on private land or leasing at a public airport
- Local material and labor costs in your region
Get clarity on these before you commit to a design. The cost to adjust a number on paper is nothing. The cost to adjust it after the steel is manufactured is real.
What Regulations Are Involved With Building Your Airplane Hangar?
The location of where you’re going to be building your airplane has important. If you are building a private airport, you will need to acquire zoning and permits from local authorities. As long as you have enough land to accommodate a small runway, you must verify the lawful distance allowed between local airports.
In addition to contacting airport officials about their specific regulations, it’s a good idea to speak with airplane hangar experts at Coastal Steel Structures. We can provide you with additional critical information. It’s best not to design a hangar and be unable to build it because it doesn’t adhere to the local airport regulations.
Check For Restrictions In Advance
Consult with your local municipal construction department to understand building codes and zoning requirements prior to designing and erecting your airplane hangar. Your municipality may impose additional requirements needed, which may impact your design. During your investigation, be sure to determine:
- The fire regulations within your hangar, such as a low-level low expansion foam system with a foam/water hand-hose station
- If there is a certain percentage of the block that the building must cover
- If there are any water waste regulations regarding where stormwater will go and types of required drainage.
- Verify the kind of cladding approved in your jurisdiction
- If a sealed floor is required
- If your hangar must include specific types of access
Purposes Beyond Storage For Your Plane
While the primary purpose for constructing an airplane hangar is to house your airplane, other purposes may be considered. If you consider the future, you will increase your chances of building the perfect airplane hangar that will serve multiple purposes.
Design a hangar that not only suits your needs now – but also in the future! For instance, consider whether you will make it available to be rented out to other aircraft owners. You should also determine how many aircraft your hangar should accommodate and if you will also be storing helicopters. Also, will you need to keep other equipment inside your hangar?
Consider if your airplane hangar contains other rooms, such as offices, workshops, bathroom facilities, or a breakroom. If you live in a climate that becomes extremely hot or very cold, you will need to install a heating and air conditioning system for optimal aircraft storage. Determining the size of your access points and how big your doors will need to be is also necessary.
Aircraft Hangar Models Provided By Coastal Steel Structures that you absolutely must consider!
Once you’ve finished determining all the rules and regulations, the fun part comes: Designing the airplane hangar floor plan! Here are some prefabricated aircraft hangar floor plans to consider:
- THE MAVERICK
50×60 ft Metal Building
Long-lasting, robust, and durable buildings offer a higher economic value. Without significant deterioration, you can spend more time focusing on your business and less time worrying about building maintenance. Using material resistant to termites, carpenter ants, mold, and fungus, you can maintain structural stability and integrity. Besides, many insurance companies offer lower premiums for steel structures because they are low maintenance. Therefore, such energy-efficient buildings can increase your returns significantly. Airplane hangars often require our large prefabricated steel structures, but a single propeller plane may only need a 50 x 60 building.
- THE HONCHO
40×80 ft Metal Building
A 40×80 Metal Building is ideal for building on a narrow lot, providing adaptability for larger models without the 5,000 to 10,000 square foot lot of land demand.
The span storage capacity of 3,200 sq. ft. provides customers with two or more distinct work areas. i.e., waiting area, reception, restrooms, and a lobby. A 40×80 metal building suits the landowner’s needs, who can’t build his building as wide and needs a narrow space for their needs.
- EL CAPITAN
80×150 ft Metal Building
Whether you’re looking to maximize space on a narrow lot or construct a single building/hangar with multiple isolated spaces inside, 80×150 metal buildings are a great option.
80×150 steel buildings are long and narrow with limitless possibilities. 12,000 square feet of open space can be sectioned and separated to meet your specific needs.
- Customized Aircraft Hangars
If it’s your goal to customize your airplane hangar, the sky’s the limit, as long as you’re confident you’re following all the requirements and guidelines. With your hangar design, you can be as creative as you desire, and just about any frills can be added.
Don’t forget the vital finishing touches.
After you’ve finished designing your dream airplane hangar and you’re ready to start building, you need to ensure that you don’t forget some vital finishing touches. These finishing touches include insulation and cladding. You undoubtedly want your hangar to last as long as possible, so you must address these finishing touches when designing and constructing your airplane hangar.
Adequate insulation is essential for improving the life of your airplane hangar. It helps you maintain stable temperatures inside your hangar and minimize condensation, which can sometimes be a nuisance and even cause damage to the stored aircraft. There are many different types of insulation to choose from, based on your needs.
You are preparing to take on a huge project that will likely bring you great pride once it’s completed. You will undoubtedly end up with the perfect airplane hangar that you can use for many years. So, if you’re ready to start, give Coastal Steel Structures a call, and we can assist you with every aspect of the design and building process.
