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Too often I see airplanes, and in this case a hangar, built with the thought that they will never be sold. A 26' door would be a big mistake as it would not accommodate a typical GA aircraft and thus create a real problem if and when it is sold.
Depending on the type of hangar door you install, you could lose up to 18 inches on the opening. After Helene, I was responsible for replacing 7 hangar doors at the Western North Carolina Air Museum. Our openings were 40 feet and 45 feet. A full width 45 foot hangar door can cost you up to $30,000 or more. I worked with the folks at Fold Tite doors and had a wonderful experience and got 7 high quality doors for a fraction of the cost of well known manufacturers. You should heed what others have said about resale... one never knows what the future may bring. In my mind, the minimum opening should be 36 to 38 feet.
If even a Piper Cub might use the field I would not use less than 40’. My farm hangar has a 40’ hangar (housing an PA-12) and I am building a hangar at a local airport with 45’ doors to make it more desirable to bigger aircraft owners. I got a quote for a 45’ x 14’ hydraulic door for less than $18k.
The 40 foot Fold Tite Door pictured was just under $9,000 two years ago. Doesn't need any power to open or close, no additional electrical work to install and no worries about ice and snow build up affecting operation.
