Q: What went wrong with the hydraulic doors?

A: Nothing went wrong with the hydraulic doors. When a door manufacturer has a poor cylinder bracket design and the building column and the subframe bracket are not properly designed, the forces the two powerful cylinders have on the building column will cause door failures. The stresses on a hydraulic door are much different than a bifold door. Hydraulic doors, when open, stick way out and are supported by two cylinders holding the door in all positions. Therefore, the cylinder bracket must be designed to carry those forces and transfer them to the building's door column. Knowing that, how can anyone tell you that the door puts NO stress on your building. Everyone is going to have to rethink that statement! Hydraulic doors are a great design, but must be done right. Understand the hydraulic door and its forces!

Q: There have been stories about hydraulic failures, can you explain?

A: When a hydraulic door has not been properly designed the top pivot points that the cylinder attach to can break off or fail. It's important to inspect each door and check for signs of failure. Also, Google the words "door failures" and read up on any problems that are published on the web.

Q: We have a hydraulic door and are concerned about a door failure. What should we be looking for?

A: Raise the door to a half open position and jog the down switch several times so the door comes to a stop. Keep an eye on the top cylinder and cylinder bracket and watch for movement in the bracket. The bracket over time may fail if it was manufactured with too light a material. You must understand both cylinders carry the entire weight of the door.

Q: When the door is fully open and I lower the door and stop the door at midpoint my building column bounces. What does this tell you?

A: The door column may be too light or the the building column is not properly braced to take the forces of the hydraulic cylinders. Since the doors cylinder bracket is offset from the centerline of the door side column, that causes eccentric loading and torsion on the door side column. Correct the problem when you know this is happening.

Q: Others are saying the door comes with its own framework and does not hang on the building, can you explain this better?

A: Yes, the door may come with its own framework, but the framework is anchored to the buildings side columns and the buildings header. When you attach the door and the doors subframe to the building structure, now the door and subframe are relying on the building structure to support the door and the doors operation. When the door is in the fully open position it hangs way out there off the end of the building. Now the building structure is supporting the door, when the door is being opened the cylinders are putting forces to the cylinder brackets and the doors subframe that is attached to the vertical building columns. Note the cylinders are offset to the inside of the building columns that carry the loads of the door in all positions. Yes a sub-frame adds extra support, but every hydraulic door needs a building to hang off of and door columns to support the door and the powerful cylinders that raise and lower the door. All buildings must be designed to carry the weightloads and the doors operation to make a safe installation. This is how you avoid door failures/building failures.

Q: Why is everyone talking about the lift straps on the Schweiss Bifold Doors?

A: Because it's the latest and greatest method of lifting your bifold doors. Straps offer a real advantage on the safety ratio because of the strength of each strap is 29,000 lbs., compared to 7,200 lbs. for cables. And most important of all, Lift Straps offer a faster lifting method.

Q: How long have you been manufacturing the lift strap doors? Are the customers satisfied with the lift straps doors?

A: Schweiss has been manufacturing its patented lift straps for more than 20 years. Once a customer buys a strap door, he's our best salesman because he is always bragging to his neighbors about the lift straps.

Q: Do you still do the cable doors?

A: Yes we do. But the strap doors have taken over 99 percent of our market because of the simplicity, smoothness and longevity. Customers are demanding the strap doors!!

Q: We are in need of a large bifold door. The door size will be about 47 ft. wide by 18 ft. clear. For a large hangar door, would you recommend cables or straps?

A: Schweiss custom-manufactures large bifold doors of any size to match up to your new or existing building. The strap doors are the best and wisest investment you could make on a large hangar door of this size. Ninety-nine percent of all doors leave the factory with the lift straps. Customers are realizing the benefits of the straps. Think about it, cables must track side-by-side, whereas straps wrap on top of themselves in a guided lift strap drum - the straps never "bird nest" or get tangled or crisscross on the lift strap drum. Customer's comments back to Schweiss: "Why bother with a cable door when the strap doors are far superior?" By the way, straps are much easier to install and will outlast the cable doors.

Q: Schweiss: We are general contractors and have a requirement to install 4 each bifold doors for a fire station in Honolulu. The openings are 14'x14'. Door panels shall be made of aluminum with clear tempered glass sections at 5' high. Doors shall meet windload requirements of 120 mph. Doors shall be motor operated. Please provide your best price and availability Monday. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

A: Yes, you will hear from Schweiss soon!

Q: I have a project for a Graphic Arts studio here in Denver. We have an existing wood shop we are remodeling into a designers studio, we looked at your Schweiss designer door web pages and really liked the Old Navy doors. On the south facing exterior wall (lots of sun) there are four garage door openings we would like to use your bifold glass doors, with low E glass, power openers, each opening is 6'X7'. If possible we would like to do the install. We are ready to get the project moving as soon as possible. Could you give me an idea of what our lead times are as well as a quote for these doors?

A: We are happy to work with you and will have prices shortly!

Q: Please provide me design information and shop dwg, and quote for 40' wide 18' high Bifold door. Delivery is Chautauqua County, New York 14701. Contact me for questions. May I have your design,weight and clearance dims by Tuesday morning or sooner?

A: Yes we'll get right on it, thanks for coming by!

Q: What is the required power to lift the door?

A: The required power to lift the door, on hydraulic and bifold doors is 220 volts. Three-phase power may also be used to lift the door. The power to lift a door will vary depending on the size of door being lifted and the number of electric motors. The larger doors require more power to lift .

Q: When I order my hydraulic door, and the door is split for shipping, does the customer have to weld the doorframe back together? Please reply soon. Thanks

A: Hydraulic doorframes have bolted connections - that make it quick and easy to assemble. The bolts are supplied with each Hydraulic Door!

Q: On the one-piece hydraulic doors, does the power unit have to be positioned near the up/down station? I would like to place the hydraulic power unit in the back storage room where it will not be an eyesore.

A: Good question - Schweiss's one-piece hydraulic power unit can be easily placed in any corner or room in a hangar building, so when inside the hangar building, you will only see the up/down station and not the hydraulic pump. Your one-piece hangar door can be nicely finished off, to add a touch of class to your hangar home.

Q: The one-piece hydraulic doors extend outward when opening, not like the bifold doors. Do you have a chart or a graph showing how far back we must stay away from the front of a hydraulic door when it's being opened/operated?

A: Schweiss can provide you the safe distance measurements you must keep clear of the front of your hydraulic door to avoid any damage to your airplane while the door is being operated. You can then decide if there is enough space on the ramp to park your airplane without blocking the taxiway for passing traffic.

Q: Why do you recomend a window in the hydraulic doors?

A: So the operator can visually see what's parked in the doorway, or what may be passing by the one-piece door that swings outward when opening.

Q: If we choose to install our own door, will this affect the warranty of your door?

A: Schweiss stands behind its product if you decide to install the door yourself. We have easy-to-read, step-by-step install manuals, and have many satisfied customers who install their own doors.

Q: What door do you recommend, the hydraulic or the bifold door?

A: We manufacture both styles of doors, and show you the comparisons so you will be able to choose the door style that fits your door needs, and every door is custom built for you.

Q: Need Quote on a 24x20 Hydra-Fold Door, Insulated, Installed With Steel Attached a Installed Door. Will you travel to Hamberg, Iowa?

A: Yes, Schweiss Install teams travel throughout the country to install hydraulic and bifold doors. We have many doors in Iowa and are more than willing to get you a quote per your request. Thanks

Q: Prices on your hydraulic doors are good, is there anything left out that I may need at a later date?

A: We have built our door reputation by offering the best components on the market today, we offer the best hydraulic prices to go along with our quality "One-Piece" door. Yes, Schweiss will save you money on your next hydraulic door.

Q: Hi guys. I need a Schweiss one-piece hydraulic aircraft hanger door, 18m x 5m, I am in Australia, what would it cost me for a complete kit including hydraulics etc., landed in Australia, alternately do you have someone in Australia that can make this door? hear from you soon, Josh.

A: Yes, Schweiss has a strong presence in Australia. We just shipped four more doors last week. We can help you.

Q: Hi Jeremy, In our conversation last week you asked for a picture of the door after install. We're still not completely done but here it is. The door is very well made and most of my neighbors are envious (including the several that own Brand Z). Got two folks in here that are modifying/adding hangars and they are seriously considering Schweiss. The benefits over Brand Z are: Door arrived with no dings or rust (Brand Z's have been fairly mangled). Sturdier. Less expensive. Much more complete; on a "Brand Z" door you have to cut and flare all of your tubes. Yours come set up with individualized instructions and just bolt together. Also, all of the mechanical aspects are assembled and connected. Thx for a good product with excellent value.

A: Thanks for the compliments! Schweiss

Q: Where does Schweiss mount it's hydraulic door operator?

A: Each hydraulic door has a self contained "Red Power" pump that can be located anywhere in your building.

Q: We have an industrial door application. Do your bifold doors or hydraulic doors vary much in price? Our existing industrial door is worn out and needs to be replaced soon.

A: Schweiss industrial doors are priced evenly and it is your choice of which style of industrial door fits your building and application. Heavy-duty industrial doors from Schweiss are designed for many trouble free cycles.

Q: Hi, I received a quote for a 40 x 12 door, Thanks. But I have a fellow EAA member who is also building a hangar that I am coordinating. He needs a 40 x 10 Bi-fold door. Would you please send me a quote. His name is Greg

A: We are sending a quote and a special discount because we are an EAA member and Schweiss takes care of these guys. Thanks

Q: I want a garage door, Bifold, that opens to the side. Can you do that?

A: Sure, we can help.

Q: I would like a quote on a 40'x 10' door for a hanger building located in Warsaw, Indiana. Door will be located in the end wall of a post frame structure.

A: Call Schweiss and we'll be happy to help.

Q: I have a Behlen slant wall quonset that I would like to put a new door on. I need your help in choosing the right door for the building. The door opening is 23'10" in width and 15'3" to the bottom of the steel header. The steel header is only 9" in width at the outside points of the opening and 13" in the middle of the opening. I need to keep the full 15'3" height of the door. Could you tell me what I have to do to mount the door and give me a quote on both hydraulic and bifold doors or kits that I may need. Thank You

A: Will do

Q: I have an existing building that needs a new Schweiss door, but I can't afford to lose any height in my opening. What do you suggest a hydraulic door?

A: A hydraulic door by Schweiss would give you a strong and safe door without costing you any opening height. Also the hydraulic door extends off of the building to provide additional cover and shade to your driveway.

Q: Schweiss team I need pricing for standard t-hangar doors, with straps how long will it take to get the bid to us? Thanks, the doors will be going to Canada.

A: We will have it to you shortly. Thanks

Q: I already have one small airplane hanger for my light aircraft, and I'm considering building another. I've heard installing hydraulic doors can save me money. Is this true?

A: Absolutely! Hydraulic doors are perfect for small airplane hangers, and yes, installing hydraulic doors will save you money. Here's why: because hydraulic doors lift out and swing up, only 5" of headroom is required. So, whether you're considering hydraulic doors for your existing hanger or your new building, you need not worry about adjusting the size of either building to accommodate your new hydraulic doors. With Schweiss One-Piece Hydraulic Doors, you can build the hanger you want and that means lower sidewalls, less insulation, less siding and less labor costs overall! Not to mention, when you go with Schweiss, your hydraulic doors come with a seven-year warranty and that means long-term savings!

Q: I'm considering purchasing a hydraulic door for my machine shed. Are hydraulic doors difficult to install and maintain?

A: Not at all. When you purchase Schweiss hydraulic doors, we work with you to ensure your installation experience is hassle-free. Our One-Piece Hydraulic Doors have only three main components: our signature One-Piece doorframe, hydraulic rams (2) and the electric hydraulic power unit. All of our hydraulic doors come with a seven-year warranty, so your hydraulic door remains hassle-free long after installation. Not to mention, Schweiss One-Piece Hydraulic Doors allow for extended protection for your machinery. Each of our hydraulic doors opens easily and seals tight against harsh weather.

Q: Are hydraulic doors dangerous because they open outward?

A: At Schweiss, safety is our middle name. We work to educate our customers on how to appropriately and safely use our hydraulic doors. To minimize safety concerns, the entire area affected when hydraulic doors open and close should be clearly painted with NO PARKING notices. The area in front of all hydraulic doors should always remain clear of people, vehicles and machinery. Schweiss recommends all hydraulic doors be installed with clear windows, allowing door operators to foresee any obstruction before opening. If you are concerned about the outward-opening nature of hydraulic doors and/or your space is precious, you may want to consider our bifold doors instead. While hydraulic doors open outward, bifold doors open upward. Whether bifold or hydraulic doors, Schweiss will always help you find the right choice for your operation.

Q: Do you guys ship to Canada?

A: Yes we have trucks going into Canada every two weeks. Call and we will get you a freight rate. Thanks.

Q: How much power does it take to lift a hydraulic door?

A: The power to lift a door by Schweiss, is a 2 hp or 5 hp motor. Power to lift the door depends on the size of the door, every door is custom-built by Schweiss

Q: I'm working with a large metal industrial building and we need one more Schweiss hydraulic door. Can you quote a price for a door with a 24' width and 16' height? The building has a 26' side wall, so the ultimate height of the mechanism is not an issue. Can you help me? Thanks

A: Yes the bid will be to you in 15 minutes. Thanks

Q: Are Biomass Doors catching on in large buildings?

A: Looking for an Biomass hydraulic door 28 x 10. Will be converting a large garage which is 34 feet wide and presently has 10 x 10 and a 12 x 13 overhead doors. Need to know how to reframe for the door as well as approximate cost. I will want delivery about June 15th.

Q: I installed a new Schweiss lift strap bi-fold (40X13) with auto-latch on my hangar last summer. I'm toying with the idea of adding the remote opener. How hard is to upgrade an existing door?

A: The remotes are easy to install thanks to our electrical system designs and you'll love them.

Q: Do your bifold or hydraulic doors work on a post-frame construction?

A: Yes, all of ours doors can be adapted to any type of building. Post-frame construction is very common when it comes to installing our doors. We provide a diagram and spec sheet that explains where everything is to be mounted, and the forces which apply.

Q: I am looking for a Schweiss door that is 12 ft high and 12 ft wide. I am looking for pricing on your doors that size. Please send catalog through mail, Thank you.

A: Our salesman will be calling you shortly.

Q: We like the hydraulic door. Is there any way to hide the external truss?

A: Yes, the truss can be located on the inside of the doorframe.

Q: My neighbor has a hydraulic door, and it looks like the frame of the door is bowing outward in the closed position, making it look like the wall is not straight?

A: Hydraulic doors are built with a camber built into the doorframe.

Q: What width door do you recomend on my farm shop?

A: The advice we give to the customer is, "The bigger, the better!" That's the great feature about the Bifold or the One-Piece doors from Schweiss. A wider door allows you to park three vehicles side-by-side in the doorway, saving you the time of moving one vehicle to get to the other. It's a major timesaver, and it's handy to have, yet when you need to get that large combine or planter into the shop for a tune up, just push the up button and drive the entire rig into the shop's work area. It doesn't get any handier than that.

Q: What size doors are customers ordering for farm shops?

A: Many customers are asking for 30' shop doors. We at Schweiss, try to talk the customer into a 36' and larger door sizes. Many farm shop doors are 40' wide. This size door allows you more flexibility when trying to fit equipment or larger future equipment into your new farm shop.

Q: What clear opening height under the farm shop doors do you see going into these new modern farm shops?

A: Every customer has different requirements. From what customers are saying, they want nothing less than 16 ft in the clear, and 18 ft is what works best for the large combines with grain extension tanks. The larger the shop door, the more user-friendly the shop becomes. We have customers stopping by and thanking us for talking them into a larger size door than they originally had planned on.

Q: Does the price change much if we go with a larger door?

A: The cost difference to add additional footage to your door at the time of purchase is very minimal. But well worth it.

Q: When using a metal bifold door on a wood structure can the door header be a laminated wood beam?

A: Schweiss doors are made to fit on wood or steel structures. The header being wood or metal will work with the metal bifold or hydraulic doors.

Q: We are a Kenyan company that deals with agricultural farming and processing. We are looking for upward folding doors for our new rice mill with the following dimensions:12ft x 14ft x14ft. Please send us your quotations and details of your products. Thanks. Jack O.

A: All Schweiss doors are custom-made!

Q: Do you know if RM Steel is still in business?

A: Yes they are a hangar building manufacture in Idaho. Just talked with Rob the other day.

Q: I have a Beaver on floats. What size door do we need?

A: Whip floats all fit in 18-foot tall doors

Q: I need to speak w/ a representative ASAP about a possible long term business relationship. First and foremost, I have a customer actively searching for a door. Our sliders for that particular model are not big enough to accomodate her airplane. She has solid, corrugated steel endwalls and she would like at least a 10'HX40'W door system. What are our options? It is a quonset, 54'WX15'H in the center. We may consider something possibly automatic as she wants something easy to open as she continues to age. Please contact Crown Steel Buildings. Call me as I would love to discuss options and, of course, pricing.

A: Door size is no problem - to make it easy for the end-user we have remote operated doors with auto latching systems and header support supplied and furnished to fit your style of round roof building. All of our doors are priced reasonable and affordable. Thanks.

Q: I have a Commercial application and looking for a 12 x 14 door with Lift straps Auto latches & remotes What's your lead time? Thanks Alan

A: 3 to 4 weeks

Q: Sirs, I'm beginning to define project requirements for an industrial building needing (2) 20'w x 20'h bi-fold doors and (4) 24'w x 20'h hydraulic overhead doors. My need is twofold. First I need technical information, like a catalog, that provides an understanding of your light industrial door products. Second is a need to define a budget for these doors installed in a County operated transfer facility. In this regard, it is most helpful if my budget is able to embrace good quality doors with a long life. The need is for approximate costs - not a quote, that I can use to define a budget for the project. An email response works best for me.

A: The Schweiss door literature will provide a better understanding of the light industrial doors we have been manufacturing for the past 35 years. If you are looking for good quality and doors with a long life, our doors will do just that. Sending materials, budget numbers and information will be included in your door packet.

Q: We have installed 3 Schweiss doors on various hangars at our airport in the last few months, and we have in-house maintenance. Do you provide any type of training so that our folks can be trained do preventative maintenance as well as repairs?

A: Schweiss will provide training for your people to do preventative maintenance on your doors. Schweiss offers this service at no charge to your company.

Q: I just purchased a big 60 ft. Schweiss hydraulic one-piece hangar door from you, and I love the way it performs. I'd like to keep it that way and I'm wondering if you can give me maintenance or repair tips. Will Schweiss Doors offer service after the sale?

A: You bet we can and we do. Schweiss Doors takes pride in keeping all our customers happy long after the sale. That's one of the reasons why we get so much repeat business.

Q: Your installers will soon be out to put in the two new bifold hangar doors for me. I have two other hangar doors that need some repair work. Would your Schweiss Door installers be able to repair these doors when they arrive here?

A: If you tell us what repair work needs to be done, we'd be more than happy to get those doors running smoothly again. We can have the installers bring any needed replacement parts with them.

Q: Earlier this year I invested in a 12-hangar complex at a local airport. The hangars have a mishmash of different type doors most of which work pretty good. But I like uniformity and would like them all to look and operate as good as the seven liftstrap Schweiss Bifold hangars. Can the ones with cables be retrofitted with your liftstraps even though they are not Schweiss bifold doors? Two of these hangars also need some repair work. Can you help me out?

A: Converting to straps is no problem at all, we probably do hundreds of them a year on all makes of doors. If you want to replace some of the other hangar doors we can give you a quick and accurate quote on cost. Exactly what repairs will you need for the other two doors? I'm sure we can assist you there as well.

Q: I'm contacting you from Sweden where we work from the metric system and our electric requirements are different than the U.S. If we give you measurements in meters for a hangar door, can you do the conversions to make sure my door will fit when it arrives?

A: No problem. We do it all the time and sell Schweiss hangar doors all over the world. Electrical requirement in Sweden is 230v, single-phase, 50Hz. Just tell us what you need. We'll guarantee your hangar door will be perfect right down to the last millimeter.

Q: Are Schweiss Industrial Door motors strong enough? I have a large 80 ft. x 200 x 20 ft. tall industrial building. I'm wondering if your motors will be strong enough to lift a big 60 ft door? Will this door take more than one motor? Can I get one of your new Red Power motors on a bifold door? What horsepower motors do you have available?

A: Schweiss Doors uses top-quality brand name LEESON motors because they are the best. These Red Power motors go on all our Schweiss hydraulic doors. These motors are heavy duty, totally enclosed, fan-cooled (TEFC), with a common 56C facemount and standard shaft size, powering a single gear-driven pump. These quality motors are safety-backed with fuses and overload protection. Our LEESON motors are available in 2 h.p. all the way up to 10 h.p. for larger doors and they can lift any size door Schweiss makes.

Q: How wide should my door be? I will need a free standing header. How wide should my door be?

A: Generally, you'll want your door to be as wide as possible. Industrial and farm machinery keeps getting bigger every year. Planning ahead for this will save you the trouble and cost of installing a bigger door in the future years to come.

Q: Why shouldn't I buy a lighterweight hydraulic door or bifold door from another manufacturer?

A: Others are trying to replace the horizontal cross members with wood 2x4s instead of metal. Hydraulic and bifold moving doors are flexing, unlike a permanent wall in a building. Using wood 2x4s does make a door lighter in weight but that's not a good choice for strength and extended door life. Why? Because you're relying on self-drilling screws to secure the 2x4s to the door. The screws work loose over time, flexing of the door weakens the screws. Wood should never be used on a steel door. Steel cross members are stronger. If you really want a lighter weight door, we recommend you order an aluminum doorframe from us.

Q: Can I get a door without a motor or pump? Can hydraulic doors be ordered without a pump. If so, can they be ordered later and installed without too much trouble?

A: If your hydraulic industrial door has any size to it whatsoever Schweiss Doors encourages installation of a pump with your door order. These doors can be opened manually, but you'll be glad you ordered the pump and motor right from the start. The ease of operation is compounded immensely, not to mention the convenience of not having to stop what you're doing to open and close the door. It also adds to the value of your building. You can order at a later date and with our installation manual the pump and motor can be installed quite easily.

Q: Tell me more about your spherical bearings Why are they better? Do they cost more?

A: Schweiss Doors doesn't charge a penny more for spherical bearings and they go on all our one-piece hydraulic doors. No one else in the industry offers them because they cost more. These bearings are critical to the safe and smooth operation of a hydraulic door. Doors are always moving and flexing, forcing cylinders into a banana shape. Cylinders are not designed to bow, and our spherical bearings prevent it from happening. They permit angular rotation about a central point at each end of the cylinders and add to the life of your door.

Q: How long does it take to install a big industrial use door? How long will it take to install a door if we do it ourselves. Is much assembly required?

A: A lot depends on the equipment you'll be using and help on hand. Normally with a big industrial door you may need a couple of good forklifts and a scissor lift to make the job easy. We've had customers say they installed a very large hydraulic or bifold door in a half day from start to finish with just two people doing the work. Schweiss Doors

Q: Do you have backup systems in case of a power outage? Can your bifold and hydraulic doors be opened by hand if my power goes out?

A: The Schweiss Door Advantage features three backup systems all in one unit. Tractor fittings come standard on each Red Power unit to raise and lower your hydraulic door. There's also a very easy and effective DC Battery motorized backup and a drill-driven backup which uses a 7/16" hex head. You just attach a socket to raise and lower your door at anytime or from any position. The Red Power pump also features emergency lowering which is simple as turning a screw which allows a large moving door to close at a controlled, safe speed. An emergency backup hand crank is available for bifold doors. Included is a disconnect device to prevent the motor from operating when manually operating your door.

Q: RE: Door extension: Do doors have to extend to ground level or in the full up-position?

A: All Schweiss Doors have a 2-button, constant hold control station. This "dead man" switch prevents the operator from leaving the control panel while the door is in motion, either up or down. When the operator takes his finger off the up/down button, it will stop the door in any midpoint position. Also, the motor will automatically stop when the door reaches either the full open or closed position. Our long range remote opening system lets you open, stop or close your Hydraulic or Bifold door from any vehicle. It automatically unlatches the door so it can be opened or closed with a handheld remote. Doors equipped with remote operators should have a warning system to alert persons in the immediate area that the door is moving.

Q: Can one power unit run more than one door, if so, how many? I plan on ordering three very large hydraulic Schweiss Doors and am wondering if one power unit can be hooked up to run two or more doors?

A: Schweiss Doors does have a multi-unit door opener which can open as many as four doors independently of one another. It's best to call Schweiss Doors for our recommendations on this.

Q: Rodent proofing: Our factory, at certain times of the year, has problems with rodents. Is there a way to rat or mouse proof big industrial doors?

A: Schweiss Door seals not only keep rodents out but also give your door a weathertight seal. We furnish a 12" heavy 2-ply, cloth inserted rubber boot that seals the bottom of your door. This same continuous rubber seal can be used at the top of the door to prevent flow of moisture into the door or building. A side weatherseal kit contains special weatherstripping to keep your building energy efficient and rodent proof.

Q: Our particular industry deals with water and damp conditions. Will my doors arrive rustproofed?

A: Every Schweiss door is properly prepared for painting. The doorframe members and parts are finished with gray primer at our factory. We offer matching touchup paint to take care of any slight nick or scratch. We'll also do custom paint jobs upon request. Other options are to order your door with an aluminum or galvanized frame.

Q: Exterior and interior door trusses: How will I know if my door will need an exterior truss for extra strength?

A: All of our doors are manufactured with webbed trusses to provide extra strength. The truss is located near the very bottom of the door. We have two styles of trusses, external and internal. Bifold doors come standard with the internal truss for a clean and neat appearance. Hydraulic doors can have the truss placed on the exterior or interior of the door. When extra strength is needed, Schweiss offers an external truss which is located at the center of the door. The one-piece hydraulic doorframe itself will have properly sized members to provide necessary support for additional strength.

Q: Door Maintenance: Our large Schweiss bifold and hydraulic doors get a lot of industrial use. Will my doors need scheduled maintenance down the road?

A: Schweiss Doors are built to be very low maintenance. However we encourage door users to conduct periodic checks on all operating parts on their doors. If you don't have liftstrap bifold doors you should pay special attention to the cables for indication of fraying and follow lubrication instructions. Every Schweiss door comes with an instruction manual detailing door maintenance procedures.

Q: We are in the process of building a new factory that will be using a jib crane and gantry crane. The gantry crane will require a hydraulic 58' wide x 14' tall hydraulic crane way door and the jib crane will need a 18' door to allow it to swing out over a loading dock and lift boats in and out of our factory. Does Schweiss Doors have any experience with these type of crane doors?

A: Schweiss Doors is known for its outstanding crane doors, big or small, in hydraulic or liftstrap bifold styles. Schweiss crane doors are custom made to fit any size opening for your building. Each door is built to fit your clear opening without using up existing headroom. In most cases that's especially important when it comes to crane door use and installation.

Q: What is the largest span opening that a Schweiss hydraulic or bifold door can cover. Our building engineer would like to put a 130 ft. door on the sidewall of our factory. If you do manufacture doors this large, should we be looking at a bifold door or hydraulic Schweiss door. Is one better than the other for this size door?

A: To answer your first question, yes, Schweiss Doors can make a 130 ft. door or even larger if you want. We have several tall doors in use that exceed the 100 ft. width. As far as recommending one style over the other, that is your preference. You can have faith that our heavy duty hydraulic pumps and cylinders lift large doors just as easily as our liftstrap bifold doors. Our motors are powerful enough and our liftstraps are rated at 29,000 lbs tensile strength each. The straps carry a 10-year warranty and our Red Power hydraulic pumps will give you more than enough power for a door this large.

Q: Does Schweiss Doors do all of its door installation, or can we do our own to save money? On our military base we have civil engineers, big equipment and manpower to do it. We are putting out bids soon for a large bifold hangar door.

A: Schweiss hydraulic and bifold doors are easy to install and many of our customers do their own installation. Installation manuals, instructions and safety information is provided for the door owner. Schweiss Doors also has qualified professional installers in all 50 states.

Q: Safety is a major concern at our factory. How safe are your big Schweiss doors?

A: Schweiss doors are engineered for safety and have many safety features built in and add-ons to increase safety. Patented liftstrap bifold doors have top override jiggle switches that disconnect power to the door if the upper limit fails. Electric photo eye sensors are mounted near floor level to prevent or stop the door from closing when an obstruction brakes the detection beam. Doors can be fitted with a door base safety edge at the bottom to stop the door if it comes in contact with an obstruction. There are also warning lights, horns, entrance lights, warning signs and warning labels that are required to be placed as indicated on doors. These are just a few of the safety options that can be put into each and every Schweiss door.