For Plane Lovers . . . (Part 12 of a 14 part series)
Schweiss Doors Help Dreams Come True
This Florida contractor took the extra step to fulfill what many had dreamed of for years. He is just one of a few of Schweiss bifold and hydraulic door customers, and Schweiss Doors had a part in making his dream come true.
Daniel Shaw, a plumbing contractor at Geneva, Florida has given new meaning to the term “hangar home.” Shaw wanted a hangar home that didn’t look like a hangar. When you drive up to it and push the remote button people are absolutely amazed!
The structure is 50′ wide x 60′ deep x 30′ tall, all metal. A 45′ x 15′ Schweiss hydraulic door sporting a wrap-around porch with decorator railing, table and chairs, a walk through door with stylish window, and veranda “roof” gets your attention. Even more so when this big door opens and entire patio deck lifts with the hangar door.
“I call it Danville,” chuckled Shaw, “And I’m the Mayor.” Danville sports its own community bar with fashion-smart bar stools. A working Lp gas fireplace adds comfort to the tavern. Plus there’s a 14′ x 15′ downstairs library/guest bedroom. His huge living room with 30′ ceiling even includes a 26′ tall palm tree; also an oak wood stairway to the second level master suite area (an elevator also provides lift service to the upper floor) which has a 15′ x 21′ master bedroom; 8′ x 10′ closet and a sizeable 10′ x 15′ bathroom. The entire structure is air conditioned including a five-ton unit for the main hangar area.
Shaw said when he told the Schweiss Door people that he wanted a four foot metal truss across the front of the door, they were skeptical. Traditionally Schweiss designs an 18-inch reinforcing truss for their hydraulic doors. The Schweiss team wasn’t initially aware of Shaw’s full-width veranda porch being built into his hangar door, but they got excited about the unique challenge. Schweiss engineers juggled computer-driven templates and welding dynamics (including a larger hydraulic system for the heavier door) to better facilitate the unique ideas incorporated into his remarkable hangar home.
Shaw endorsed the design strength of the Schweiss doors saying the extra-weight of the wrap-around porch posed no problem for the powerful hydraulic system. Engineering specs called for a 120 mpg wind endurance criteria.
Shaw flies his 1946 Piper J3 – upgraded with a 85 hp engine – or his 1980 Cessna 172 with 180 hp engine and STOL wing. Danville hosted its first neighborhood party the weekend of May 9-10 to celebrate the annual association picnic of this 45-acre airstrip located “almost next door” to the Kennedy Space Center and which includes eight building lots on Lake Harney near Orlando.
“If you have a dream about a special building, run it by the Schweiss team. They do great stuff with doors and they’re easy to work with,” said Shaw.
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