Schweiss Designer and Specialty Hydraulic Doors have for many years been the leader in the hydraulic door industry and the first to specialize in manufacturing of a design dynamic hydraulic door line. Schweiss Doors ongoing quality and attention to detail and innovative applications are unsurpassed - making Schweiss Doors America's top resource for designer and specialty hydraulic doors.
Adventurous architects, who specialize in high profile homes and commercial buildings using contemporary and futuristic designs and even blueprints to reflect a years-gone-past look, have made Schweiss Doors their paramount choice time and again to make their clients dreams become reality with artistic, attractive, useful and cost-effective designer and specialty hydraulic doors.
All Schweiss hydraulic doors are custom built, so you won't have to design your structure around the hydraulic door. Whether you design a traditional, modern or unique structure, our hydraulic doors will fit your building as if they were part of the original design. That includes anything from a custom home to outdoor patio and pool hydraulic doors to new or revamped commercial buildings, museum hydraulic doors and more.
If you are looking for a functional large or small smooth and quiet operating, energy efficient one-piece hydraulic designer door for indoor or outdoor use, Schweiss Doors can build it. Our "Must See Photo" gallery on our www.bifold.com website gives several examples to see some of the designer and specialized door work we have done over the years for single residents all the way to corporate giants.
The Schweiss engineering staff can offer assistance to you, your architect or building engineer with interior or exterior hydraulic doors on new buildings or to upgrade your existing building. Decorative hydraulic door choices range from glass, mesh, wood, stucco, copper, rockface material and much more. The possibilities are endless.
And if you can't fully think it, Schweiss Doors can give you many ideas or suggestions to have the designer hydraulic door of your dreams come to life. Schweiss Doors guarantees the best custom designer hydraulic doors on the market.
Why Customers Buy Schweiss Hydraulic Doors
Anyone can tell you what you want to hear about their product and how good it is. But when it comes to investing in a hydraulic door, whether it be for everyday agricultural, hangar or industrial use or even for something as decorative and functional as a designer hydraulic door for your residence or commercial building, you don't want to try to save a few dollars from a manufacturer that tries to sell price over quality. What's different about Schweiss doors is we stand out with quality and premier components that go into each and every hydraulic door that leaves our factory.
Schweiss understands Hydraulic doors, we've put a lot of energy, research and development costs into making us the most recommended door company on the market. Every one of our hydraulic doors is built by experienced craftsmen to project specifications. Like anything, experience is the best teacher, and Schweiss Doors has proven that over the three decades we have been in business making us the industry leader for hydraulic and bifold doors. While other companies are just learning or going out of business, Schweiss has been in it for the long run.
Schweiss Doors has continually made improvements to its hydraulic doors and components in order to deliver the best door at the best price. Our internationally recognized computer software and experience keeps us on top of the game.
Schweiss Door customers have told us again and again they love both styles of our hydraulic doors, both for aesthetic appearance and superior smooth running and energy efficient craftsmanship. People are liking our one-piece hydraulic doors even more now because of the improvements we've made with our new compact place-anywhere hydraulic pump, and the addition of "spherical" bearings, larger cylinders and a beefed up hinge system that contains removeable hinge pins. Customers like hydraulic doors because they can see right away why they are superior. They're powerful hydraulic doors with fewer moving parts, requiring less headroom, easy to insulate, easy to maintain, and they're easy to install and save on building costs. Our door warranty has no hidden exclusion and no surprises.
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We chose a hydraulic door because of its strength and simplicity. The Schweiss hydraulic door is well built, functionally fantastic and works well. The heavy-duty construction of the hinges, and the quality steel used in framing of the door, is apparent. When we built the hangar at our own airstrip, we had a homemade door built from a kit, but we no longer felt it was safe and dependable. That's when we decided to install a Schweiss hydraulic door.
Dave Weiman
Wisconsin
Schweiss has dominated the large hydraulic door market. Because farm equipment keeps getting bigger and bigger, Schweiss Doors has found a comfortable niche with farmers building new machine sheds for their larger equipment. The same large hydraulic doors we sell to farmers also go to airports and the private aviation sector. Large commercial and industrial hydraulic door sales have also skyrocketed.
Our sales have continued to grow because of the quality and ease of use of our hydraulic door and we have the most popular, powerful hydraulic doors on the market. Our unequaled reputation for quality and service is a result of focusing personal attention to each and every customer.
California architects build their own dream home with a Schweiss door
Architects love to show off their work. Malika Junaid and Junaid Qurashi take special pride in their own new home that features architectural design and engineering that is at the foremost leading position of any work coming out of their M•Designs Los Altos, California architectural firm.
As beautiful as the 9,991 sq. ft. contemporary home is . . . its location overlooks the scenic San Francisco Bay and Los Altos Hills in the northern Silicon Valley.
Featured at the center of the Great Room is its circular glass-floored dining area that is cantilevered over a 60' long indoor swimming pool that looks out over scenic San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley. The floor of the pool is comprised of miniature mosaic tile inspired by Michelangelo's "Hand of God and Adam" in the Sistine Chapel.
The Great Room is something to behold. The north face façade has a Schweiss hydraulic 38 ft. x 23 ft. tall glass curtain wall door. The door is equipped with electric photo eye sensor and a door base safety edge. Triple glass added about 10,000 pounds to the door. It's double pane glass is laminated on one side and the other side is tempered on the bottom should the glass ever break. The strong Schweiss hydraulic pump and cylinders easily and quietly lift this door with a push of a button.
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It's just magical when the big glass door opens up it gives us an indoor-outdoor living awareness. The hydraulic door emplacement is such that the sun never hits the door and the view overlooks San Francisco Bay, so you always have shade without the sun in your eyes. We decided on a Schweiss hydraulic door because we needed nearly a 90-degree opening for an unobstructed view and for the moving wall to simply disappear.
Malika Junaid, Principal
M•Designs Architects, Los Altos, CA
"Designing this home was a very complex project with a great deal of credit going to the Schweiss team of engineers and Hohback Lewin Engineers of Palo Alto who assisted us in achieving our design vision. And ABS Builders of Maxwell, Calif. and MB Construction of Hayward, California did a great job installing the beautiful door," added Junaid.
The floor of the Great Room indoor pool is made of miniature mosaic tile inspired by Michelangelo's "Hand of God and Adam" in the Sistine Chapel. At the center of the room is a circular glass-floored dining area that is cantilevered over the 60-foot long swimming pool.
The "Green Element Smart Home" takes sustainable living to the next level. It has a highly efficient floor heating system, Solar PV panels, rainwater harvesting and gray water recycling, a fresh air dehumidification circulation system, stainless steel staircases, glass bridges and a Jetson-style clear vacuum elevator.
"It's just magical when the big glass door opens up it gives us an indoor-outdoor living awareness. The hydraulic door emplacement is such that the sun never hits the door and the view overlooks San Francisco Bay, so you always have shade without the sun in your eyes. We decided on a Schweiss hydraulic door because we needed nearly a 90-degree opening for an unobstructed view and for the moving wall to simply disappear," said Junaid.
After going through construction over a two-year period the home was featured in the Silicon Valley Modern Home Tour and has been submitted for numerous architectural awards. M•Designs Architects California-based architecture, planning and interior design firm specializes in sustainable, custom residential and commercial projects.
They have more than 90 years of combined management experience in all aspects of designing, documentation and construction support, as well as an extensive background in construction and cost estimating for architectural projects.
M•Designs Architects is located at 4546 W El Camino Real #223 in the Village Court Shopping Center in Los Altos, CA. Ph. (650) 565-9036. To see additional photos of this modern home visit the M•Designs website at: www.mdesignsarchitects.com
When fully extended, the 23' x 36' glass hydraulic door gives an unobstructed view of the San Francisco Bay and keeps everything dry underneath it. The Schweiss designer door can be opened fully to create a true indoor/outdoor experience.
The hydraulic glass curtain wall door gets lots of use due to the favorable California climate. The cantilevered dining table is the centerpiece of the Great Room.
This ultra-contemporary 9,991 sq. ft. Los Altos Hills, California home has soaring ceilings and natural light flowing uninterrupted through a 23' tall by 36' wide glass Schweiss hydraulic system curtain wall.
One of the advantages of the location of the hydraulic door is the sun never hits the door and they always have shade inside the home. The circular dining table is situated just above the pool beneath it.
Before the glass was installed in the hydraulic door, it was lifted into place over the roof of the home with a large crane.
The entrance to the house is through a 15-foot high door. The "Green Element Smart Home" takes sustainable living to the next level. It has a highly efficient floor heating system, Solar PV panels, stainless-steel staircases, bridges, a Jetson-style clear vacuum elevator and much more.
Their huge kitchen has a 19 ft. cantilevered Island cooking surface. To the right is the family room with its three-sided glass fireplace.
Big windows on hydraulic door bring in a lot of natural light
Brian Tavares of Lemoyne, Pennsylvania says people in his residential community have commented positively about how he put forth the extra effort to do something attractive and different on his home.
"I like the reaction from people," said Tavares. "When they drive by, see it open or come to look at it, they love the look and want to know how it functions. The quality of the Schweiss hydraulic door is top notch and the installation instructions were very easy to follow. Everyone who walks by the garage asks about the door. It makes the building stand out, especially when it is fully open."
People passing by on the street are enamored by the classic look of Tavares residential garage and door. His greatest satisfaction is hearing from these people.
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The hydraulic door I priced from another company was double the price of the Schweiss door. Comparing for what I paid for the door, an 18' x 8' rollup aluminum glass door was more money than the hydraulic door. I like the fact that the Schweiss door is overbuilt. I'm sure the steel probably could have been thinner, and the power unit probably could have been a little bit less powerful, but what you get for the price is well worth it. The Schweiss power unit made their power unit looked like it came from a car lift. The competitors power units were not nearly as robust as the Schweiss unit.
Brian Tavares
Lemoyne, PA
He recalled being first introduced to Schweiss doors while viewing the "Must See Photos" section of the Schweiss web page and this encouraged him to go through the steps of ordering a new one-piece custom-made 17' 675" x 8' 263" hydraulic door for his new garage.
Even after his architect showed him other Schweiss bifold doors around where he lived, he ended up going with the hydraulic doors because, as an electrical engineer by trade, he liked that the hydraulic door had less mechanical stuff to make it function. He also liked the big canopy it offered when open.
Very visible are the large 4'x4' 1/4" thick polycarbonate gray tinted Lexan window panels. They look great and are functional and lighter weight than glass and they let him look in or out for a great view and also bring a wealth of available natural daylight into the garage.
Tavares ran into a snag after starting his building project and after ordering the door. He had to fire the builder and start over again, which resulted in a three-month delay and was more than pleased that Schweiss dealt with the delay accordingly.
"Even though the door was ready to ship, Schweiss was great about it and said they would check back again next month. They were very accommodating, not pushy or anything and just told me to let them know when I was ready," noted Tavares
His new 24'x24 garage replaced an old carriage house. His large door windows and additional windows above the garage let in natural light throughout the day. The eight 4'x4' Lexan windows have a gray tint visible from the outside but clear from the inside. He chose Lexan over glass because it is lighter in weight.
Prior to placing his order with Schweiss he got a few quotes from other companies.
"Schweiss had the best price and all the data, which was very important. They were also the fastest in replying. After I studied the spec sheets, as far as the loads placed on the building, I was convinced and that stopped my thoughts about buying a door from a different place," said Tavares.
Using the Schweiss spec sheet he had a professional engineer design a heavy-duty tube steel frame that bolts to the floor, the wall and the ceiling because there's was a lot of load on the building. The first time he opened the door there wasn't a single creak in the building, nothing! He said it was fantastic.
He was also impressed with the compact hydraulic pump unit that after comparison he said it stood out from others on the market. He also ordered a battery backup for the door in case of a power outage.
"The hydraulic door I priced from another company was double the price of the Schweiss door. I like the fact that the Schweiss door is overbuilt. I'm sure the steel probably could have been thinner, and the power unit probably could have been a little bit less powerful, but what you get for the price is well worth it. The Schweiss power unit made their power unit looked like it came from a car lift. The competitors power units were not nearly as robust as the Schweiss unit.
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Schweiss had the best price and all the data, which was very important. They were also the fastest in replying. After I studied the spec sheets, as far as the loads placed on the building, I was convinced and that stopped my thoughts about buying a door from a different place.
Brian Tavares
Lemoyne, PA
"Comparing for what I paid for the door, an 18' x 8' rollup aluminum glass door was more money than the hydraulic door. I had so much extra space, and that space would have been gone with all the crap hanging there. Why would I buy a rollup door?"
He concluded by saying even though there were a lot of ups and downs on this project from the builder, Schweiss was excellent to deal with through the entire process. He wished everyone he dealt with was as easy to deal with as Schweiss. Even the driver who delivered the door was very accommodating.
Brian Tavares, an electrical engineer from Lemoyne, PA, loves the wide-open look of his Schweiss 17' 6" x 8'2" hydraulic door and the view it gives him from his garage and workshop.
Tavares chose the Schweiss hydraulic door over the bifold door because it has fewer moving parts, gives him optimum headroom and provides him with a nice canopy when open.
Tavares chose to place his hydraulic pump at the back of his garage. He equipped it with a battery backup system to use in case of a power outage. The pump, he said, was far superior to others he looked into.
Large 4 ft. Lexan windows provide a beautiful view of the banks of the Susquehanna River and Harrisburg, the state capitol.
When he opened the door for the first time, to his amazement, he said the building didn't creak whatsoever. His contractor provided him with a strong steel frame to support the door.
Big windows on hydraulic door bring in a lot of natural light
Leo Kingston of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma loves to show off his garage to anyone. The interior glistens with its epoxy covered floor and modern paint scheme from top to bottom.
Kingston enjoys showing off his garage and hydraulic door to anyone. He said building contractors have been amazed at the Schweiss hydraulic door. The door gives his garage a professional and clean look that any door owner would be proud of.
When it came time to choose a door for the garage, Kingston went to the Internet and discovered Schweiss Doors had just what he wanted.
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I chose a hydraulic glass-clad Schweiss designer door over a bifold liftstrap door; mainly because I liked the looks of it. In order to compensate for the extra weight of the glass I ordered it with a freestanding header that attaches to I-beams, header and sides of the door. I've shown my door to many people, including contractors who are amazed. I love the door.
Leo Kingston
Oklahoma City, OK
"I chose a hydraulic glass-clad Schweiss designer door over a bifold liftstrap door; mainly because I liked the looks of it. In order to compensate for the extra weight of the glass I ordered it with a freestanding header that attaches to I-beams, header and sides of the door. I've shown my door to many people, including contractors who are amazed. I love the door," said Kingston.
His Schweiss hydraulic door has a clear opening of 15.3' x 7.1' and is equipped with a remote opener and electric photo eye sensors. The hydraulic pump was set off to the side of the door and in order to put a stackable car lift inside he had the garage ceiling lifted from 9 ft. to 13 ft.
Kingston, who works as a restaurant owner and real estate investor trimmed out the door himself but hired a structural engineer to reinforce the framework. He had local help installing the door.
Leo Kingston's garage in Oklahoma City glistens from top to bottom. The epoxy floor highlights the interior along with the trimmed out Schweiss 15.3' x 7.1' hydraulic glass clad designer door.
In order to compensate for the extra weight of the glass Kingston ordered installed a freestanding header that was attached to I-beams. Heavy-duty hinges secure the door to the upper I-beam framework.
Kingston elevated his garage ceiling to 13' in order to be able to put in a two-car lift. The hydraulic pump unit can be seen out of the way and to the side of the door. The Schweiss 7 ft. tall garage door gives him plenty of headroom for his vehicles.
Kingston said his door seals weathertight and keeps rodents and debris out of the garage.
The remote opening hydraulic door can be safely stopped at any level and the glass-clad door adds sufficient natural light inside the garage.
Hydraulic glass designer doors open Seattle restaurant to increased outside dining
The Covid 19 dilemma has put increased pressure on restaurants, bars and businesses to make as much available uncrowded space to customers as possible. The more people you can put in seats means more profit going into the cash register and it keeps more people in jobs.
A South Lake Union bar and restaurant, also known as "Sam's Tavern" in Seattle, increased its sidewalk customer base to accommodate 20 additional patrons. They did this by adding two 12' x 9' Schweiss hydraulic glass designer doors to their outside courtyard that, when open, provide a nice covered canopy over the seating area.
The one-piece Schweiss hydraulic doors are clad in glass and can be opened even on rainy days to keep patrons dry while enjoying the outdoor patio area. Each of these custom-made doors is equipped with electric photo eye sensors.
Sam's Tavern, a newly constructed popular Pike Street bar opened in Seattle as part of a newly constructed multi-story office building. The bar expanded to an outside patio area for increased seating. It has two Schweiss 12'x 9' hydraulic glass-clad designer doors.
The hydraulic pumps that power these doors and heavy-duty cylinders were placed out of the way inside the building. Originally, the plan was to mount the hydraulic pump motors on the ceiling, but due to lack of room the decision was made to mount the motors above the brick pillars alongside the doors.
Installation of the hydraulic doors was done by Crawford Door of Lynnwood, Washington.
Crawford Door's Project Manager, John Bennion, said they recommended Schweiss hydraulic doors for the tavern:
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We worked with the design exterior package with the General Contractor, Turner Construction; to see how the doors were going to look and open up the seating area, but still match the exterior, as well as provide structural support. The hydraulic door with its low headroom clearance is very useful. It gives off a cool industrial look with minimal side room support needed. Basically, Schweiss is providing a frame for the architects or door owners canvas.
Jon Bennion, Project Manager
Crawford Door, LLC, Washington
"We worked with the design exterior package with the General Contractor, Turner Construction; to see how the doors were going to look and open up the seating area, but still match the exterior, as well as provide structural support. The hydraulic door with its low headroom clearance is very useful. It gives off a cool industrial look with minimal side room support needed. Basically, Schweiss is providing a frame for the architects or door owners canvas."
The design exterior and architectural specs were provided by interiorTech, a northern West Coast specialty contractor. Architects love working with Schweiss hydraulic and bifold liftstrap doors because it gives them the freedom to design the appearance and exterior cladding to match the exterior of the building or create something very unique to each and every door.
The tavern has a couple of locations in Seattle at Capitol Hill on Pike Street and South Lake Union on 9th Avenue. Visit their website at: samstavernseattle.com or call for reservations at 206-453-5493
Crawford Door Company offers sales, service and factory authorized installation of all major brands of residential, industrial and commercial doors. They can be contacted by calling 503-431-6856 in Oregon or 206-763-5775 in Washington state. Visit their website at: http://crawforddoors.com
The hydraulic doors provide a protective canopy for outside diners. In addition to additional seating it also gives Sam's Tavern a nice outdoor atmosphere.
When the hydraulic restaurant doors are open people walking by outside are often drawn inside. The hydraulic pumps were mounted inside away from the door.
The attractive side-by-side hydraulic doors can be operated separately of each other.
Outside seating for about 20 additional patrons means more money in the cash register and results in repeat customers.
