Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Which regions does Midland Door Solutions serve?
We have dealers nationwide with sales locations in North Dakota and Nebraska.
Does Midland Door Solutions sell overhead doors?
No. Our affiliate company, Midland Garage Doors, sells overhead doors.
At what point in the building process should I contact Midland?
Right away. Buildings are typically built around the door opening. Midland can help lay out the building with your contractor to maximize the building’s opening. We will also work with the building supplier to help save you money by putting in a truss system that will carry the weight of the door. Collaborating with the contractor can save on materials and framing. The same applies to pre-engineered steel buildings.
Is Midland Door Solutions the same company as Midland Garage Door?
Midland Door Solutions is a sister company of Midland Garage Door. We both have the same ownership.
Can you insulate these doors?
Yes. You can blanket insulate, board insulate or spray foam insulate.
How much room do you need above a bi-fold door?
Average bi-fold doors range from 30″– 48″ clearance height, but large bi-fold doors may need up to 60” – 72” clearance.
How do you measure the clear opening?
The clear opening refers to the actual usable space needed when driving or walking through the opening.

  • Clear opening width = Distance between the building’s jambs or columns
  • Clear opening height = Top of finished floor to where the door stops when open
How do you measure total door height?
This is the measurement from the top of the finished floor to the top of the door. Total height of the door includes the door wedge distance.
Why are Midland Door Solutions doors more expensive?
Our quote includes all equipment and labor to install the new door. This includes telehandler, rough terrain scissor lift and generator. The doors are prewired at the factory and then tested and operated after the install. This makes it easier for the electrician to permanently connect the door to the mains. Our quotes also generally include the door sheeting and trim and installation of those items.
Do I need to have concrete under my new door opening?
No. It is preferred to have concrete under the door for better sealing, but it is not necessary if the building is properly prepared. Midland’s bottom seal is large enough to accommodate many different types of surfaces like dirt and gravel.
What is the cheapest color sheeting to put on a door?
Galvanized sheeting.
How do I know how big of a door I can get?
Your best option is to call us. We will work with you and/or your builder to determine the correct size that will maximize both the opening and your budget.
Do I lose any clear opening on a bi-fold door?
No. The bi-fold door mounts above the opening, as long as there is room on the outside of the building.
Why are bi-fold doors so slow?
Large doors are not meant to be fast for the same reason tractors don’t go 60 mph. Midland engineers set parameters as to how fast they want these large doors to operate in order to ensure safe operation and prevent unnecessary wear and tear on the building and door itself.
Does the building need to be final wired prior to the door install?
No. When our installation crews show up, they have a generator that is capable of operating the door. The crews will run the door several times, set all of the door’s limits and make final adjustments with the generator.
What do I need to power the door?
  • Bi- Fold Door (220v)  220 Volts  single phase
  • Hydraulic (220v) 220 Volts single phase
Can I hook a backup generator to the power source?
It is recommended to consult with a licensed electrician to install the appropriate equipment required.
Can I purchase these doors direct?
No. Call us to find a dealer near you.
What is my dealer going to need to know about my existing opening?
Follow the instructions on our measuring template, then take pictures of the entire end of the building area the existing door is on. Remember to get photos from the inside of the building—especially the areas above the opening, so we can see how the building was constructed.

TERMINOLOGY

What is a built-in header?
Truss companies can build an additional header in the two end trusses, to mount the bi-fold door. Doing so can save money and gain clearance. When the door is fully open, it will fold up above the ceiling line, maximizing total clearance possible. The header is typically located 32” – 48” above the bottom chord of the building.
What is a bottom chord mount header?
Truss companies will beef up the bottom chord of the two end trusses, to mount the bi-fold door. This requires taller sidewalls but allows you to get a wider door in a narrow building. When the door is fully open, it will hang down into the opening.
What is liner prep?
Liner prep creates a screwing surface that the interior liner sheeting can be screwed to. Liner prep is built to the full depth on the entire door. If you don’t plan to put liner on the inside of the door, this is not needed.
What is a dual seal?
Dual seal refers to the rubber seal on the bottom interior and bottom exterior side of the door.
What is a manual pull handle latching system?
This refers to the handle you have to pull to unlock and lock the door.

Example: When you go to open your bi-fold door, you will need to go to the center of the door and manually lift one 3’ long swinging handle. This will then release the locks on both sides of the door at the jambs that hold the bi-fold door shut. Next you can go hit the open push button on the wall station. The door will go up and stop on its own. When you’re ready to close the door, simply press the down button. It will stop on its own at the correct stopping point. You will still need to swing the same 3’ long swinging handle the opposite direction to lock the door in place.

The manual pull handle has a safety switch so when the handle is in a locked position it is completely dead until handle is released. This saves from any accidental damage to the door.

What is an automatic latching system?
The automatic latching system has no manual handle latch. The door operator can simply push the open button on the wall station. The automatic latching mechanism will release the locks on both sides of the door at the jambs that hold the bi-fold door shut. The door will go up and stop on its own. Once you’re ready to close the door, simply press the down button. The automatic latching system will automatically latch the door in by itself.

With this option, customers tend to add a receiver to the door, along with remote transmitters. This lets the user operate the door from a vehicle like a combine, tractor or airplane, without getting out.

Can I get remotes on my doors?
Yes. Remote controls are offered as an optional accessory. This allows for the operation of the door with a remote transmitter.

DOOR SIZES

What size doors can Midland make?
Almost any size. We make custom doors to fit each project, because each opening is unique. However, 90’ wide by 20’ high is the maximum size recommended. Anything larger typically works best for a rolling steel door.
What size is the typical ag building door?
Agriculture doors typically range from 40’ x 18’ to 50’ x 18’
What size is the typical hangar door?
Hangar doors typically range from 40’ x 12’ to 60’ x 18’
What size is the typical fertilizer plant door?
Fertilizer plant doors typically range from 14’ x 14’ to 16’ x 16’
What size is the typical commercial door?
Commercial doors typically range from 30’ x 18’ to 35’ x 18’
What size is the typical designer/architectural door?
Designer/architectural doors typically range from 12’ x 8’ to 16’ x 8’.

DOOR INSTALLATION

Can I install the door myself?
Installing the door yourself is not recommended. These doors are very large and weigh more than most people can handle on their own. Plus, if Midland installs the door, warranty coverage is much better.

Midland will install the door at any phase. Midland installers can sheet, insulate and line the door to be sure it’s done correctly.

What equipment is needed on-site for installation?
Nothing. Midland installation crews show up with everything they will need to install the door, including a boom forklift, scissor lift and all of the necessary materials. Our equipment is always factored into the bid. When our crew shows up, they are prepared to get the job done!
Do I need a lift to unload the door upon delivery?
Not if Midland is performing the installation. We have a crane on our delivery truck that will unload the door wherever the customer would like it placed before installation. The delivery drive will also check the opening and make sure that all necessary materials are on-site, prior to the arrival of the installation crew.
Who supplies sheeting, trim and screws on a door going on a new building?
The building material supplier will typically supply these items. This way, the door will match the building perfectly. However, Midland will work with the material suppliers on the quantities to ensure you get what you need. If requested, Midland’s installation crews can install these materials to ensure it is done correctly.
How long does it take to install a new door?
New non-insulated door takes about 5-6 hours

New insulated door takes about 2 days (18 hours)

Retrofits (slider replacement) door takes about 1 day (9 hours)

Does Midland paint the door frames?
Yes. The whole door is primed with a rust-inhibiting primer. Any exposed areas on the exterior of the door will be custom color matched to the building sheeting or trim colors.
Does Midland dispose of the old door?
No. However, we will have our lifts on-site so we can place the old doors on a trailer for personal disposal or somewhere on the property to store.
Does Midland install the sheeting?
Yes, if the customer requests it.
Does Midland install the insulation?
Yes, if the customer requests it.
How far does Midland travel to install?
Our crews go all over the U.S., but most of our doors are installed in the Midwest regions.
Do installation crews work all year long?
Yes. Like our doors, our install crews are Midwest tough. Our crews install all doors, all year long, even in coldest temperatures.

DOOR DESIGN

Can you put walk doors in?
Yes.
Can you put windows in?
Yes. We can either use our standard 4’ x 2’ white color windows or customers can supply their own windows. We just need the rough openings so we can weld a frame into the door frame.
Can you make the doors faster?
Yes. We can put nylon straps on the door instead of cables to make it open a little faster.
What is the difference between cables and nylon straps?
Cables

  • Cheaper
  • Best for areas that have open flames or grinding and torching
  • Typically travel about 10’ per minute

Nylon Straps

  • Cost more, because there are more components
  • Straps start out slower, but gain speed as they roll up onto themselves
  • Travel about 15’ per minute
  • More user-friendly because the tensioning component makes it easier to adjust
Can I replace the cables on my existing bi-fold door with nylon straps?
More than likely, yes. However, it depends on each door’s situation.
How much does it typically cost to change from cables to nylon straps?
This depends on whether the door is insulated and/or lined and the quantity of lift cables. On average, swapping cables for nylon straps costs between $2,000- $3,000. This includes Midland’s service technicians to install the new straps.
Do your doors have weather stripping?
Yes—the best in the industry. The headers, sides and centers of our doors have foam seals. When the door comes down against the building jambs, the foam compresses, creating the perfect seal. The bottoms of our doors also come with special rubber seals made specifically for bi-fold and hydraulic doors.
Can Midland match my existing buildings sheeting when replacing a sliding door or overhead?
Yes. Midland can often match existing buildings colors.
What is the frame depth of a bi-fold vs. hydraulic door?
Bi-Fold = 3”

Hydraulic = 4”

RETROFIT DOORS

What type of building can be retrofitted?
The most common type of buildings are curvet (round top), slant wall, steel or pole buildings.
How do you retrofit a door onto an existing building?
We install a “support frame” that includes two vertical jamb tubes, mounted to the face of the building’s jambs. Then a header is welded to the top of these tubes. Next, we mount and brace the support frame onto the face of the building. Lastly, we mount the new door onto the face of the support frame.
Do I need to remove the existing sliding doors and track?
No. Midland will remove the sliding doors and track, before installing the new door.

SERVICE

Does Midland offer service program after the sale?
Yes. Each door is given a door ID that identifies all the service history and previous notes for the door.
How often should I have my door serviced?
Every two years is recommended, depending on the use of the door. Larger doors should be serviced yearly.