- Location
- Park Royal, Greater London
- Main postcode district
- NW10
- Nearby (straight line)
- Acton (1 mile), Wembley (2 miles) and Greenford (3 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
A dock seal is a set of fabric-covered foam pads fixed to the building around a loading bay door, usually a head pad and two side pads. When a trailer reverses in, its rear end presses into the foam, which compresses to close the gaps around the trailer body. Seals give a very tight fit but work best when the trailers using the bay are a consistent size.
How does this suit sites in Park Royal?
Before recommending seals for a bay in Park Royal, we check how consistent your trailers are, because mixed fleets are usually better served by a shelter. Own-fleet distribution sites in Park Royal, where the same trailers arrive day after day, are well suited to foam dock seals and the tight fit they give.
Older seals at docks in Park Royal that have been left with split covers can soak up rain, becoming heavy and losing their shape over winter.
It starts with a free site survey in Park Royal, where we measure the openings, check the dock and talk through how the bay is used. You then receive a fixed written quote. Once you accept, we manage the job: specialist installation engineers carry out the work under our management, planned around your deliveries, and out-of-hours working can be arranged. At handover we test everything with you and leave the documentation.
A note on the freight picture around Park Royal and beyond: this is London's largest industrial estate. Whatever traffic your own site handles, specify the dock to suit it.
When is a dock seal a better choice than a shelter?
A dock seal is a better choice than a shelter when the trailers using a bay are consistent in size, the dock height suits them, and the tightest practical seal matters. Mixed fleets are usually better served by a shelter.
- Consistent fleets: dedicated vehicles or regular hauliers using the same trailer type.
- Temperature control: chilled or heated buildings where gaps around the trailer are costly.
- Security and hygiene: fewer gaps for pests, dust and unauthorised access during loading.
- Budget: seals cost less than inflatable shelters for a close fit.
The trade-offs are that seals can leave gaps at trailer door hinges, side pads can intrude into the trailer opening if poorly sized, and the covers wear from rubbing. If your trailers vary, compare our retractable dock shelters before deciding, as they leave the full opening clear.
How much do dock seals cost?
A set of dock seals typically costs £1,100 to £2,600 per set, excluding VAT, supply and fit. A set is normally a head pad and two side pads for one bay.
The price depends on:
- Pad size and depth: larger openings and deeper foam cost more.
- Head arrangement: a fixed head pad, or a curtain head for varied trailer heights.
- Cover fabric: heavier coated fabric and replaceable wear pleats last longer.
- Pad shape: tapered side pads that guide the trailer and intrude less into the opening.
- Mounting: fixing direct to masonry, to a steel frame, or to brackets that set the projection.
- Site work: removing old seals, adjusting bumpers and powered access equipment.
Where the foam is still sound, new covers can cost less than new pads, and we will say if that is an option. After a free site survey you receive a fixed written price for the work described.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What does the free survey cover?
- Lighting inside trailers and at the dock face
- Yard gradient and the slope of the approach to the dock
- Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes
- Traffic routes for vehicles and separation of pedestrians
- Power supply at each bay, including three-phase availability
- How drivers are prevented from pulling away too early
Options to discuss
Replaceable wear pleats
Sacrificial fabric strips on the pad faces that take the rubbing from trailers and can be replaced without changing the whole cover.
Fixed head pad seal
A head pad and two side pads of set depth, the simplest and tightest arrangement where every trailer using the bay is the same height.
What do the rules in England mean for the work?
Sites in Park Royal fall under the rules for England. Structural changes such as forming a new opening or a dock leveller pit may need Building Regulations approval, and external structures such as loading houses, canopies or new dock approaches can need planning permission from the local planning authority. We check what applies at survey and build any approvals into the plan.
Questions about dock seals in Park Royal
What warranty comes with new loading bay equipment?
New equipment comes with the manufacturer's warranty, which varies by product. Our workmanship terms are set out in writing in the quote for your Park Royal site, so you can see what is covered before you commit. Check the warranty terms for any servicing conditions, and we can quote for planned maintenance once the installation is complete.
Is the site survey in Park Royal free?
Yes. For new installations, replacements, upgrades, conversions and complete bays, the site survey and written quote are free and come with no obligation. The survey lets us measure the openings, check the dock and structure, and understand how the bay is used, so the quote reflects your site. Repair and servicing visits are different: they are chargeable, with the price agreed before anyone attends.
Can you work alongside our main contractor on a new build in Park Royal?
Yes. For new warehouses and fit-outs, we can supply and install the dock package as part of a wider project, working to the main contractor's programme, site rules and permits. We will need drawings, dock levels and the programme, and we coordinate pit details, power supplies and door openings with the relevant trades before installation begins.
Are dock seals suitable for cold stores?
Yes, for cold stores with consistent trailers a dock seal gives a tight fit at a lower cost than an inflatable shelter. The pads must be kept in good condition, because water in the foam can freeze and stiffen it. Mixed fleets at cold stores are often better served by inflatable shelters.
How can I tell if seal projection is wrong?
Look at the pads with a trailer docked. Daylight around the head or sides suggests too little compression, while pads squashed flat or bulging around the trailer suggest too much. Worn bumpers are a common cause, and both can be checked at a planned service.
Dock seals near Park Royal
Looking beyond Park Royal? Our pages for Acton (1 mile), Wembley (2 miles) and Greenford (3 miles) describe the same loading bay services and how to get in touch.
Other loading bay services in Park Royal
Full guide to dock seals · Everything we do in Park Royal
Ready to talk about a loading bay in Park Royal? Call us, or send the details through the quote form.