PVC strip curtains in Reading

Location: Reading, Berkshire
Main postcode districts: RG1, RG6 and RG30
Nearby (straight line): Lower Earley (3 miles), Wokingham (7 miles) and Crowthorne (10 miles)
Survey and quote: Free, with a fixed written quote

PVC strip curtains, in short

A PVC strip curtain is a row of flexible, overlapping plastic strips hung from a rail across a doorway, so that people and vehicles can pass through while the strips fall back to close the gap behind them. At loading bays they hang behind the main door or across internal openings, reducing draughts, dust and temperature loss for much less than the cost of a powered door.

What matters for PVC strip curtains in Reading?

Chilled rooms off a dock in Reading can lose temperature through internal doorways, and a low-temperature strip curtain is a quick, inexpensive fix. Measuring an opening in Reading for a strip curtain takes only a short visit, and we note traffic, temperature and fixings at the same time.

Where strips at a site in Reading have turned cloudy and scratched, replacing them restores visibility for drivers and pedestrians sharing the opening.

The survey is free, the quote is written and the price is fixed: that is how every installation in Reading begins. We then manage the work from start to finish. Fitting is carried out by specialist installers under our management, phased so the operation keeps moving, and nights or weekends can be booked by arrangement. On the final day we test the equipment with you and hand over the operating and maintenance information.

How often do PVC strips need replacing?

PVC strips need replacing when they become scratched, cloudy, split or shortened, and how often that happens depends almost entirely on traffic. A curtain at a busy forklift opening wears far faster than one at a quiet pedestrian door.

Signs that strips are due for replacement:

You can no longer see clearly through them.
Strips have torn at the top fixing or split along their length.
Gaps have opened because strips have shrunk or been cut short.
Low-temperature strips have stiffened and no longer fall back into place.

Individual strips can be swapped without replacing the whole curtain, which keeps costs down. Cleaning with a mild detergent helps visibility, while solvents can damage the PVC. Moving strips from the busy centre to the edges, and back, spreads the wear more evenly.

Are strip curtains safe where forklifts and pedestrians share an opening?

Strip curtains can be used where forklifts and pedestrians share an opening, but only if the strips stay clear enough for both to see through and the route is managed. Visibility is the main risk.

Clear strips scratch and cloud with use, so a driver may not see a person on the other side.
Ribbed strips and regular replacement keep visibility better for longer.
A separate pedestrian door beside the vehicle opening is the safer arrangement.
Floor markings and mirrors help where a separate door is not possible.

At very busy openings, a high-speed dock door with vision panels and safety sensors may be the better long-term answer, because it opens fully for each vehicle and closes again behind it. We can price both so you can compare the cost and the practical difference for your traffic.

Guide price, Reading

£180–£1,100 per opening, ex VAT

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?

Power supply at each bay, including three-phase availability
Escape routes and pedestrian doors close to the bay
Forklift and pallet truck loads crossing the leveller platform
Condition of any existing leveller pit, kerb angles and pit drainage
Headroom above the opening and which track type will suit it
Age and condition of the equipment already in place

Options to discuss

Standard clear strips

Clear flexible PVC for ambient warehouses and goods-in areas, giving good visibility and draught control at pedestrian and forklift openings.

Ribbed strips

Strips with raised ribs that take the abrasion from forklifts and pallets, helping them stay clearer for longer at busy openings.

Which rules apply in England?

Powered doors and dock equipment installed in England may carry the UKCA or the CE mark, and doors are covered by the product standard BS EN 13241. We hand over the relevant documentation for each item fitted in Reading. Planning and Building Regulations questions are never assumed either way: we check what applies at survey, so you know before work is booked.

Questions about PVC strip curtains in Reading

Will you deal with building control and planning for a project in Reading?

We check at survey whether the work is likely to need approval. Forming a new opening or dock pit may need Building Regulations approval, a building warrant or building control approval, depending on the nation, and external structures such as loading houses can need planning permission. Where approval is needed, we explain what is involved, work with your designer or agent, and build it into the programme.

Which building and safety rules apply to a site in Reading?

It depends on which UK nation the site is in. England and Wales use Building Regulations approval, Scotland uses building warrants and Northern Ireland uses building control approval from the council. Workplace safety is regulated by HSE in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland, and energy rules differ between nations. For your site in Reading, we check what applies at survey and design to it.

Is VAT included in your guide prices for PVC strip curtains?

No. Our customers are businesses, so guide prices exclude VAT, which is added at the standard rate. The same guide range applies in Berkshire as everywhere else: for PVC strip curtains, it is £180 to £1,100 per opening, excluding VAT. It covers supply and fit for a typical installation. Your fixed written quote after the free survey shows the net price, the VAT and exactly what is included.

Can strips be replaced individually?

Yes, individual strips can be unhooked or unclamped and replaced without taking down the whole curtain. Keeping a few spare strips on site lets your team swap damaged ones as soon as they appear, which keeps visibility and sealing consistent across the opening.

Which grade should we use in a freezer?

Use a low-temperature or polar grade in a freezer. Standard PVC stiffens in the cold, so it cracks and stops falling back into place, leaving gaps. Low-temperature grades are formulated to stay flexible in chilled and frozen conditions, so they keep sealing after each vehicle passes.

PVC strip curtains near Reading

Distances are measured from Reading. Nearby towns we cover include Lower Earley (3 miles), Wokingham (7 miles) and Crowthorne (10 miles), and other towns in the area are covered too.