- Location
- Dorchester, Dorset
- Main postcode district
- DT1
- Nearby (straight line)
- Weymouth (7 miles), Yeovil (18 miles) and Poole (20 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
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.
Is this right for your site in Dorchester?
Where strips at a site in Dorchester have turned cloudy and scratched, replacing them restores visibility for drivers and pedestrians sharing the opening. In a warehouse in Dorchester where doors stay open for much of the shift, strip curtains offer a practical first step before considering a high-speed door.
Goods-in areas in Dorchester that leave the main door open during long unloading sessions can use a strip curtain to hold back draughts and dust.
Our part of the job in Dorchester is to survey, quote and manage; the fitting itself is done by specialist installation engineers working under our management. The survey and the written quote are free. Once the fixed price is accepted, we agree dates that work around your deliveries and shifts, including out-of-hours working where needed. Every installation is tested before handover, and you receive the documentation for each item fitted.
How are strip curtains fitted to a loading bay opening?
Strip curtains are fitted by fixing a rail across the head of the opening and hanging the strips from it, a job that usually takes an hour or two per opening and needs no power supply.
- Fixed rails: bolted to the lintel or wall above the opening, with strips hooked or clamped on.
- Sliding rails: let the whole curtain be pushed to one side for wide loads or warmer months.
- Swing-away rails: hinge back against the wall, useful where a door track runs close to the head of the opening.
At a dock the curtain usually sits just inside the main door, so we check it will not snag the door's bottom edge, the leveller lip or any tracks. From you we need the opening clear for the visit and agreement on whether strips should reach the floor or stop just above it. Strips that drag on the floor wear quickly and can catch on pallet trucks.
How much do PVC strip curtains cost?
PVC strip curtains typically cost £180 to £1,100 per opening, excluding VAT, supply and fit. Small pedestrian doorways sit at the bottom of the range, and large dock openings with heavy-duty strips and sliding rails at the top.
The price depends on:
- Opening size: the width sets the number of strips and the height sets their length.
- Strip width and thickness: wider, thicker strips cost more but last longer under forklift traffic.
- Overlap: a greater overlap seals better and uses more material.
- Grade: standard, low-temperature, ribbed, anti-static, tinted or welding grades.
- Rail type: a fixed rail, or a sliding or swing-away rail that clears the opening for large loads.
- Fixing: whether the rail fixes straight to the lintel or needs brackets or a steel header.
Because strips wear, we can also price spare strips so your team can replace damaged ones. The written quote after a free site survey is the fixed price, and you can start the process through our quote form.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What we look at on site
- Traffic routes for vehicles and separation of pedestrians
- Yard gradient and the slope of the approach to the dock
- Escape routes and pedestrian doors close to the bay
- Age and condition of the equipment already in place
- Wind exposure at the dock, which affects door and shelter choice
- Control positions, isolators and any existing interlocks
Options to discuss
Sliding or swing-away rail
A rail that lets the whole curtain be moved clear of the opening for wide loads, cleaning or seasonal removal without taking the strips down.
Standard clear strips
Clear flexible PVC for ambient warehouses and goods-in areas, giving good visibility and draught control at pedestrian and forklift openings.
What do the rules in England mean for the work?
Sites in Dorchester 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 PVC strip curtains in Dorchester
Can you work outside our normal operating hours in Dorchester?
Yes, by arrangement. Evening, night and weekend working can be planned so the installation causes as little disruption as possible to your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work can affect the price, so mention it at the survey and we will include it in the written quote. The agreed times are confirmed in the programme before the job starts.
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 Dorchester 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 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 Dorset 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.
Do strip curtains work at an external dock opening?
Yes, strip curtains are often hung just inside an external dock door to reduce draughts while the door is open for loading. They are not a substitute for the door itself, which still closes the opening for security and weather whenever the bay is not in use.
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 Dorchester
Nearby places we cover, measured from Dorchester, include Weymouth (7 miles), Yeovil (18 miles) and Poole (20 miles). Ask if your own town is missing.
Other loading bay services in Dorchester
Full guide to PVC strip curtains · Everything we do in Dorchester
Speak to us about your Dorchester loading bay. We will ask the right questions, then set out the next step clearly.