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Loading bay doors · Hounslow

PVC strip curtains in Hounslow

Talk to us about PVC strip curtains in Hounslow. We cover Greater London and can advise on the right approach for your doors, levellers, shelters and dock safety equipment.

Guide £180–£1,100 per opening ex VATFree site surveyTW3, TW4, TW6
Location
Hounslow, Greater London
Main postcode districts
TW3, TW4 and TW6
Nearby (straight line)
Feltham (3 miles), Southall (3 miles) and Greenford (4 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.

Why do sites in Hounslow choose this?

Goods-in areas in Hounslow that leave the main door open during long unloading sessions can use a strip curtain to hold back draughts and dust. Food and packaging businesses in Hounslow can choose strip grades suited to regular cleaning, helping to separate dispatch areas from production.

In a warehouse in Hounslow where doors stay open for much of the shift, strip curtains offer a practical first step before considering a high-speed door.

Your loading bay stays our responsibility from the survey to the handover. In Hounslow, the survey and written quote are free, and the quoted price is fixed for the agreed scope. Installation is carried out by specialist engineers working under our management, at times planned with you to protect your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work is available by arrangement. We finish by testing the equipment and handing over its documentation.

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 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.

Guide price, Hounslow
£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.

Survey checklist for your dock

  • Control positions, isolators and any existing interlocks
  • Dock height and the mix of trailers you load
  • Power supply at each bay, including three-phase availability
  • Bumper position and wear or damage on the dock face
  • Access for deliveries, cranes or lifting equipment during installation
  • Clear opening width and height for each door

Options to discuss

Low-temperature strips

A grade formulated to stay flexible in chillers and freezers, where standard strips would stiffen, crack and stop falling back into place.

Standard clear strips

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

Which rules apply in England?

Workplace safety in England is regulated by HSE. For a loading bay in Hounslow, that means doors meeting regulation 18 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, equipment maintained under PUWER and suitable safeguards against vehicles driving away too early. We check what applies at survey and design the bay accordingly.

Questions about PVC strip curtains in Hounslow

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

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.

Can you work outside our normal operating hours in Hounslow?

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.

How long does installation take at a site in Hounslow?

It depends on the equipment, the number of bays, the condition of the dock and whether any building or electrical work is needed. We agree a programme with you after the survey, setting out which bays are out of use and when. Larger jobs are usually phased so that part of the dock stays open, and out-of-hours working can be arranged.

Are strip curtains a good alternative to a high-speed door?

Strip curtains are a good low-cost option for moderate traffic, but at very busy openings a high-speed door often performs better because it clears fully for each vehicle and closes behind it. The right choice depends on traffic volume, visibility needs and budget.

How do I clean PVC strip curtains?

Clean strips with warm water and a mild detergent, then wipe them dry. Avoid solvents and abrasive pads, which damage the surface and make strips cloud faster. In food areas, follow your site's hygiene schedule and choose a grade suited to regular cleaning.

PVC strip curtains near Hounslow

Distances are measured from Hounslow. Nearby towns we cover include Feltham (3 miles), Southall (3 miles) and Greenford (4 miles), and other towns in the area are covered too.

Other loading bay services in Hounslow

Full guide to PVC strip curtains · Everything we do in Hounslow

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