Loading bay doors and dock equipment, UK-wideFree site survey for new docks and upgradesRepair visits priced before we attend
Call free 0800 088 6248
Loading bay doors · Esher

PVC strip curtains in Esher

Warehouse, factory and trade sites in Esher can bring requests for PVC strip curtains to us, and we organise the work in a way that suits how the site operates.

Guide £180–£1,100 per opening ex VATFree site surveyKT10
Location
Esher, Surrey
Main postcode district
KT10
Nearby (straight line)
East Molesey (2 miles), West Molesey (2 miles) and Walton-on-Thames (2 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 Esher?

Smaller trade units in Esher with a single goods door may find a strip curtain the most economical way to keep the working area warmer in winter. Where strips at a site in Esher have turned cloudy and scratched, replacing them restores visibility for drivers and pedestrians sharing the opening.

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

We never ask you to commit before you have a fixed price. A free survey at your Esher site comes first, followed by a written quote. When the order goes ahead, we plan the installation around your operation, book any out-of-hours working you need and manage the specialist installation engineers on site. The job ends with a full test, a run-through for the people who will use the equipment and a set of handover documents.

Do strip curtains count towards building energy rules?

A strip curtain does not replace the need for a compliant door: where a new or replacement external loading bay door is fitted, it is the door that has to meet the energy rules.

  • England: Approved Document L (2021) Volume 2 sets a limiting U-value of 1.3 W/m²K for vehicle access and similar large doors in new and replacement work.
  • Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: each nation has its own energy rules, through Approved Document L for Wales, Section 6 of the Scottish Building Standards Technical Handbook, and Technical Booklet F2 in Northern Ireland. We confirm what applies to your nation and project.

What a strip curtain does well is reduce the air moving through an opening while the door is open for loading. That helps a heated or chilled building, even though the curtain is not the door.

Workplace safety still applies around the curtain: strips should stay clear enough for drivers and pedestrians to see each other. HSE is the regulator in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland.

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, Esher
£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 we look at on site

  • Condition of any existing leveller pit, kerb angles and pit drainage
  • Yard gradient and the slope of the approach to the dock
  • Temperature requirements for chilled, frozen or ambient goods
  • Bumper position and wear or damage on the dock face
  • Dock height and the mix of trailers you load
  • Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes

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.

Planning, building control and safety law 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 Esher. 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 Esher

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 Esher 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.

How long does installation take at a site in Esher?

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.

Is the site survey in Esher 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.

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.

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.

PVC strip curtains near Esher

Looking beyond Esher? Our pages for East Molesey (2 miles), West Molesey (2 miles) and Walton-on-Thames (2 miles) describe the same loading bay services and how to get in touch.

Other loading bay services in Esher

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

Use the quote tool to tell us about the doors, levellers or shelters at your Esher site, and we will be in touch to arrange the next step.

Call freeGet a quote