- Location
- Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
- Main postcode district
- BS23
- Nearby (straight line)
- Burnham-on-Sea (7 miles), Clevedon (8 miles) and Penarth (11 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
A retractable dock shelter is a fabric shelter fixed to the building around a loading bay door, with flexible top and side curtains carried on a sprung or pantograph steel frame. When a trailer reverses in, the frame retracts and the curtains drape against the trailer's sides and roof, closing most of the gap while leaving the full width of the trailer opening clear for loading.
Is this right for your site in Weston-super-Mare?
For a dock in Weston-super-Mare where wide pallets need the full trailer opening, a shelter keeps that width clear while still closing the gaps. Shelter sizing for a bay in Weston-super-Mare starts with measuring the door and wall and recording the tallest, lowest and widest trailers you receive.
If a shelter on an older unit in Weston-super-Mare has a sound frame but torn, faded curtains, replacing just the curtains can be the economical choice.
Your loading bay stays our responsibility from the survey to the handover. In Weston-super-Mare, 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 much does a retractable dock shelter cost?
A retractable dock shelter typically costs £1,900 to £4,400 per shelter, excluding VAT, supply and fit. Most of the variation comes from size, projection and the curtain specification.
- Size: width and height, set by your door and the largest trailers you receive.
- Projection: deeper shelters cost more but leave room for opened trailer doors and the leveller lip.
- Curtains: heavier-grade fabrics, slit side curtains, adjustable top curtains and guide stripes.
- Frame: sprung, pantograph or rigid, in a galvanised or painted finish.
- Fixings: fixing to cladding usually needs a steel subframe or spreader plates.
- Access and removal: powered access equipment in the yard, and taking down an old shelter.
On an older shelter with a sound frame, new curtains may be all that is needed, and we will say so if that is the case. Every price is fixed in the written quote after a free site survey.
How do I size a retractable shelter for my trailers?
Size a retractable shelter to the largest trailer you receive, with a projection deep enough for opened trailer doors and the leveller lip, and curtains that still reach the smallest vehicles. The trailer mix sets almost every dimension.
- Width: wider than the trailer, so the side curtains drape along its sides rather than across the opening.
- Height: high enough for the tallest trailers, with a top curtain deep enough to reach the roof of the lowest.
- Projection: deep enough for the rear doors, folded back along the trailer sides, to sit inside the curtains.
- Curtain cut-outs: vertical slits let the side curtains wrap around hinges and rear fittings without tearing.
- Guide stripes: contrasting stripes on the curtains help drivers centre the trailer.
If your fleet is uniform, a seal may give a tighter fit. Our guide to shelters and seals sets out the trade-offs.
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
- Wheel guide positions and yard markings for reversing vehicles
- Clear opening width and height for each door
- Control positions, isolators and any existing interlocks
- Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes
- Drainage on recessed or sloping dock approaches
- Yard gradient and the slope of the approach to the dock
Options to discuss
Guide stripes
Contrasting high-visibility stripes on the curtains that give drivers a clear target to aim for when reversing onto the bay.
Slit side curtains
Vertical cuts in the side curtains that let them wrap around trailer door hinges and rear fittings without tearing, extending curtain life.
What do the rules in England mean for the work?
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 Weston-super-Mare. 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 retractable dock shelters in Weston-super-Mare
What details do you need from us to quote for retractable dock shelters?
To get started, send the site address in Weston-super-Mare, the number of bays or openings, approximate sizes, and photos of the dock from inside and outside. Tell us what vehicles you load, what goods you handle and any temperature requirements. Drawings help on new builds. We then arrange the free survey and confirm the details before the written quote is issued.
Will you deal with building control and planning for a project in Weston-super-Mare?
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 alongside our main contractor on a new build in Weston-super-Mare?
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.
Can I replace just the curtains on an old shelter?
Yes, if the frame and fixings are sound, new top and side curtains can be fitted to an existing shelter, which is often the most economical way to restore it. The frame and springs are checked first, because new curtains on a failing frame will not last. This is handled as a repair, with the visit price agreed beforehand.
Does a dock shelter keep a building warm?
A shelter reduces the draughts and rain entering the dock around a trailer, which helps keep the loading area warmer. It does not seal as closely as a dock seal or inflatable shelter, so for chilled and frozen docks those options are usually preferred.
Retractable dock shelters near Weston-super-Mare
We also cover towns near Weston-super-Mare, including Burnham-on-Sea (7 miles), Clevedon (8 miles) and Penarth (11 miles). Each has its own page with the same services and process.
Other loading bay services in Weston-super-Mare
Full guide to retractable dock shelters · Everything we do in Weston-super-Mare
Tell us what is happening at your Weston-super-Mare dock, what equipment is there and when it is used, and we will suggest the right next step.