- Location
- Yeovil, Somerset
- Main postcode district
- BA20
- Nearby (straight line)
- Dorchester (18 miles), Bridgwater (21 miles) and Taunton (21 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.
What should sites in Yeovil consider?
Docks facing open ground in Yeovil can catch rain driven sideways into the bay, which a well-fitted retractable shelter helps keep out. Loading staff at a draughty dock in Yeovil notice the difference when the gaps around the trailer are closed, especially through the colder months.
Industrial landlords in Yeovil refreshing a multi-let estate can fit shelters that suit a range of future tenants and the trailers they may use.
Our part of the job in Yeovil 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 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.
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.
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
- Control positions, isolators and any existing interlocks
- Forklift and pallet truck loads crossing the leveller platform
- Temperature requirements for chilled, frozen or ambient goods
- How drivers are prevented from pulling away too early
- Lighting inside trailers and at the dock face
- Clear opening width and height for each door
Options to discuss
Rigid frame with long curtains
A fixed frame carrying long flexible curtains, useful where the trailer only needs to touch the curtains and the frame can stay clear of impact.
Guide stripes
Contrasting high-visibility stripes on the curtains that give drivers a clear target to aim for when reversing onto the bay.
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 Yeovil. 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 Yeovil
Will you deal with building control and planning for a project in Yeovil?
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 Yeovil?
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 Yeovil, we check what applies at survey and design to it.
Can you work outside our normal operating hours in Yeovil?
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.
Will a shelter work with curtain-sided trailers?
Yes, retractable shelters suit curtain-siders well, as the side curtains drape along the trailer body. Where curtain-siders are loaded from the rear, the shelter closes the gaps around the sides and roof while leaving the full rear opening clear for forklifts and pallet trucks.
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 Yeovil
Other towns within reach of Yeovil on our coverage list include Dorchester (18 miles), Bridgwater (21 miles) and Taunton (21 miles), all covered on the same terms.
Other loading bay services in Yeovil
Full guide to retractable dock shelters · Everything we do in Yeovil
Request a quote for your loading bay in Yeovil, attaching photos of the dock, the equipment and any damage.