- Location
- Sevenoaks, Kent
- Main postcode district
- TN13
- Nearby (straight line)
- Tonbridge (6 miles), Royal Tunbridge Wells (10 miles) and Caterham (12 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
A roller shutter loading bay door is a door made from interlocking horizontal slats, called laths, that coil around a barrel in a box above the opening. Because it rolls up into a compact space, a shutter needs little headroom and no ceiling tracks, which suits older units, low-headroom openings and buildings with cranes, pipes or racking close above the door.
Why do sites in Sevenoaks choose this?
Every shutter we quote for a building in Sevenoaks starts with a survey of the opening, the space above it and how often the door will run. Docks that face an open yard in Sevenoaks can catch strong gusts, so we check orientation and specify end locks and heavier laths where exposure calls for it.
Where a site in Sevenoaks is exposed to salt air or regular washdown, aluminium laths or a good powder coat help slow corrosion on the curtain and guides.
Here is what happens after you contact us about a site in Sevenoaks. We arrange a free survey, measure up and send a fixed written quote. If you go ahead, we manage the whole job, including ordering, delivery and coordination with your site team. Specialist installation engineers working under our management do the fitting, at times built around your loading schedule, with out-of-hours work by arrangement. Testing and handover documents close the job.
Can a roller shutter cope with high winds at an exposed dock?
Yes, if it is specified for the exposure. Wind pushes the curtain inwards or draws it outwards, and on a wide opening that load can pull laths out of their guides or bow the whole curtain.
For exposed docks we typically consider:
- End locks: clips on the ends of the laths that hold the curtain inside the guides under load.
- Deeper guides: give the end locks more to hold on to.
- Heavier gauge or profiled laths: stiffer across wide openings.
- Intermediate wind bars: horizontal reinforcement on very large shutters.
Openings that face open yards, sit at the end of a building or are funnelled between units tend to see the strongest gusts. We note orientation and surroundings at survey and choose a wind-resistant build where it is needed, rather than adding cost to every door on the site.
How much does a roller shutter loading bay door cost?
A roller shutter loading bay door typically costs £1,600 to £4,800 per door, excluding VAT, supply and fit. That usually makes it the most economical door for a dock opening, though the specification makes a big difference to where a door lands.
The price depends mainly on:
- Size: wider openings need a larger barrel, heavier laths and stronger brackets.
- Lath type: single-skin steel is the cheapest; foam-filled insulated laths and aluminium cost more.
- Operation: hand chain, or an electric motor with controls, safety edge and photocells.
- Wind resistance: end locks, deeper guides or heavier gauge laths for exposed openings.
- Finish: galvanised steel or a powder-coated colour, plus a hood box to protect the coil.
- Site work: stripping out an old shutter, repairing reveals, providing power and working out of hours.
The written quote that follows our free site survey fixes the price for the work described.
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
- Age and condition of the equipment already in place
- How drivers are prevented from pulling away too early
- Asbestos register and any other site hazard information
- How often each door cycles during a typical shift
- Bumper position and wear or damage on the dock face
- Clear opening width and height for each door
Options to discuss
Wind-resistant build
End locks, deeper guides and heavier gauge laths for wide or exposed openings where gusts could pull the curtain out of its guides.
Electric operation with safety devices
An external or tubular motor with push-button controls, safety edge, photocells and a hand-chain override for use during a power cut.
Which rules apply in England?
Sites in Sevenoaks 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 roller shutter loading bay doors in Sevenoaks
Do you remove and dispose of the old equipment?
Yes, where it is part of the scope. When we replace doors, levellers, shelters or seals at a site in Sevenoaks, removal and disposal of the old equipment can be included and is itemised in the quote, so it is clear what is covered. If anything should be kept, such as a frame or motor that is still serviceable, we agree that at survey.
How long does installation take at a site in Sevenoaks?
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 Sevenoaks 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.
Are roller shutters noisy at a loading bay?
A roller shutter is generally noisier than a sectional door because the laths move against each other as they coil, though insulated laths and well-adjusted guides reduce this. Noise matters most where the dock is close to offices or neighbours. Keeping the barrel and guides clean and lubricated keeps running noise down.
Do roller shutters work on cold store docks?
Roller shutters are rarely used as the main door on a cold store dock, because even insulated laths do not hold temperature as well as a purpose-made cold store door. They can work as an outer security door in front of an insulated door, or at ambient bays on the same site.
Roller shutter loading bay doors near Sevenoaks
Sites close to Sevenoaks get the same service, including those in Tonbridge (6 miles), Royal Tunbridge Wells (10 miles) and Caterham (12 miles), with every job run the same way.
Other loading bay services in Sevenoaks
Full guide to roller shutter loading bay doors · Everything we do in Sevenoaks
For a written price on loading bay work in Sevenoaks, request a quote and include photos of the bay if you can.