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.
Is this right for your site in Surrey?
Landlords refurbishing a vacant unit in Surrey may choose an insulated shutter where headroom is tight but a future tenant is likely to heat the building. Low headroom is the deciding factor at many older buildings, whether in Surrey or elsewhere, and a compact roller shutter avoids overhead tracks altogether.
If a manual shutter on a site in Surrey is hard work to open several times a day, a new electric shutter or a retrofit motor may solve it.
The survey is free, the quote is written and the price is fixed: that is how every installation in Surrey begins. We then manage the work from start to finish. Fitting is carried out by specialist installers under our management, phased so the operation keeps moving, and nights or weekends can be booked by arrangement. On the final day we test the equipment with you and hand over the operating and maintenance information.
Which lath should I choose: single skin, insulated or aluminium?
Choose single-skin steel for unheated buildings where cost and strength matter most, insulated laths where the building is heated, and aluminium where weight or corrosion is the main concern.
- Single-skin steel: strong and economical, ideal for unheated stores, trade counters and secure external openings, but it offers little insulation.
- Insulated steel laths: twin-skin laths filled with foam improve thermal performance and reduce noise. The coil is larger, so the box above the opening is bigger.
- Aluminium laths: lighter and corrosion resistant, useful in coastal or washdown environments, and easier on the motor at large openings.
- Perforated or punched laths: let light and air through while keeping the opening secure, better suited to internal cages than external docks.
Lath gauge and profile matter too. Heavier gauges resist forklift knocks and wind better, and we specify them for wide or exposed openings.
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.
Towns we cover in Surrey
We provide roller shutter loading bay doors right across Surrey. Pick the town closest to your site from the list below.
- Woking
- Guildford
- Esher
- Redhill
- Staines
- Leatherhead
- Farnham
- Epsom
- Camberley
- Egham
- Sunbury-on-Thames
- Ashford
- Walton-on-Thames
- Godalming
- Reigate
- Horley
- Caterham
- Weybridge
- East Molesey
- West Molesey
- Dorking
- Haslemere
Budget range for supply and fit. The written quote after a free survey is the fixed price. All guide prices.
What do the rules in England mean for the work?
Sites in Surrey 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
Can you work outside our normal operating hours in Surrey?
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 Surrey?
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.
Can an existing manual shutter be motorised?
Often yes. If the barrel, end plates and curtain are in good condition, an external or tubular motor can be added with controls and safety devices. Older or heavier shutters sometimes need a stronger barrel first, and a badly worn curtain is usually better replaced at the same time.
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.
Other services in Surrey
Full guide to roller shutter loading bay doors · All loading bay services in Surrey