In short
Wind and rain blowing through the loading bay at your Sittingbourne site every time a trailer backs on? A retractable or inflatable dock shelter seals the opening around the vehicle and keeps the weather outside where it belongs.
- Town
- Sittingbourne
- Postcode district
- ME10
- Area
- Kent
- Survey
- Free for new installations
What to specify
- Inflatable seals. Air bags inflate around the parked trailer for a tight seal.
- Sized to your fleet. Curtain sizes matched to vehicle widths, heights and dock height.
- Guidance aids. Driver aids help trailers line up straight, which protects the shelter and improves the seal.
- Retractable frames. If a trailer reverses too far, the frame gives way and springs back instead of bending.
- Weather protection. Goods and staff stay out of the weather while the trailer is being worked.
Typical scopes of work
- Pricing shelters, levellers and sectional doors together for the refurbishment of an existing goods-in area.
- Specifying deeper top curtains for bays that receive double-deck trailers alongside standard trailers.
- Replacing worn dock bumpers before fitting new shelters so trailers stop at the correct distance from the wall.
What the law expects at a loading bay
Across Great Britain, including Sittingbourne, loading bays bring together several duties: maintained work equipment under PUWER 1998, safe traffic routes under the Workplace Regulations 1992, and safe powered doors under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Dock levellers should meet BS EN 1398, and the site's risk assessment should cover vehicle creep and drive-aways.
Planning the work around your site
For busy sites in Kent the work can be split across visits — preparation and framing first, door installation and commissioning second — so the opening is only out of action for the shortest time.
Prices for dock shelters and seals in Sittingbourne
| Item | Guide price (ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| Dock shelter (retractable) | £2,195 – £5,495 |
| Inflatable dock shelter | £6,495 – £11,995 |
Guide prices for supply and installation unless stated, excluding VAT, which is added at the current rate where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after a survey, before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
Can you replace the curtains on our dock shelters in Sittingbourne?
Yes. Replacement curtains are made to fit the existing frame on most retractable shelters, which is much cheaper than a new shelter. We measure and record the frame on the first visit.
Which dock shelter suits our Sittingbourne warehouse?
Retractable shelters suit most mixed fleets. Inflatable shelters give a tighter seal for chilled, frozen or sensitive goods. Foam seals suit uniform fleets. We recommend one after recording your vehicles and dock on survey.
Do you repair dock shelters in Sittingbourne?
Yes. We straighten or replace bent frames and arms, replace curtains, repair inflatable shelter blowers and bags, and renew bumpers. Repair visits are chargeable, and we quote before ordering any made-to-measure parts.
Dock shelters and seals near Sittingbourne
Besides Sittingbourne, we can survey and quote for sites in Faversham, Gillingham, Chatham and the rest of Kent.
- Dock shelters and seals in Faversham
- Dock shelters and seals in Gillingham
- Dock shelters and seals in Chatham
- Dock shelters and seals in Rochester
- Dock shelters and seals in Maidstone
- Dock shelters and seals in Strood
Other services in Sittingbourne
- Hangar and large-span doors
- High-speed doors
- Industrial door motor replacement
- Door automation and controls
- Steel personnel and fire exit doors
- Dock levellers
- Planned maintenance contracts
- Impact traffic doors
More about Dock shelters and seals · industrial doors in Sittingbourne. Last updated 19 October 2026.