How to Install a PVC Strip Curtain: Measuring, Cutting and Hanging

A PVC strip curtain is one of the simpler industrial products to install — but a rail mounted at the wrong height, or strips cut with too little overlap, can undo most of its benefit. This sequence covers the details that actually matter.

Step 1: Measure the opening accurately

Measure the full doorway width and height, including any frame that the rail needs to clear. If forklifts or tall equipment pass through, measure their maximum height too — the rail typically mounts flush with or slightly above the door frame, not the vehicle clearance line.

Step 2: Decide on overlap based on the doorway’s job

Overlap is the single biggest factor in how well a curtain performs. Light-traffic internal doorways can use a lighter overlap for easier passage; cold storage and dust/insect control doorways need a heavier overlap for a real seal. Our PVC Strip Curtain Calculator works out the exact strip count for your width, height and chosen overlap.

Step 3: Choose strip width and grade for the doorway

Standard doorways typically use 200mm or 300mm wide strips — wider strips mean fewer joints but a heavier curtain to push through. For the grade itself, see our guide on choosing the right PVC strip curtain if you haven’t already picked one.

Step 4: Mount the rail level and secure

The rail must be level — an uneven rail causes strips to hang unevenly and creates gaps exactly where you need the seal most. Fix the rail into solid structure (lintel, frame or wall), not just into cladding or plasterboard, since the combined weight of all strips is more than it looks.

Step 5: Cut strips to the correct length

Cut each strip about 25–50mm short of the floor for normal doors (so they don’t drag and wear) or with a deliberate floor-sweep length for cold-storage doors where floor-level sealing matters more than wear. Cut cleanly with a straight edge — a ragged bottom edge tears further with use.

Step 6: Hang with the correct overlap, checked as you go

Hang strips working from one side to the other, checking the overlap against your plan every few strips rather than only at the end — a small error compounds across a wide doorway and is much easier to correct early.

A pre-installation checklist

• Doorway width and height measured, including frame clearance
• Overlap chosen to match actual traffic and sealing needs
• Rail mounted level and fixed into solid structure
• Strips cut cleanly to the correct floor clearance
• Overlap checked periodically while hanging, not just at the end

Frequently asked questions

Should strips touch the floor? For most doorways, no — a small gap reduces wear and dragging; cold-storage doors are the main exception where floor contact matters for the seal.

Can I install a strip curtain on an uneven floor? Yes, but cut strips individually to match floor level rather than assuming a uniform length across the width.

How often do strips need replacing? It depends on traffic and grade — ribbed grades specifically extend the interval on high-traffic doors compared to standard smooth strips.

Use the PVC Strip Curtain Calculator to get your exact strip count and material length before you order, or send us your doorway measurements directly for a quote.