Rolling Shutter Guide
Parts, boxes, rails and mounting
- What are anti-lift brackets on a manual rolling shutter, and where do they go?Anti-lift brackets are small C-shaped brackets screwed inside the shutter box, on its back wall along the top edge, that stop a closed manual shutter being raised from outside without the strap. They are fitted with the curtain fully down, three screws each, screw holes at the top and the C shape facing down.Read the guide →
- What is the bottom bar (base slat) on a rolling shutter, and which type do I have?The bottom bar, or base slat, is the extruded slat at the foot of a rolling shutter curtain. It carries the seal that meets the sill and, on manual shutters, the stops, grip and lock. It matches the curtain: a mini bar for 38 mm slats, a standard bar for 55 mm, a heavier end-retention bar for manual single-wall.Read the guide →
- What are flared guide rails and entry rollers on a rolling shutter?They are the parts that steer the curtain into the guide rails as it unrolls from the box. Most shutters use a small plastic entry guide on top of each rail; larger motorized boxes can use rolling entry guides (rollers); and some builds use a flared rail, cut 1 in longer and opened out at the top.Read the guide →
- What is furring (build-out), and when does a rolling shutter need it?Furring, or a build-out, is spacer material fixed to the wall so the shutter's box and rails stand off it. A shutter needs it when a door handle, window hinge, trim or an uneven face would block the closing curtain. Roll-A-Shield's furring is 1 x 2 in aluminum tube, giving 1 or 2 in of clearance.Read the guide →
- How wide are rolling shutter guide rails, and which type do I need?Guide rails are aluminum channels fixed either side of the opening, each with a mounting channel and a weather-stripped slat channel. Roll-A-Shield uses four: mini (2.0875 in per side), mini-wide (2.638 in), end-retention (2.944 in) and standard (3.346 in). The slat you choose decides the rail.Read the guide →
- How do I plan a hidden rolling shutter box in new construction or a soffit?Size the pocket to the actual shutter: as wide as the opening plus both guide rails, a little deeper than the box, and with the box about 2 in above the opening so the bottom slat clears it. Boxes run 6.5 to 12 in. Route power before the soffit is closed, and plan an access panel.Read the guide →
- How do rolling shutters lock? Key, thumb-turn and slide locksA manual rolling shutter locks at its bottom bar, which locks into cut-outs in the guide rails. The usual types are a slide lock worked by a knob, a key lock, and a thumb-turn lock turned by hand from one side. Motorized shutters normally have no bottom-bar lock: the motor holds the curtain down.Read the guide →
- Inside mount or outside mount: which is right for a rolling shutter?An outside (surface) mount fixes the box and guide rails to the wall around the opening, so the whole opening stays clear; it suits most windows and doors. An inside (recessed) mount fits the entire shutter within the opening. It looks flush, but needs a solid, square reveal deep enough for the box and gives up some opening.Read the guide →
- Can security shutters go on the inside of a window or door?Yes. A rolling security shutter can mount on the outside wall, inside the window or door opening, or on the room's inside wall. Outside gives the most security and storm protection, because the barrier is in front of the glass; inside leaves the exterior unchanged, which is why HOAs, landlords and historic homes ask for it.Read the guide →
- What screws do I use to mount a rolling shutter on stucco, brick, wood or metal?Use Tapcon screws 1-1/4 to 3 in long in brick or concrete, self-drilling screws at least 3/4 to 1-1/2 in long in metal, 2 to 3 in wood screws in wood, and 4 to 6 in wood deck screws through stucco. Every screw head must be smaller than 3/8 in, and the box must go into a strong, stable structure.Read the guide →
- What are the parts of a rolling shutter?A rolling shutter has five groups of parts: the box (housing or hood) above the opening, holding an axle; the curtain of interlocking slats ending in a bottom bar; two guide rails the curtain runs in; an operator (strap, crank, spring or tubular motor) that turns the axle; and accessories such as locks, U-channel and anti-lift brackets.Read the guide →
- What is a reverse-mount rolling shutter, and when is one used?A reverse-mount rolling shutter is built with its box facing inward, so the box can hide inside a cabinet, enclosure or wall and only the curtain and rails show. It is used for TV enclosures, counters and interior installs where a flush look matters. The slats hang the other way round, so it must be ordered reverse-mounted.Read the guide →
- How big is a rolling shutter box? Box, end cap and hood sizesRoll-A-Shield shutter boxes (also called hoods or housings) come in six sizes, 6.5 to 12 in (165 to 300 mm). Each is roughly square in section, so it sticks out from the wall roughly as far as it is tall, and a cast-aluminum end cap closes each end. The curtain height and slat type decide the size.Read the guide →
- What is a storm bar on a rolling shutter, and does a patio shutter need one?A storm bar is a removable aluminum post behind the middle of a closed shutter, held by floor and overhead plates, to help stop strong wind pushing the curtain back out of its rails. It is recommended for insulated-slat shutters on patios, carports and other open-backed openings; shutters against a wall normally don't need one.Read the guide →
- What is a U-channel on a rolling shutter, and do I need one?A U-channel is a U-shaped bar fixed across the bottom of the opening, giving the closed curtain a flat, steady surface to land in, with the guide rails standing in its ends. You need one only when the sill has no flat surface for the curtain to rest on, or you want a better light seal at the bottom.Read the guide →
- What size weather seal and rail felt does a rolling shutter use?A rolling shutter seals in two places: a pile (felt) strip in the slat channel of each guide rail, and a seal along the underside of the bottom bar. On Roll-A-Shield shutters the rail pile comes in two heights, 0.200 in for mini and mini-wide rails and 0.380 in for standard and end-retention rails, on a 0.270 in backing.Read the guide →
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Replacement motors, remotes, straps, slats and hardware ship from our Tempe, Arizona factory. Phoenix-area owners can book a service visit; everywhere else, our technicians help by phone. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.