Measuring, ordering and installing · Rolling Shutter Guide
Can I install a rolling shutter myself?
Usually yes. You fasten two guide rails, lower the assembled box into them and screw it to the wall, which a handy owner with a helper can do. Strap, crank, spring, battery and solar shutters need no electrician. Wired and remote motors need a licensed electrician for the mains connection, and large or high shutters need more hands.
Key facts
- Roll-A-Shield shutters ship with the slat curtain already rolled on the axle inside an assembled box, plus two guide rails, the operator and a parts kit; you supply the screws for the rails, and you or your electrician supply the junction box and cable for a switch-operated motor. Roll-A-Shield data
- Strap, crank-strap and crank-wand shutters are limited to a curtain of about 50 lb; heavier curtains are motorized. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield's own crews put two installers on any opening over about 9 ft wide, and a box over 8 ft wide takes a third mounting screw in the middle. Roll-A-Shield data
- Wired and remote shutter motors run on 120 V AC; the mains connection is made by a licensed electrician, terminated in a listed junction box as the motor maker requires. Roll-A-Shield data
- Outside the Phoenix area the Roll-A-Shield warranty covers parts only, and following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void it. Roll-A-Shield data
- A shutter is built in about 10 business days and reaches your door in about 2 weeks; freight damage must be reported within 2 business days. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Surface- and recess-mounted rolling shutters of any make shipped for self-installation; Roll-A-Shield strap, crank, spring, OZRoll battery, Gaposa solar, and Somfy or Gaposa wired and remote-motor shutters.
Most rolling shutters are designed to be installed from the outside with ordinary tools. Roll-A-Shield ships to self-installers nationwide with a printed guide for each operator type and an install video. What decides whether you should do it is the operator, the size and weight of the curtain, the wall, and how high the opening is. If you are not confident after reading this page, do not attempt it; a shutter that is mounted out of plumb or wired wrong will not run properly.
Which shutters can I install myself?
Almost any shutter can be mounted by an owner; the exceptions are the mains connection and very heavy curtains.
| Your situation | Self-install? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pull-strap or crank-box shutter | Yes | No wiring; you drill one 3/4 in hole through the wall for the strap. |
| Spring (push-pull) shutter | Yes, carefully | Mounting is the same as any shutter; call us before you set the spring. |
| Battery (OZRoll) shutter | Yes | The motor wire runs into the house through a 3/8 in hole to a wall plate; the charger plugs into an outlet. |
| Solar (Gaposa) shutter | Yes | The panel plugs into the motor wire on the outside; there is no house wiring. |
| Wired switch or remote motor | Mounting yes; mains connection no | The motor runs on 120 V AC. Leave the motor cable for a licensed electrician, who terminates it in a listed junction box. |
| Opening over about 9 ft wide | Only with a second person | Roll-A-Shield crews put two installers on these. |
| Second story or high opening | Only with a second person and a safe ladder | Roll-A-Shield bills second-story work as a two-person job. |
| Curtain shipped separately (over 80 lb) | Call first | The curtain has to be loaded onto the axle in sections, a two-person job. |
On a strap or crank shutter the operator also limits the size: a pull strap handles up to 24 sq ft and 120 in wide, a crank strap up to 64 sq ft, and any strap or crank curtain over about 50 lb is motorized. A spring shutter tops out at 192 in wide, 120 in tall and 144 sq ft. Near the coast, motorized or single-wall shutters are the better choice and spring units are not recommended.
How heavy is a rolling shutter curtain?
Work it out before you lift anything: curtain weight in lb = width in inches × height in inches × the slat's weight per square foot / 144.
| Opening and slat | Sizing weight | Curtain weight |
|---|---|---|
| 48 in × 60 in window, 38 mm insulated | 0.92 lb/sq ft | about 18 lb |
| 72 in × 80 in door, 38 mm insulated | 0.92 lb/sq ft | about 37 lb |
| 96 in × 84 in patio door, 55 mm insulated | 1.11 lb/sq ft | about 62 lb |
| 144 in × 96 in opening, 63 mm single-wall | 1.14 lb/sq ft | about 109 lb |
That is the curtain alone; the box, axle and operator come on top, and you are lifting it overhead. The 55 mm insulated slat is motor-only, so the third example is always motorized. A curtain over 80 lb ships separately from the box.
What tools and how many people do I need?
Two people and a power drill cover most installs. The Roll-A-Shield guides list:
- Power drill, a drill-bit extension, Phillips and square-drive bits
- A 3/4 in bit for a strap shutter, for the hole the strap runs through
- Tape measure, large level, pencil, hammer
- Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, utility knife, caulk and caulk gun, a ladder if needed
- For a battery or solar motor, the drill bit and wiring tools listed in that motor's guide; the mains wiring tools for a wired motor are the electrician's
You supply the rail screws, matched to the wall. The head must be smaller than 3/8 in.
| Wall | Screw | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Brick or concrete | Tapcon | 1-1/4 in to 3 in |
| Metal | Self-drilling | 3/4 in to 1-1/2 in |
| Wood | Wood screws | 2 in to 3 in |
| Stucco | Wood deck screws | 4 in to 6 in |
The second person matters at three points: lifting and holding the box while its ears drop into the rails, feeding a strap through the wall from inside, and the first test of a motor, when one person stands at the switch and the other watches the shutter with the box cover off.
How long does it take?
Roll-A-Shield's own installers average about an hour per opening, so a few shutters take about half a day. The guides give no time for a first-time installer; allow longer, and longer again for wiring or an inside mount with little clearance above the box. See inside vs. outside mount.
What does Roll-A-Shield ship?
Every kit has the assembled box with the curtain rolled on the axle, two guide rails, the U-channel if you ordered one, the operator (strap box, crank box and handle, switch, remote or solar panel) and a parts kit with rail plugs. Manual kits add anti-lift brackets and a diamond roller. The install guide goes in the box, and the motor maker's own instructions travel in the parts bag. To see how these pieces fit, read parts of a rolling shutter.
Shutters are built in about 10 business days and arrive in about 2 weeks; you can also collect from Tempe on weekdays after 1 PM. Inspect the delivery and report any freight damage within 2 business days; the claim is filed by whoever paid the freight.
The limits on a motor are preset at the factory but can drift in shipping, so check them on the first run and stop the shutter at the switch if it does not stop on its own.
Where should I stop and call a professional?
Stop: Mains wiring. Do not connect a wired or remote motor to house power yourself unless you are licensed. Follow the motor maker's rule: terminate the motor cable in a listed junction box and do not run the motor cable itself through the wall. Our earlier install guides and videos show the motor cable run through the wall to an outlet or switch; that is an older practice, so follow the junction-box rule instead.
Stop: Springs. A spring shutter's drum is spring-loaded. Call (480) 921-0200 before you set or change the spring, and if it will not hold or the locking pin will not lock, stop; do not improvise.
Stop: Heavy curtains. If the curtain weighs more than two people can hold overhead, or arrives separately from the box, call before you start.
Safety: The box must be fastened to a strong, stable structure. Put a screw in each corner of the box near the safety plates, and a third in the middle if the shutter is over 8 ft wide. Do not overtighten; it distorts the box and drags on the curtain.
Does installing it myself affect the warranty?
Not if you follow the guide. Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. A shutter shipped outside the Phoenix area carries the same 5-year parts and 5-year motor terms, but the warranty is parts only, no labor. Full terms are on the warranty page.
Can I get help during the install?
Yes. Each guide tells self-installers to call a Roll-A-Shield technician with any question mid-install; the number is (480) 921-0200. If you would rather not do it yourself, Roll-A-Shield installs in metro Phoenix; elsewhere it can arrange a third-party installer through its Install Support program or refer you to a dealer.
What next
Measure first: how to measure for a rolling shutter shows what to send. For a strap or crank shutter, the step-by-step is installing a strap or crank shutter. For a price, see what rolling shutters cost or request a quote.
Watch it done
Installing a manual strap-operated rolling shutter
The written steps on this page are the reference; the video shows the same job.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an electrician to install a motorized rolling shutter?
For a wired or remote motor, yes: you can mount the shutter yourself, but the 120 V AC connection should be made by a licensed electrician in a listed junction box. Battery and solar motors need no house wiring.
How many people does it take to install a rolling shutter?
Plan on two: one to lift and hold the box while it drops into the rails, one inside to feed a strap through the wall on a strap or crank shutter. Roll-A-Shield crews use two installers on openings over about 9 ft wide.
Will installing the shutter myself void the warranty?
No, provided you install it the way the guide describes. Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. Shipped shutters carry a parts-only warranty, so labor for any later repair is yours.
Do the screws come with the shutter?
The parts kit includes the fasteners for the box and accessories, but you supply the screws for the guide rails and U-channel, chosen for your wall: Tapcon screws in brick or concrete, wood screws in wood, long deck screws through stucco.
Can I get help on the phone while I install?
Yes. Roll-A-Shield's install guides direct self-installers to call a technician with questions during the job; call (480) 921-0200. Each guide also links to an install video.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Not sure your opening or operator suits a self-install? Send us your measurements and photos and we will tell you before you order. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.