Key facts

• On 38 mm and 55 mm insulated curtains, a section is freed by clipping the plastic side lock (slat plug) right at the hinge with side cutters. Roll-A-Shield data
• On 63 mm single-wall end-retention curtains, a section is freed by backing out the end-retention bolt and grommet at the hinge; it goes back snug, with the grommet still free to roll. Roll-A-Shield data
• Roll-A-Shield's typical replacement for a dent in the middle of the roll is about four slats. Roll-A-Shield data
• Replacement slats must be the same profile as the curtain; Roll-A-Shield's are 38 mm and 55 mm insulated and 63 mm single-wall. Roll-A-Shield data

Applies to: Rolling shutters with interlocking aluminum slats, including Roll-A-Shield's 38 mm and 55 mm insulated (foam-filled) and 63 mm single-wall end-retention curtains. Not the bottom bar, which is a separate part.

A dented or creased slat does not usually mean a new curtain. Rolling-shutter slats interlock along hinges and can slide sideways along them; a fitting at the slat ends stops them sliding in use. Free that at one hinge and a whole section slides out, so the damaged slats can be swapped. If many slats are damaged, replacing the whole slat curtain may be the simpler fix.

Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.

What holds the slats in place?

It depends on the slat. On insulated (foam-filled) slats, a plastic side lock, also called a slat plug, at the slat end stops the slats sliding past each other. On single-wall end-retention slats, an end-retention bolt with a grommet sits at the hinge instead.

How many slats do I need, and which ones?

For a single dent in the middle of the roll, Roll-A-Shield typically replaces about four slats. Order the same profile as your curtain, cut to its width; the ends and the profile have to match for the hinges to slide together. If you are not sure which profile you have, see Matching replacement slats to an existing shutter. Damage to the top slats after a shutter ran past its limit is a different problem: see Shutter ran past its limit and bent the top slats.

How do I get to the damaged slats?

The curtain has to be out of the guide rails. Take off the box cover, free the bottom slat from the rails, and lower the curtain outside the rails, rolling it up by hand, exactly as in the first steps of replacing the slat curtain. Have a helper for anything but a small shutter.

How do I split an insulated (foam-filled) curtain?

1. Decide which way the section will slide out, left or right.
2. Find the hinge just above the damaged slats. On the side opposite the way you will slide, the side lock is what blocks the slat; clip it with side cutters right up at the hinge, where it meets the next slat up.
3. Roll the slats up from the bottom to the slat you freed.
4. Slide the section out sideways.

How do I split an end-retention curtain?

1. Find the break point: the hinge just above the damaged slats.
2. Back out the end-retention bolt and its grommet at that hinge with a drill.
3. Roll up the slats below it and slide them out sideways.

How do I put the new slats in?

The new slats go on the same way the old ones came off, in reverse.

1. Split the section you took out again, the same way, at the hinge just below the damaged slats (clip that side lock, or back out that bolt), so the damaged slats come away on their own.
2. Slide the new slats on at the break, then the undamaged section, building the curtain back one piece at a time. Each time, line up the top hinge of the piece with the bottom hinge of the slat above and slide it in from the same side the section came out, until it sits flush. Every slat faces the same way: the concave side outside, the convex side toward the building.
3. On an end-retention curtain, put each bolt and grommet back in the hole it came out of. Snug it, but leave the grommet free to roll.
4. Feed the bottom slat back into the guide rails and lower slowly, checking the slats feed evenly into both tracks, then refit the box cover and test.

When should I call instead?

Call when the damage runs through many slats, when slats are kinked or torn, or when the curtain is too heavy to handle out of the rails. Single slats and slat rolls are ordered by phone at (480) 921-0200. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team services rolling shutters of any make.

Frequently asked questions

How many slats will I need?

For a single dent in the middle of the curtain, Roll-A-Shield typically replaces about four slats. Wider damage, or slats creased across their full width, may make a whole new curtain the better buy.

Can I buy single slats?

Yes, by phone. Slats are cut to your shutter's width, so call (480) 921-0200 with the slat profile, color and the curtain width; a photo of the slat end helps identify the profile.

Is the bottom slat replaced the same way?

No. The bottom bar (base slat) is a separate extruded part, one per shutter; see the bottom-bar replacement guide.

Related questions

• How do I replace the slat curtain on a rolling shutter?
• How do I lift a heavy rolling shutter curtain onto the axle?
• How do I match replacement slats to my existing rolling shutter?
• How do I replace the bottom bar (base slat) on a rolling shutter, including a locking one?
• My shutter came down on something and bunched up. What now?
• What is end retention on a rolling shutter, and when do you need it?
• Rolling shutter repair in metro Phoenix