Ownership: care, warranty, shipping and lead time · Rolling Shutter Guide
How are rolling shutters packed and shipped?
A custom rolling shutter ships assembled, with the curtain rolled on the axle inside the box, held in foam cubes in a carton 26 to 32 inches longer than the shutter. Shutters under 96 inches long can go by parcel carrier; longer ones go by LTL freight.
Key facts
- The shutter box rides on foam cubes: 3 for shutters up to 60 in, 4 for 60 to 120 in, and 5 or 6 over 120 in, depending on weight. Roll-A-Shield data
- The carton is the shutter or guide-rail length plus 26 in for small boxes (6.5 to 8 in) or plus 32 in for large boxes (9 to 12 in). Roll-A-Shield data
- A rolled curtain heavier than 80 lb ships in its own box, separate from the shutter box. Roll-A-Shield data
- Every carton is labeled with the customer name, the shutter number and an X-of-Y box count. Roll-A-Shield data
- Each shipped order is photographed before and after packing, and the freight cost is set by weighing the packed order. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Custom rolling shutters shipped from the factory for self-installation or to a contractor; Roll-A-Shield shutters of every slat and operator type.
A rolling shutter does not ship as a kit of loose parts. It leaves the factory as an assembled unit, the curtain already rolled onto the axle inside the shutter box, packed so the box cannot move in its carton. This page explains how Roll-A-Shield packs a shipped shutter, how it travels, and what you will see on the cartons. What to check when it arrives is on what comes with a rolling shutter and what to check on delivery.
How is the shutter protected in the carton?
The shutter box is packed on foam cubes, with a cube at each end. The number of cubes depends on the shutter's length and weight:
| Shutter length | Foam cubes |
|---|---|
| Up to 60 in (1.52 m) | 3 |
| 60 to 120 in (1.52 to 3.05 m) | 4 |
| Over 120 in (3.05 m) | 5-6, by weight |
Small cubes are used for 6.5 to 8 in boxes and large cubes for 9 to 12 in boxes. The carton is stapled to the foam on both sides, the ends are sealed and taped, and the package is finished with cardboard corner protection or put on a pallet.
How big is the carton?
Longer than the shutter. The carton is the shutter or guide-rail length plus 26 in for a small box (6.5 to 8 in), or plus 32 in for a large box (9 to 12 in), which leaves room for the end cubes.
A heavy curtain does not ride in the shutter box. A rolled curtain over 80 lb ships in its own box, and the shutter box goes separately. How much a curtain weighs is covered in how much a rolling shutter weighs.
What goes in with the shutter?
Everything that is not part of the shutter itself is listed on a packing list for the whole order, which travels in a labeled sleeve on the top box. Small items are packed where they fit:
- the install guide and screws, and a spare slat;
- the motor maker's own instructions, in the parts bag;
- an override wand in the foam (when there is no U-channel), or inside the shutter box when the curtain is packed separately;
- furring, U-channel and storm-bar kits, grouped and listed by quantity, length and color.
Motorized shutters leave with the remote paired and the limits preset, and solar panels are charged before packing. A panel can still lose charge if the shipment sits for a long time.
How are the cartons labeled?
Each carton carries a printed label with the customer name, the shutter number and an "X of Y" box count. The count is boxes, not shutters: an order of 3 shutters whose curtains ship separately arrives as 6 boxes. A curtain packed on its own is labeled as that shutter's roll.
Does anyone check it before it is sealed?
Yes. A shipped order is photographed before and after packing, so the factory has a record of exactly what left. The checks a shutter passes before that point are on what we check before a shutter ships.
Does it go by parcel or by freight?
It depends on length. Shutters under 96 in long can go by parcel carrier; longer ones go by freight (LTL). Packed orders are weighed, because freight is priced on the real weight and size. What drives that cost is on shipping cost drivers.
If the delivery address needs anything unusual, say so on the order: no loading dock, a liftgate, a steep drive or a street that limits truck size. The carrier has to be told in advance or the wrong truck arrives, and Roll-A-Shield is not responsible for delivery problems caused by address conditions that were not recorded on the order.
When does it leave the factory?
When it is built and paid for. A shutter takes about 10 business days to build, and orders ship only once the balance is paid. Most shipped orders reach the customer in about 2 weeks from the order, longer for distant destinations. See how long a custom rolling shutter takes, or skip the freight entirely by picking up at the factory.
Frequently asked questions
Will my rolling shutter arrive assembled?
Yes. The shutter box arrives assembled with the slat curtain already connected to the axle inside it (a curtain over 80 lb ships in its own box); the guide rails, any U-channel and the operator parts are packed with it.
How will I know when it has shipped?
When the shipment is booked, Roll-A-Shield marks the order shipped and you get an email so you can start tracking it. Freight tracking can lag for a day or two until the carrier scans the load in.
Can I use my own freight carrier?
Yes. Roll-A-Shield gives you the box sizes, weights and number of boxes for each shutter so you can book the freight; final figures are confirmed once production is complete.
Is the remote paired before it ships?
Yes. Remotes are programmed to their motors and the travel limits are preset at the factory, and solar panels are charged before packing.
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.