Parts, boxes, rails and mounting · Rolling Shutter 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.
Key facts
- A flared rail is cut 1 in longer than a plain rail, and that inch is flared at the top; Roll-A-Shield uses 1 in on every slat profile. Roll-A-Shield data
- Entry rollers fit only in boxes of 10 in and larger; a box of 9 in or smaller has no room for one. Roll-A-Shield data
- By default Roll-A-Shield flares the rails on a 55 mm insulated shutter in an 8 or 9 in box (large-leg end caps), on every 63 mm single-wall shutter, and on a 10 or 12 in motorized box whose motor cord leaves through the end cap. Roll-A-Shield data
- On 63 mm single-wall shutters, PVC adaptors bring the 60 mm axle to an 80 mm outside diameter so the last slats enter the rail closer to vertical. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Rolling shutters with a head box and side guide rails, any make; Roll-A-Shield 38 mm and 55 mm insulated and 63 mm single-wall shutters, manual, spring and motorized.
As a rolling shutter closes, the curtain unrolls off the axle and has to drop cleanly into the tops of the two guide rails. The slats leave the roll at an angle, so the top of each rail needs something to steer them in. Rolling shutters do this in one of three ways: an entry guide, an entry roller, or a flared rail. This page explains each and which Roll-A-Shield shutters get which.
What does each part do?
Each part sits at the top of a guide rail, just under the box, where the curtain enters the rail.
| Part | What it is | Where Roll-A-Shield uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic entry guide | A small plastic insert at the top of the rail that funnels the slats in | Most shutters: motorized shutters in boxes up to 9 in, and most manual shutters |
| Entry roller (rolling entry guide) | A roller at the top of the rail that the curtain runs over; left and right are different parts | Motorized shutters in 10 and 12 in boxes, on one of the two box lines Roll-A-Shield builds |
| End-retention entry guide | An entry guide shaped for the end-retention rail | 63 mm single-wall shutters with end retention, in place of the standard guide |
| Flared rail | The rail cut 1 in longer, with that inch opened out at the top | The builds in the next section |
Every Roll-A-Shield rail is also bevelled at the top of the slat channel so the slats slide in, and the rail is installed with that flared end up. A flared rail goes further than that bevel.
When does a shutter get flared rails?
By default Roll-A-Shield flares the rails in three cases, a rule set checked against its own production orders.
- A 55 mm insulated shutter in an 8 or 9 in box. These boxes use large-leg end caps, and the rail is flared to clear the larger ear.
- Any 63 mm single-wall shutter, whatever the operator. These all run in the end-retention rail.
- A 10 or 12 in motorized box whose motor cord leaves through a hole drilled in the end cap.
The shop also flares a 10 in box's rails when the installer plans to run the motor's power cord up the guide rail, because rollers at the top of the rail are in the cord's way. If the cord route matters on your job, say so on the order.
How long is the flare?
One inch. The rail is cut 1 in longer than a plain rail and that inch is flared; the shop tried 1-1/8 and 1-1/2 in and settled on 1 in for every profile. Because the extra inch has to be there when the rail is cut, a flare is decided on the order, not added on site.
Why can't a small box take an entry roller?
There is no room: rollers fit 10 in and larger boxes, and boxes of 9 in or smaller use a plastic entry guide or a flared rail instead. Roll-A-Shield flares 63 mm single-wall shutters by default whatever the box size, so they do not take rollers. The box size itself is set by the curtain height; see shutter box sizes.
Why do single-wall shutters have axle adaptors?
On 63 mm single-wall shutters Roll-A-Shield fits PVC adaptors along the 60 mm steel axle, bringing it to an 80 mm outside diameter. The fatter roll pushes the last slats toward the back of the box so they enter the rail closer to vertical; without the adaptors the top slats come in at an angle and hit the top of the guide rail. It is the same entry problem as above, solved inside the box.
What if the curtain catches at the top of the rail?
Look at the top of each rail with the box cover off before anything else.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Entry guide cracked, missing or pushed out of place | Worn or knocked part | Replace it: it unscrews with the box cover off; rollers come as left and right parts |
| Rail top sits proud of the box or the ear will not seat | Box not fully down on the rails | Reseat the box; on a box with a 1/4 in bottom lip, slide the lip behind the rail with a flathead screwdriver |
| Curtain drags at one side only | Rail out of plumb, or screws pulled too tight | Check the rails are the same distance apart top and bottom, then adjust the tightness of the rail screws |
| No guide, roller or flare at the top of a rail | Part left off, or the shutter needed a flare | Call; a missing flare means new rails |
The entry guides are reached by taking the box cover off; the steps are on replacing weather seal, entry guides and end caps. If the curtain has come right out of a rail, see My shutter came out of the guide rail.
What next
For entry guides, rollers or replacement rails, call Roll-A-Shield at (480) 921-0200 with a photo of the top of the rail, the box size and the slat. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team services rolling shutters of any make.
Frequently asked questions
Which way up does a guide rail go?
Flared (bevelled) end at the top, smaller pre-drilled holes against the wall and larger holes facing out. Every rail is bevelled at the top so the slats slide in, whether or not it is a flared-rail build.
Can I flare my rails on site?
Not properly. A flared rail is cut 1 in longer than a plain one, so a rail cut without the flare is too short to flare afterwards; when a shutter that needed a flare or a roller goes out without either, the shop fix is a new pair of rails.
Are the left and right entry guides the same?
Not always. Entry rollers come as separate left and right parts, so order them by side; the plastic entry guides on Roll-A-Shield builds are ordered as a pair of the same part. Either kind is screwed in place and reached with the box cover off.
My old shutter has entry guides that sit in the end cap. Are those still made?
Yes. Those are roll-out style entry guides that fit into the end cap. Few new shutters use them, but many older shutters in metro Phoenix do, and Roll-A-Shield supplies them in pairs as a service part. Call (480) 921-0200 with a photo.
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.