Parts, boxes, rails and mounting · Rolling Shutter 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.
Key facts
- A shutter's overall width is the clear opening plus two guide-rail widths, and its overall height is the clear opening plus the box height plus 2 in for the bottom slat. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield boxes come in 6.5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 in sizes and are roughly square in section; for the 6.5 in box, about 7 to 7-1/2 in of pocket depth has been quoted on past jobs. Roll-A-Shield data
- An Easy Access Panel, giving access to the box for repairs, is a special-order option on Roll-A-Shield's order sheet. Roll-A-Shield data
- A wired motor needs a power source within 3 ft of the shutter; route the motor and all controls before the soffit is closed. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield can produce a shop drawing for an order that an architect or builder can review and sign off. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Rolling shutters planned into new construction or a remodel, with the box concealed in a soffit, header pocket or framed bulkhead; Roll-A-Shield 38 mm and 55 mm insulated and 63 mm single-wall shutters.
A rolling shutter box can sit out of sight in a soffit, a header pocket or a framed bulkhead, so only the guide rails show. It takes planning before the drywall or stucco goes on, because the pocket has to fit one particular shutter and the box still needs to be reachable. This page covers what to size, what to tell the builder, and what to settle before the soffit is closed.
How big does the pocket need to be?
Big enough for the box of the shutter you are actually buying, which depends on its size and slat. Work it out from three numbers:
| Dimension | What it is | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Width | The clear opening plus one guide-rail width on each side; the box runs the full overall width | 2.0875 in per side for mini rails up to 3.346 in for standard rails |
| Height above the opening | The box height plus about 2 in, the bottom slat that stays out of the opening when the shutter is up | 6.575 to 12.008 in for the box, by size |
| Depth | A little more than the box's own depth | Roughly the box's height, since the boxes are roughly square in section; an approximation, so take the box depth from the shop drawing |
For the smallest (6.5 in) box, about 7 to 7-1/2 in of pocket depth has been quoted on past jobs. Use that as a starting point, not a rule: the exact box size and dimensions for your order come from your quote and shop drawing.
How do I work out which box my shutter gets?
The box is chosen by the curtain height, which is the clear opening height plus 2 in, and by the slat. For example, a 48 × 72 in window with 38 mm insulated slats has a 74 in curtain, which takes the 8 in box, 8.15 in tall. With mini rails, the box is as wide as 48 in plus two 2.0875 in rails, rounded up to the next 1/8 in, and its top sits about 2 in plus the box height above the opening; the pocket depth comes from the shop drawing. The box-by-height chart is on Do taller shutters need bigger boxes?, and the box dimensions are on shutter box sizes.
What should I tell the builder or architect?
Bring Roll-A-Shield in while the plans can still change, and give the builder these points:
- Where the rails land. On a surface mount the guide rails sit just outside the opening and are screwed into the framing either side, so that framing must be solid.
- The pocket size, from the table above, confirmed against the shop drawing for the order.
- Power, if the shutter is motorized: a wired motor needs a power source within 3 ft of the shutter, and the motor and all controls must be routed before the soffit is closed. Solar and battery motors need no wiring.
- Access to the box for service (next section).
- Timing. The final measure happens once framing is finished, because the shutter is built to the opening as framed.
Roll-A-Shield can send a shop drawing of the order for the architect to review and sign off, and the install guide for the shutter type. See Spec sheets and drawings for architects.
Stop: Mains wiring to a motor is work for a licensed electrician, who follows the motor maker's rule: terminate the motor cable in a listed junction box, and do not run it through the wall.
Do I need an access panel?
Plan one. A box sealed into a soffit is hard to reach for repairs, and motors, straps and other parts in the box do eventually need service. Roll-A-Shield offers an Easy Access Panel as a special order for exactly this: it gives access to the box for repairs. Ask for it on the order rather than after the finish is on.
Recessed, pocketed or reverse-mounted: which hidden option fits?
There are three ways to keep the box out of sight:
- Pocket in the soffit or header. The box sits above the opening, inside the structure; only the rails show. Needs the pocket sized as above.
- Recessed mount. Box and rails fit inside the opening itself. No pocket is needed, but the box and about 2 in come out of the top of the opening, and the shutter is built with different axle end parts, so it is set on the order. See inside vs outside mount.
- Reverse mount. The box faces inward and hides inside a cabinet or enclosure, the usual choice for TV enclosures and flush interior looks. See reverse-mount shutters.
Whichever you choose, the mount type has to be decided before the shutter is built; changing it later changes the dimensions and the timeline.
What next
Send the plans, the opening sizes and the wall type, and Roll-A-Shield will confirm the box size and pocket for each opening. Call (480) 921-0200 or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hide the shutter box completely?
Yes, in a soffit, header pocket or bulkhead sized to the box, or inside a cabinet with a reverse-mount shutter. The trade-off is service: a fully enclosed box is hard to reach for repairs unless you add an access panel.
When should Roll-A-Shield measure on a new build?
Talk to Roll-A-Shield while the plans can still change, then do the final measure once the framing is finished, because the shutter is built to the opening as framed.
What documents can I give my architect?
A shop drawing for your order, which the architect can review and sign off, plus the install guide for your shutter type. Motor spec sheets are available on request.
What if there is not enough wall between the window and the soffit?
On a surface mount you need the box height plus about 2 in above the opening. If that space is not there, the options are a pocket in the soffit, or a recessed mount that puts the box in the top of the opening and gives up that much of it.
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.