Parts, boxes, rails and mounting · Rolling Shutter Guide
What is a reverse-mount rolling shutter, and when is one used?
A reverse-mount rolling shutter is built with its box facing inward, so the box can hide inside a cabinet, enclosure or wall and only the curtain and rails show. It is used for TV enclosures, counters and interior installs where a flush look matters. The slats hang the other way round, so it must be ordered reverse-mounted.
Key facts
- Reverse mount is a special-order option on Roll-A-Shield's order sheet, commonly used for TV enclosures to give a flush look and conceal the box. Roll-A-Shield data
- On a standard mount the concave side of the slats faces outward; on a reverse mount that flips, and the curtain only hangs one way on the axle. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield's boxes run 6.5 to 12 in and are roughly square in section; one reverse-mount job needed about 7 to 7-1/2 in of cabinet or soffit depth, a box about 6-1/2 in deep plus clearance. Roll-A-Shield data
- For a TV enclosure Roll-A-Shield supplies the shutter (box, rails and curtain); the owner or their contractor builds the cabinet. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Rolling shutters mounted with the box facing into a cabinet, enclosure or room, any make; Roll-A-Shield reverse-mount shutters with insulated or single-wall slats.
Most rolling shutters are mounted with the box on the outside face of the wall, toward the weather. A reverse-mount shutter turns that round: the box faces inward, into a cabinet, an enclosure or the room, so it can be hidden and the front stays flush.
What is a reverse-mount shutter?
A shutter built with the box facing the other way, so the box sits behind the surface the curtain covers. Roll-A-Shield lists it as a special-order option, described as a common technique for TV enclosures that gives a flush appearance and conceals the box.
It is not just a standard shutter turned round. On a standard mount the concave side of each slat faces outward and the rounded (convex) side faces the building; on a reverse mount that orientation flips. The dimensions and wall-thickness math also differ from an outside mount, so a reverse mount is specified on the order, and switching after production has started affects the timeline.
When is a reverse mount used?
When the box should not be seen, or there is nowhere outside for it to go.
| Use | Why reverse mount | More |
|---|---|---|
| TV enclosure | The box hides inside the cabinet and the front reads as one flush panel | Outdoor TV enclosures |
| Bar, counter or pass-through | As with a TV enclosure, Roll-A-Shield supplies the shutter and others build the counter around it | Counter and pass-through shutters |
| Inside a room | Security or privacy from inside, with the exterior unchanged | Can shutters go on the inside? |
| Containers and converted spaces | Interior or reverse mounting is common in converted shipping containers | Trailers, food trucks and containers |
For a TV enclosure or counter, Roll-A-Shield supplies the shutter itself, the box, guide rails and curtain; the owner or their contractor builds the cabinet around it.
How much space does a reverse-mount box need?
Room for the box behind the face, plus a little clearance. Roll-A-Shield's boxes run from 6.5 to 12 in tall and are roughly square in section, so a box needs roughly its own height in depth; that is an approximation, not a dimension. One reverse-mount job needed about 7 to 7-1/2 in of cabinet or soffit depth, a box about 6-1/2 in deep plus clearance; treat that as a starting point, because the figure varies by opening and box size.
The rest of the sizing is the same as any shutter: the overall width is the clear opening plus two guide-rail widths (2.0875 to 3.346 in per side), and the box plus about 2 in sits above the clear opening. The box size follows the curtain height; see shutter box sizes.
What should I plan before the cabinet is closed?
Plan for power and for service, because the box will be out of reach.
- Power. A wired motor needs a power source within 3 ft of the shutter; route the motor and all controls before the soffit or cabinet is closed. Solar and battery motors need no wiring.
- Access. Roll-A-Shield offers an Easy Access Panel as a special order to allow access to the box for repairs.
- Manual override. On one of the manual-override (crank) operators Roll-A-Shield fits, a crank exit at the bottom back of the box is meant only for a shutter reverse-mounted at shoulder height or lower, where the crank can be reached; otherwise a different operator is used.
More on concealed boxes is in Planning a hidden shutter box.
What is a roll-out shutter?
A shutter built to roll the opposite way to standard. A curtain can be built to roll in or out; Roll-A-Shield builds the standard roll by default, and roll-out is a rare, non-standard build made on request. If you have something in the way at the top of the opening, or power arriving somewhere unusual, say so before the shutter is built.
Many older shutters in metro Phoenix were built with roll-out style end caps, whose entry guides fit into the end cap. Few new shutters use them, but Roll-A-Shield still supplies those entry guides, in pairs, for servicing older units.
Can a shutter be mounted sideways or upside down?
Roll-A-Shield shutters can mount outside, inside the opening or on the inside of a building, facing either direction. For a shutter lying flat over a skylight, see Can a rolling shutter go over a skylight?; for any other orientation, send photos and call before ordering.
What next
Send a sketch or photos of the cabinet or opening with the clear opening size and the depth available behind the face. Call Roll-A-Shield at (480) 921-0200 or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can a reverse-mount shutter be motorized?
Yes. The box is hidden, so plan the power and controls before the cabinet or soffit is closed: a wired motor needs a power source within 3 ft, while solar and battery motors need no wiring.
Can I turn my existing shutter round to make it a reverse mount?
Not as it is. Reverse and standard mounts are different builds, with different dimensions and the slats hung the other way, so a reverse mount is ordered as one.
How do I know the curtain is on the right way round?
It only hangs one way on the axle so that it rolls up correctly. If it is on the axle properly, it is facing the right way for its mount; confirm the mount type first, then let the axle decide.
Do you build the TV cabinet too?
No. Roll-A-Shield builds and supplies the shutter, usually reverse-mounted so the box hides inside the cabinet; the cabinet or enclosure is built by the owner or their contractor.
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.