Key facts

• Roll-A-Shield's 38 mm insulated slat shows 1.5 in of face and is 0.375 in thick; the 55 mm insulated slat shows 2.1875 in and is 0.5625 in thick; the 63 mm single-wall slat shows 2.5 in. Roll-A-Shield data
• For a shutter Roll-A-Shield built, the replacement slat length is taken from the original order's cut sheet, not from the opening or the overall width. Roll-A-Shield data
• Slats slide sideways along their hinges, so a damaged section can be slid out and replaced without replacing the whole curtain. Roll-A-Shield data
• The 55 mm insulated slat is made only in the vented form, the 38 mm comes vented or non-vented, and the 63 mm single-wall slat cannot be vented. Roll-A-Shield data
• Insulated slats come in 7 colors and single-wall slats in 5. Roll-A-Shield data

Applies to: Rolling-shutter slat curtains of any make; Roll-A-Shield 38 mm and 55 mm insulated (foam-filled) and 63 mm single-wall and perforated slats specifically.

Why can't I just order by the profile size?

Because a slat only fits if it hooks into the slat next to it and runs in the rail you already have. Profile names such as 38 mm or 55 mm are nominal, and slats from different makers can share a name without sharing a hinge. That is why Roll-A-Shield's production team confirms the exact slat before it quotes replacements, and why the order is built from measurements and photos rather than a name.

How do I measure a slat?

You need a tape measure, a phone camera and, if you have them, calipers for the thickness.

1. With the shutter closed, measure one slat from its hinge line to the next. That is the face (visible) height.
2. At the end of a slat, measure the thickness front to back.
3. Look at a cut end. A foam core means an insulated (foam-filled) slat; solid aluminum means a single-wall extruded slat.
4. Look along the hinges. A dashed line of small slots is venting; holes across the face that you can see through when the shutter is closed are perforation.
5. Look at the slat ends. A small ball or screw head on the ends, riding in a slot inside a wider rail, means the curtain has end retention.
6. Measure one slat end to end, and write down whether your figure includes the plastic end plugs or clips. A measurement over the plugs and the slat's own cut length are different numbers, and mixing them up can make a curtain arrive the wrong width.
7. Note the color, and photograph a slat end close up, the guide rail from above and the whole shutter.

How do Roll-A-Shield's slats compare?

If your measurements land on one of these, you probably have a Roll-A-Shield profile, or one built to the same sizes.

Sources:

The rail matters as much as the slat. The mini-wide rail exists so that wider mini-slat curtains do not pop out of the track, and the 63 mm single-wall slat always runs in an end-retention rail. If the new slat does not suit the rail you have, the rail has to change too.

On vented 38 mm and 55 mm curtains the slots let light and air through while the shutter is partway down; fully closed, the slats pull together and block the light. Order replacement slats with the same venting as the rest of the curtain.

Do I need a few slats or a whole curtain?

Not always a whole curtain. Slats slide sideways along their hinges, so a damaged section can be slid off the curtain and new slats slid on by lining up the hinges; on an end-retention curtain the retention bolt and grommet at the break point come out first. The steps are on replacing one damaged slat. When many slats are dented, or the bottom bar is damaged too, a whole new curtain in the existing box and rails may be simpler; see ordering a replacement slat roll.

Will the color match?

Roll-A-Shield's insulated slats come in 7 colors (White, Grey, Metallic, Bronze, Black, Beige, Sand) and its single-wall slats in 5 (White, Metallic, Bronze, Black, Beige). Name the color if you know it, and send a photo in daylight if you do not.

Where do I order replacement slats?

By phone. Slat curtains and individual slats are not sold in the online store, because each order is cut to your shutter. For a Roll-A-Shield shutter the factory cuts from the original order's cut sheet, so the address or order number is all it needs. For another make, send the measurements and photos above and call (480) 921-0200.

Watch it done

Service tutorial: replace a slat roll

The written steps on this page are the reference; the video shows the same job.

Frequently asked questions

Can I replace just the slats and keep my box and guide rails?

Usually, yes, as long as the new curtain runs in the existing rails. A slat curtain is a separate part: the box, axle and rails stay, and the curtain hooks onto the axle with hanging straps. See ordering a replacement slat roll.

Does a 55 mm slat from one maker fit another maker's 55 mm curtain?

Not reliably. A slat has to hook into its neighbor's hinge and run in the same rail channel, so two slats sold under the same nominal size can still be incompatible. Roll-A-Shield's production team confirms the exact slat before quoting.

Can I order cut-to-length slats from a table?

No. Roll-A-Shield does not publish cut-length tables; replacement slats are cut from your order, so send the measurements and let the factory work out the cut.

Why did my replacement curtain come in the wrong width?

A common cause is a measurement over the end plugs or clips being read as the slat's cut length, or the other way round. Say which one you measured when you order.

Related questions

• What are the specifications of 38 mm, 55 mm and 63 mm rolling shutter slats?
• How do I order a replacement slat roll for my rolling shutter?
• Can I replace just one damaged slat on a rolling shutter?
• How do I replace the slat curtain on a rolling shutter?
• What is the difference between vented, non-vented and perforated rolling shutter slats?
• How wide are rolling shutter guide rails, and which type do I need?
• Who made my rolling shutter, and how can I tell from what I can see?
• Can I get parts for an older or other-brand rolling shutter, and what is interchangeable?