Repair and replacement · Rolling Shutter Guide
I lost the keys to my rolling shutter lock. Can it be rekeyed?
A shutter key can be copied by a hardware store or locksmith, but only from an original, and Roll-A-Shield does not keep copies. If every key is lost, the standard bottom-bar lock cannot be rekeyed, so Roll-A-Shield supplies a new lock plate for the bottom slat. Call (480) 921-0200 with a photo of the lock.
Key facts
- Each Roll-A-Shield bottom-bar key lock ships with two keys, and Roll-A-Shield does not keep copies. Roll-A-Shield data
- A key can only be copied from an original key; with no original left, the lock itself has to change. Roll-A-Shield data
- The standard bottom-bar lock cannot be rekeyed; with every key lost, Roll-A-Shield supplies a new lock plate for the bottom slat. Roll-A-Shield data
- The outdoor key switches on wired motorized shutters can take a new tumbler or key blanks, and the blanks are specific to the switch. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield builds bottom-bar locks for manual shutters only; motorized shutters are not offered with them as standard. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Roll-A-Shield's standard keyed bottom-bar lock on manual (strap, crank and spring-loaded) rolling shutters, and the outdoor key switches on wired motorized shutters. Other makers' locks differ: send a photo.
Rolling-shutter locks are simple, but keys go missing, especially on a seasonal home or a storefront that changes hands. What you can do depends on whether you still have one original key and on which lock your shutter has.
What can I do if I still have one key?
Copy it. A hardware store or locksmith can cut a copy from an original key. Each Roll-A-Shield bottom-bar key lock ships with two keys, and Roll-A-Shield does not keep copies, so the keys you were given are the only originals. Make a spare as soon as you are down to one.
What if every key is lost?
Then the key cannot be copied, and the lock has to change. Which change depends on the lock.
| Lock | Can it be rekeyed? | With every key lost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard key lock in the bottom bar | No | Roll-A-Shield supplies a new lock plate for the bottom slat |
| Thumb-turn lock | No key | Nothing to replace; it locks by hand |
| Slide lock (38 mm insulated) | No key | Nothing to replace |
| Outdoor key switch (wired motorized shutters) | Tumbler can be replaced | New tumbler and keys, or a new switch: call |
Can a locksmith rekey a shutter lock?
Not the standard bottom-bar lock. It cannot be rekeyed, so a locksmith can only copy a key you still have; with every key lost, replace the lock plate instead.
If you are not sure which lock you have, send Roll-A-Shield a photo of the lock and the bottom bar before you book a locksmith.
Where is the lock, and what does it lock into?
On a manual shutter the lock sits in the bottom bar, on the box side or the back side. Turning the key or thumb-turn pushes two locking pins into the guide rails, so the curtain locks to the rails rather than to the sill. Before a keyed shutter ships, Roll-A-Shield checks that the key goes in and out smoothly and that the rails are cut for the lock.
Bottom-bar locks are a manual-shutter option. Motorized shutters are not offered with them as standard; a motorized shutter can instead have an outdoor key switch to run it from outside. For every lock type and which slats take them, see How rolling shutters lock.
How is a new lock plate fitted?
The lock is part of the bottom bar, so changing it means working on the bar. If the bar itself has to come off, How to replace the bottom bar shows the steps. Call (480) 921-0200 first with a photo, so the new plate or bar matches your slat, color and the lock cut-outs in your rails.
What next
Call (480) 921-0200 for a new lock plate or key-switch tumbler. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team can fit it.
Frequently asked questions
Can Roll-A-Shield cut me a new key?
Not without an original. Roll-A-Shield does not keep copies of the keys it ships, and a key can only be copied from an original. If you still have one key, take it to a hardware store or locksmith.
How many keys come with a shutter lock?
Two with each bottom-bar key lock. Copy one before either is lost, and keep the spare somewhere other than with the first.
I lost the key to the key switch that opens my motorized shutter. What now?
The outdoor key switches Roll-A-Shield fits on wired motorized shutters take replacement tumblers and key blanks, and the blanks are specific to the switch. Call (480) 921-0200 with a photo of the switch.
Can I avoid keys altogether?
Yes, on some shutters: a thumb-turn lock is turned by hand without a key, and the 38 mm insulated shutter uses a slide lock. Both are manual-shutter options.
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.