Repair and replacement · Rolling Shutter Guide
How do I replace the slat curtain on a rolling shutter?
The box and rails stay. With the cover off, free the bottom slat from the rails, then lower the curtain outside the rails, rolling it up by hand. Slide the old roll off the top slat, hang one new slat on the T-straps, slide the new roll onto it, feed the bottom slat into the rails and lower.
Key facts
- A new slat roll can go into the existing box and guide rails, but it must be the same slat profile and suit the box size: a standard slat roll will not fit a 6.5 in box. Roll-A-Shield data
- The curtain hangs from T-straps on the axle; on an aluminum axle their holes are drilled 6 in in from each end and then every 12 in, at 5/32 in. Roll-A-Shield data
- Slats hang one way only: the concave side faces outside and the convex side faces the building (the reverse on a reverse-mount shutter). Roll-A-Shield data
- The slat roll is replaced on its own: the box, the axle with its motor or strap, and the guide rails stay on the wall. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Rolling shutters whose slat curtain hangs from T-straps (hanging straps) on the axle, including Roll-A-Shield's 38 mm and 55 mm insulated and 63 mm single-wall curtains. The tutorial shows a motorized shutter.
The slat curtain (the slat roll) is the part of a rolling shutter that takes the knocks: dents, creases, or coming down on something. It hangs from T-straps fixed to the axle inside the box, so it can be replaced on its own while the box, the axle with its motor or strap, and the guide rails stay on the wall. If only a few slats are damaged, you may not need a whole curtain: see How do I replace one damaged slat?
Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.
What curtain do I order?
Order the same slat profile you have now, cut to your shutter. The roll also has to suit the box: a standard slat roll will not fit a 6.5 in box, which takes the mini slat. Roll-A-Shield's profiles are 38 mm insulated (mini foam-filled), 55 mm insulated (standard foam-filled) and 63 mm single-wall extruded.
Slat rolls are cut to the width and height of your shutter, so order them from us rather than cutting slats yourself. To identify your profile, see Matching replacement slats to an existing shutter; for what to measure, Ordering a replacement slat roll.
What do I need?
- The replacement slat roll
- A drill or driver for the box-cover screws (Roll-A-Shield covers are held by four screws)
- A ladder, and a helper to hold and guide the roll
- For a heavy curtain, mule tape or a plan to hang it in sections: see Lifting a heavy curtain
Safety: A slat roll is heavy and awkward. Have two people on any large curtain.
How do I take the old curtain off?
You unroll the curtain outside the rails and roll it up by hand, so it comes off as a roll.
- With the shutter fully down, take out the box-cover screws, holding the cover so it does not drop, and lift it off.
- Raise the shutter until you can release the bottom slat from the guide rails, and pull it out of the rails.
- Lower the shutter again with the slats outside the tracks. As it comes down, roll the slats up by hand into a neat roll.
- When the roll reaches the top slat, slide the roll sideways off the top slat; the slats slide apart along their hinges. If there is a side lock (the plastic plug on the slat end) at that hinge, clip it with side cutters first; on 63 mm end-retention slats, back out the end-retention bolt and its grommet at that hinge instead.
- Slide the top slat off the T-straps.
On an extra-large shutter, take the curtain off in manageable sections using the same roll-up method.
Stop: Do not run a motor while nothing is hanging from the T-straps. Running a motorized shutter with the curtain disconnected can jam and burn out the motor and damage the entry guides.
How do I hang the new curtain?
You hang one slat first, then slide the rest of the roll onto it.
- Slide one slat onto the T-straps. Hang it the right way round: the concave side faces outside and the convex side faces the building, reversed on a reverse-mount shutter.
- Slide the new slat roll sideways onto that hanging slat, lining up the hinges, until it seats flush. On 63 mm end-retention slats, refit the end-retention bolt and grommet in the same hole: snug, but with a little movement left on the grommet so the slat can still roll.
- Let the roll unwind slowly and carefully.
- Raise the shutter so the curtain wraps evenly around the axle, then push the bottom slat back into the guide rails. On end-retention rails, the small ball on each end of the slats must slide into the slot inside the rail.
- Lower the shutter slowly, watching the slats feed smoothly and evenly into both tracks.
- Refit the box cover with all its screws, then run the shutter up and down to check it.
For a big curtain, build the roll on the hanging slat one section at a time, and on a motorized shutter slowly bring the first sections up over the axle to take weight off the T-straps.
What if the T-straps came off too?
Refit them before you hang the curtain. On an aluminum axle the T-strap holes are drilled at the factory: the first 6 in in from each end, then every 12 in toward the middle, at 5/32 in. A steel axle is not pre-drilled, so mark where the old straps were before you take them off. The straps are riveted to the axle, or fixed with short screws; on a motorized shutter keep any screw short, because the motor is inside the tube. Bent or pulled-out T-straps are covered on My shutter came down on something.
When should I call instead?
Call when the curtain is too heavy to handle safely, when the box is hard to reach, or when the curtain will not feed into the rails. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team services rolling shutters of any make; elsewhere, call (480) 921-0200.
Watch it done
Service tutorial: slat roll replacement
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 the box and rails?
Yes. The slat roll is a separate part; the box, axle, motor or strap and guide rails stay in place, as long as the new roll is the same slat profile and suits the box size.
Can I replace only a few damaged slats instead?
Often, yes. The curtain can be split at a hinge and the damaged section slid out and replaced. A mid-roll dent typically means replacing about four slats.
Which holes do the T-straps go in?
On an aluminum axle, the factory-drilled holes: the first is 6 in in from each end, then every 12 in toward the middle. A steel axle is not pre-drilled, so mark where the old straps were before taking them off.
How much does a new slat roll cost?
It depends on the slat, the size and the color. See how much rolling shutters cost or call (480) 921-0200 with your measurements.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Slat rolls are cut to your measurements and ordered by phone. Call (480) 921-0200 with the slat profile, color and the shutter's width and height. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.