Slats, materials and performance · Rolling Shutter Guide
Do rolling shutters keep heat out, or make the house hotter?
Closed, rolling shutters keep heat out. The curtain stops direct sun before it reaches the glass, and insulated slats plus the air trapped between curtain and window slow heat moving into the room. Foam-filled slats do this best; extruded slats block sun but insulate less. Savings depend on the house and how the shutters are used.
Key facts
- A fully closed shutter blocks direct sunlight from reaching the window, and the foam-filled slats plus the dead-air gap behind them slow heat transfer into the home. Roll-A-Shield data
- Extruded single-wall slats block the sun but do not insulate as well as the foam-filled slats. Roll-A-Shield data
- Do not clean shutters in extreme heat; Roll-A-Shield's care instructions warn that it can damage the slats. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Exterior aluminum rolling shutters on homes and businesses in hot climates; Roll-A-Shield 38 mm and 55 mm insulated and 63 mm single-wall solid and perforated slats.
A common worry, especially in Arizona, is that a metal shutter over a window will soak up the sun and make the room hotter. Closed, it does the opposite: it takes the sun before the glass does. This page covers that worry and how to use shutters against heat. The insulation figures, which slat insulates best and what owners save are on Do rolling shutters insulate?.
Do rolling shutters make a house hotter?
Not when they are closed over a sunny window. Fully closed, the curtain stops direct sunlight before it reaches the glass, and on the insulated slats the foam core and the dead-air gap between the curtain and the window slow heat moving into the room. Roll-A-Shield's sales team answers the "too much heat" worry the same way: the insulated shutters are foam-filled and help with heat.
The extruded single-wall slat is solid aluminum with no foam core: it blocks the sun but does not insulate as well, and the perforated version lets light through even when it is fully closed. If heat is the main reason you want a shutter, choose an insulated slat. Compare them on insulated vs extruded slats.
When should the shutters be closed?
While the sun is on the window. A shutter only blocks direct sun when it is fully closed, and how much it helps depends on how the shutters are used.
Vented insulated slats give you a middle setting: with the shutter partly open, small gaps between the slats let daylight and a little air through; fully closed, they shut for full darkness. That setting lets some light in, but the full sun block comes only with the shutter fully closed. See vented, non-vented and perforated slats. A timer or a phone app can close the shutters on a schedule; see timers and schedules.
Does desert heat hurt the shutter itself?
Mostly through how it is cleaned. Do not hose or clean a shutter in extreme heat; Roll-A-Shield's care instructions warn that it can damage the slats. Clean with mild soap and water in cooler weather.
Over the years, large shutters in Arizona heat can also develop a slight sag or belly in the curtain; see why wide shutters sag.
Shutter or screen for heat?
It depends on whether you want to see out. Rolling shutters give privacy, blackout, security and insulation; rolling screens give shade, glare and heat control while keeping the view and the airflow. The quick test: if it were down, could you see through it? Yes means a screen, no means a shutter. When an owner asked about blocking heat on a west-facing window, Roll-A-Shield's sales team pointed to a shutter rather than a fabric shade. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield also installs motorized patio screens.
For prices, see how much rolling shutters cost.
Frequently asked questions
Will a metal shutter heat up my window?
A closed shutter takes the sun so the glass does not. Roll-A-Shield's insulated slats have a foam core, and the air trapped between the closed curtain and the window slows heat moving in, so the shutter helps with heat rather than adding to it.
Can I hose my shutters down on a hot afternoon?
No. Roll-A-Shield's care instructions say not to spray or clean a shutter in extreme heat, because it can damage the slats. Clean with mild soap and water in cooler weather.
Can I let in light and still keep some heat out?
Partly. Vented insulated slats let daylight and a little air through small gaps when the shutter is partly open, and close up dark when it is fully down. The full heat block comes only with the shutter fully closed.
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.