Slats, materials and performance · Rolling Shutter Guide
What is the difference between vented, non-vented and perforated rolling shutter slats?
Vented slats have a row of small slots in each hinge, so a partly lowered shutter lets light and a breeze through, but fully closed the slats press together for blackout. Non-vented slats have no slots and stay dark at any height. Perforated slats are punched with holes you can see through even when the shutter is fully closed.
Key facts
- Venting is standard on Roll-A-Shield's insulated slats; the 38 mm slat can be ordered non-vented, and the 55 mm slat is made only vented. Roll-A-Shield data
- On a vented 38 mm shutter, the top few slats are built without vents so no light leaks in at the top if the shutter is not pressed fully down. Roll-A-Shield data
- Spring-operated shutters come non-vented by default, because the spring can lift a closed curtain slightly and open gaps. Roll-A-Shield data
- The 63 mm single-wall slat cannot be vented; its see-through option is the perforated 63 mm slat. Roll-A-Shield data
- The perforated 63 mm slat has no hurricane or impact rating of any kind. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Aluminum rolling shutter slats; Roll-A-Shield 38 mm insulated slats (vented or non-vented), 55 mm insulated slats (vented only) and the 63 mm single-wall slat (solid or perforated).
These three words describe how much light, air and visibility a closed or partly closed shutter lets through. Vented and non-vented are a choice on insulated (foam-filled) slats, though Roll-A-Shield makes its 55 mm slat vented only; perforated is a separate slat, made only in the 63 mm single-wall extruded profile.
Vented, non-vented or perforated: what does each do?
| Shutter partly lowered | Shutter fully closed | Available on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vented | Light and a breeze come through the slots in each hinge | Blackout; most rain kept out | 38 mm and 55 mm insulated (standard on both) |
| Non-vented | No slots, so the lowered part stays dark | Blackout | 38 mm insulated; the 63 mm single-wall solid slat has no vents at all |
| Perforated | Light, air and a view through the holes | Still see-through; no blackout | 63 mm single-wall only |
How do vented slats work?
A vented slat has a dashed line of small slots punched along its hinge. While the shutter is coming down, each slat hangs from the one above, the hinge is exposed and light and air pass through the slots. When the curtain reaches the bottom, gravity pulls the slats into each other, the slots close up and you get the full blackout a rolling shutter is known for. So one vented shutter gives daylight and a breeze when you stop it part-way, and darkness when it is shut.
On Roll-A-Shield shutters:
- Venting is the default on both insulated slats.
- The 55 mm insulated slat is made only in the vented form; there is no solid 55 mm slat.
- On a vented 38 mm shutter, the top few slats are built solid, so that a shutter stopped just short of the bottom does not show a band of light at the top. If you see light at the top of a closed shutter, see light gaps at the top.
- The factory can build more of the curtain without vents, so only part of it vents.
When should I choose non-vented?
Choose non-vented when you want a blackout effect at all times, not only when the shutter is fully down. On Roll-A-Shield shutters that means the 38 mm insulated slat, which is stocked in both vented and non-vented versions.
Spring-operated shutters come non-vented by default. A spring can pull up slightly on a closed curtain and open small gaps between the slats, which would let light through when you do not want it. More on blackout on Do rolling shutters black out a room?.
What are perforated slats for?
Perforated slats are for when you want to see through a closed, locked shutter. Retail storefronts choose them so displays stay visible and the store can be watched after hours; warehouses and businesses that want full concealment choose solid slats. They also let air through and give a storefront a modern look.
Things to know before choosing perforated:
- It is made only in the 63 mm single-wall extruded profile and runs in the same end-retention rail as the solid 63 mm slat, so a solid single-wall shutter and a perforated one share rails.
- It never goes fully dark. Light comes through at all times, closed or open.
- The holes are not an insect screen; for bugs, a rolling screen is the right product.
- It carries no hurricane or impact rating of any kind.
- Its sizing weight is 0.98 lb per sq ft, against 1.14 for the solid slat, and it reaches the same maximum size: 222 in wide and 200 sq ft.
Roll-A-Shield does not publish an open-area percentage for its perforated slat; if a project needs to know how see-through it is, call (480) 921-0200.
Can the single-wall slat be vented?
No. The 63 mm single-wall slats are hinged in a way that does not allow venting, so a solid single-wall shutter is dark when closed and the perforated version is the only way to get light through it.
How do I choose?
- Home, want daylight when part-open and dark when shut: vented insulated slat (the default).
- Want dark at every height: non-vented 38 mm insulated slat.
- Store that should stay visible after closing: perforated 63 mm single-wall slat.
- Store or warehouse that should be hidden after closing: solid 63 mm single-wall slat.
For the full slat comparison, see Foam-filled vs extruded aluminum slats; for a quote, call (480) 921-0200.
Watch it done
Product Overview – Vented and Non-Vented Slat
The written steps on this page are the reference; the video shows the same job.
Frequently asked questions
Do vented slats let light in when the shutter is fully closed?
No. When the curtain is all the way down, gravity pulls the slats together over the vents and the room goes dark, with most rain kept out. Vents only pass light while the shutter is partly lowered.
Why does my shutter still let light through at the top when it's closed?
If the shutter stops short of fully closed, the top slats may not have closed up. Roll-A-Shield builds the top few slats of a vented 38 mm shutter without vents so that this does not show as a band of light.
Will a perforated shutter keep bugs out?
No. The holes are not an insect mesh. For insect protection you need a rolling screen.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Choosing between blackout, daylight and see-through? Tell us how the room or storefront is used and we will recommend the slat. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.