Protective roller shutters: what they are, types, how to choose

Protective roller shutters are a retractable blade of durable material, which is fixed above the door or window. It is lowered to the ground or to the window sill, secured with locks and protects against attempts to break in or damage by vandals. Let's take a look at the types of roller shutters and some tips on choosing one.

What are the types of security roller shutters

The profile for creating the roller shutter blade comes in two types. Aluminum strip is used most often. It is curved in shape and filled inside with polyurethane foam. The surface withstands shocks, and the filler creates insulation from ambient temperature and sounds. The protective properties of roller shutters depend on the thickness of the aluminum layer and the filler.

The extruded profile for roller shutters is made from an aluminum alloy that is pressed in heated form through a mold. There is no filler inside. Because of this, these roller shutters have lower insulation. Their advantage is the thickness of the metal. The thickness limit of the extruded profile is 1.15 mm. Roller shutters made of strip aluminum have a maximum metal thickness of 0.33 mm.

There are two types of roller shutter blade control:

• The automatic system works thanks to a motor. It is built into the roller in the upper box. The motor is activated by remote control or by a key on the lock. The web is wound and unwound automatically.
• Manual lifting and lowering is performed by a person activating the mechanism. It is necessary to move the cloth by holding the handles at the bottom of the cloth.

There are three types of manual mechanism of roller blinds:

• The geared cassette is installed in roller shutters for windows. The blade opens and closes when the cassette winds or unwinds the cord. The peculiarity is that cassette roller shutters made of metal can only be operated from inside the room.
• Roller shutters with a spring-inertia mechanism can be operated from either side. The system has a spring, thanks to which the canvas lowers and rises smoothly. Roller shutters with this mechanism are often used to close doors and store windows. The disadvantage is that the lock is located at the bottom. It can get clogged with dirt, as it is very close to the sidewalk.
• Roller shutters with a cardan shaft are rarely used. This element rotates, thanks to the connection with a long bar that has a hook at the end. It opens or closes from one side only.

The color of the roller shutter blade is most often white or brown. Over time, light-colored coverings can turn yellow and stains appear on them. Dust is visible on dark roller shutters.

How to choose protective roller shutters

Pay attention to such parameters:

• Type of installation. Overhead roller shutters are fixed in the upper part of the window or door and protrude outward in the form of a box. Such models are cheaper, but they are easier to break in. Built-in roller shutters take up little space and are more protected from burglary. However, they are more difficult to install.
• If you need more protection against burglary, choose a thicker extruded profile. When insulation against cold and noise is more important, strip aluminum panels with a thick layer of insulation are better suited.
• Guides and other elements of the structure are chosen depending on the needs for protection against burglary.
• Electrically driven roller shutters are the easiest to operate. They are more expensive. Manually operated roller shutters with a spring-inertia design are used for installation on doors. For windows, especially on upper floors, any model is suitable.

Choosing protective roller shutters, you can read reviews on the Internet about the manufacturer and a particular model. This will help to know how the mechanisms work in practice as far as they reliably protect against burglary and insulate from sound or cold.