In most homes with opening wooden frames with roller shutters, there are old – large wooden roller shutter boxes at the top, which are also used as curtain rods. The sealing – insulation of old wooden roller shutter boxes is almost imperative during the process of replacing aluminum frames and roller shutters, because they constitute a passage through which noise (frame sound insulation) and cold (frame thermal insulation) pass.
Cases of old wooden roller shutter boxes and which ones can remain after the removal of old frames
Old wooden roller shutter boxes exist in apartment buildings in two (2) versions. These are the ones that extend from one end of the wall to the other and those that protrude about 15 centimeters in width from the opening balcony door, to its right and left (as in the photo). The boxes – curtain rods that occupy the entire wall surface, from one end of the wall to the other, can remain during the removal of old frames and installation of new energy-efficient ones. This is done by installing the new aluminum boxes inside the old wooden boxes. In the second case, that is, when there are boxes that protrude 15 centimeters to the right and left of the opening, their removal and disposal are mandatory when new energy-efficient aluminum frames are installed, because they are fixed on old wooden casings that are at least 50 years old. In any case, it is much better to dismantle – remove the old wooden roller shutter boxes, in both their versions, for reasons that we will explain below (sealing – insulation of old wooden roller shutter boxes).
Finally, it should be noted that in both cases, the old roller shutter boxes can remain if we keep the old wooden casings of the wooden frames and install the new frames on top of the old ones, which, however, is completely wrong and we analyzed it in a previous article (see installation of new frames on old wooden casings).
Insulation of old wooden roller shutter boxes (sealing – insulation of old wooden roller shutter boxes)
The old wooden roller shutter boxes found in old apartment buildings do not include any insulation or any type of insulating material, consequently letting in air and noise, since the only thing protecting us from noise and cold is a thin piece of wood. The old wooden boxes are the main passage through which cold and especially noise enter our home, literally letting in air and cold. That is why their insulation and sealing are imperative. First, the new roller shutters must include thermally broken boxes which have special insulating materials inside, to prevent the passage of noise and cold through them (sealing – insulation of old wooden roller shutter boxes).
In a second phase, the gap above the new aluminum roller shutter boxes must also be closed, because the old wooden boxes are at least 45 centimeters high, while the new ones are approximately 20. The remaining gap above our new boxes must also be insulated with the use of special insulating materials (glass wool, Dow, polyurethane, etc.) and then a piece of plasterboard should be placed on top, so that it is fully insulated and then painted (sealing – insulation of old wooden roller shutter boxes).
The complete removal of the old roller shutter boxes can be a more difficult process, but in our opinion, it is imperative, because it offers excellent sound insulation and thermal insulation, if done as we described, it gives the feeling that the house is getting larger, as it adds several square meters, due to the removal of the old boxes and allows for the use of more elegant and modern curtain rods.
see what you need to pay attention to for frame sound insulation
