There are two main ways to install aluminum roller shutter boxes above an opening. Many people are confused by the terminology: what are external and top-mounted roller shutters? What are their advantages and disadvantages? When should top-mounted roller shutters be installed, and when external ones? Let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of installing External or Top-mounted Roller Shutters.
An aluminum roller shutter consists of three main parts:
a. The box, which is usually square and occupies an area of 18 cm x 18 cm (depending on the total height of the window-balcony door), inside which the shutter slat (curtain) is collected.
b. The guides within which the slat moves.
c. The slat – curtain of the roller shutter, which secures and shades our opening.
The roller shutter box can be installed at two points of our opening: inside the reveal – masonry, and outside and above it. Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of these two methods.
External Roller Shutters
External roller shutters are those whose box is installed outside and above our opening.
Advantages:
a. They do not reduce the usable height of our opening at all.
b. In many cases, we have better sound and thermal insulation because we do not lose energy (or sound does not pass) through the boxes.
Disadvantages:
a. They offer less security.
b. They can only be electric (not manual with straps or cranks).
c. Many consider them aesthetically unpleasing because their surface (18 cm) protrudes from our wall and they are difficult to cover (see roller shutter box covering).
Top-mounted Roller Shutters
Top-mounted roller shutters are those whose box is installed inside the reveal (our wall) and above our frame, reducing the height of the frame.
Disadvantages:
a. The height of the frame (glass) is reduced.
Advantages:
a. They are more secure (the roller shutter guides, using fins, embrace our glazing and become one with it).
b. Operation is possible in all ways (electric – manual).
c. They are more aesthetically pleasing, and there is the possibility of easily covering their boxes from the outside (when replacing old wooden frames, the box is almost always covered from the outside).
d. In many cases, we have worse sound and thermal insulation because we do not lose energy (or sound does not pass) through the boxes if they are not thermal break boxes (photo).
Concealed Roller Shutters – Roller Shutter Box Covering
External and top-mounted roller shutters can be covered (concealed roller shutter boxes). See more in roller shutter box covering.
