You may have recently undertaken some new home improvements
for your home in Worthing or Brighton in Sussex, perhaps an extension or just a
complete revamp of the interior. So you may now be thinking about doors, garage
and roller shutter doors and windows for the property and whether they need
updating or replacing. If that’s the case, then the sheer range of items out
there can be overwhelming.
If you’re looking for a new type of door or window
protection, there are a number of different options available. From fire doors
to roller shutter doors to garage roller shutters and steel security doors in
Worthing, Sussex, Brighton and beyond. All have their pros and cons but often,
it can be difficult to find out what the different types are. So here, we
thought we’d start you off by outlining the different types of roller shutter.
But before we do that, what exactly is a roller shutter and what is it used
for?
What is a Roller Shutter?
A roller shutter is a door or window, which consists of rows
of steel or aluminium slats, all joined together. When the frame of the door or
window is lifted up, or lowered down, the slats loop around a rolling cylinder,
forming a coil. They are most commonly used on garage doors, or garage roller
shutters as they are more commonly known. They can also be used on windows and
can be effective as a form of insulation and energy efficiency. They are often
a popular choice due to their lightweight design but their comparative
hardiness and ability to withstand consistent bad weather. This combination of
durability with a sleek design aesthetic and the ability to increase your
energy efficiency make them a popular choice for both doors and windows.
What are the different types of roller shutter?
Built-in and Built-on roller shutter doors
It can often be a common mistake to confuse these two types
of roller shutters. Built-on roller
shutters are often used on garage doors. Often made from steel or aluminium,
they have a polished, modern look that appeals to many homeowners. They work by
placing the cylindrical tube or coil inside an external projection (usually
above the garage door). This is then covered over, to match with the aesthetics
of the house. When the door is lifted, often by a motorised component, the
slats curl round the hidden cylinder and the door lifts up. They can often look
like a new and interesting feature to the house, if installed and fitted
correctly.
A built-in roller shutter door is slightly different from a
built-on roller shutter, in that the reeling mechanism and guide rails are
built into the wall during construction, meaning that they are hidden from
view. This gives a more flawless look to the design and a sleek aesthetic. Many
people choose this option when they are undergoing major refurbishments as the
building work is already being completed. They can often be modernised with remote
control available and energy efficiency options. They can also be a good
security measure, if you don’t already have steel security doors.
Manual Roller Shutters
Unlike their motorised counterparts, manual roller shutters
are, you guessed it, operated by hand. They can often be spring assisted, where
the blind pops up when it is opened at the base. It then locks back down when
the blind is lowered. The spring mechanism is usually only used for smaller
shutters on windows as the heavier doors are far more cumbersome to operate in
this way. For this reason, people often choose to go for a motorised design, as
they can be more efficient and easier to use.
For the heavier doors, if you don’t want a motorised option,
then the usual choice is a chain operated roller shutter. Working as a pulley
system, the chains are pulled to open the shutters but this is often a
laborious and slow task, so isn’t a great option for a door or window that has
frequent use. Many people choose a motorised option for sheer ease of use and
they often are comparable in terms of pricing. Take a look at roller shutter
doors or garage roller shutters in Worthing, Sussex, Brighton or other areas to
see what would suit you.
Integrated roller shutter windows
Like the built-in roller shutter doors, these work in a
similar way. When building a new house, or performing considerable construction
work on an old house, the shutters are built into the wall along with the
window. This means that the mechanism is hidden, as well as the blinds when
they are lifted. They are reeled into the wall above the window, meaning that
you get a flawless look when you don’t need them. These are often chosen as
another way to increase energy efficiency, while also appealing to the design
concerns for your home.