Conscious Choice: Rolling Window Shutters

April 2000 | Sensible Home

Rolling Window Shutters

by James Dulley

Dear Jim: Our house is in a subdivision with small lots. We want more privacy along with some savings on utility bills and better safety during storms. Are rolling window shutters a feasible option for us? — Ann F.

Dear Ann: Rolling window shutters have been popular in Europe and along the hurricane-prone regions of the United States for many years. Now, with more concern about security, energy savings, tornado protection and privacy with today’s smaller lots, they are becoming very popular throughout the United States

If you have never seen residential rolling shutters over windows or patio doors, they are quite attractive. They are available in many colors and slat shapes and are custom designed to fit each window or door opening perfectly.

Installing rolling shutters saves money in several ways. The slats, some filled with foam insulation, create an insulating dead-air space outside your window to lower both heating and cooling bills. As described later, they also provide natural light without sacrificing security and privacy.

Rolling shutters are made of many horizontal 1.5- to 2-inch durable insulating slats that operate along the same principle as a rolltop desk. The slat ends slide in small channels attached to the sides of the outdoor window opening. The slats roll up into a long narrow housing that is hidden under the roof overhang.

For convenience and security, you open and close the shutters from indoors. The least expensive method, for smaller windows, uses a small indoor strap to operate the shutter. For larger heavier ones, a hand crank is used. For very large ones or for extra convenience, an electric drive motor is used.

If you select a motor drive, consider one with hand-held remote control, just like the one for your TV. Some programmable units (Elero) allow you to press one button in a room to operate only selected shutters. Timers and sun, wind, and rain sensors also can automatically close shutters when you are away from home.

The slats in rolling shutters have open slots cut into the interlocking flanges between them. When the shutter is totally lowered and closes against the weather-stripping seal at the bottom, these open slots are hidden inside the mating slats. This blocks all light and about 70 percent of outdoor noise.

As you start to raise the shutter, the slats spread apart before the shutter actually begins to uncover the window. This exposes the slot openings for controllable levels of natural light and ventilation. The basic slat material options (in increasing cost) are PVC plastic, rolled aluminum with insulation and extruded aluminum. Insulated rolled aluminum is tougher than PVC for better wind and impact resistance. Extruded aluminum is the strongest material, but it is heavier.

Write for (or instantly download) Update Bulletin No. 693, buyer’s guide of thirteen rolling shutters, materials, sizes, colors, insulation, controls, and prices. Please include $3 and a business-size SASE. James Dulley, Conscious Choice, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244

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