There are different types of roller blinds available on the market, they can be mounted from the outside on the plaster or inside the window opening under the plaster. One of the most important factors in choosing roller blinds is whether they are to be fitted in a building that has already been constructed or one that is still under construction.
Window finishing
A finished house, in which we do not intend to modify the insulation, allows us to choose only surface-mounted roller shutters. A house under construction allows for minor modifications, but if we have not included flush-mounted roller shutters in the design and cannot make changes to the lintel and windows, and the insulation is too thin to accommodate flush-mounted boxes, we are left with surface-mounted roller shutters. These, in turn, can be mounted on the façade or in a window recess. The latter option will cause the roller shutter box to reduce the amount of light entering the room. Depending on the size of the window, this can be a few to a dozen or so centimetres less. The amount of light reduction depends on the size of the windows, the roller shutter profile used and the type and make of the motor.
Surface-mounted roller shutters are mounted outside the window recess and do not reduce the access of light, the entire mechanism is located on the wall. The whole mechanism is larger because the size of the box and the width of the guides increase, thus increasing the width of the shell. The space created between the closed roller shutter and the window provides very good thermal insulation, which is a definite advantage.
However, flush-mounted blinds provide very good insulation and look very aesthetically pleasing. They are only problematic to install in existing buildings. They can be installed if we plan to replace windows or change lintels, but this involves much higher costs and is a major renovation. The use of polyurethane foam insulation not only provides much better insulation, but also effectively dampens outside noise. Properly installed flush-mounted roller shutters form a uniform whole with the building facade.
External flush-mounted roller shutters need to be planned for when the building is being constructed. They look aesthetically pleasing and elegant, but certain aspects must be taken into account to avoid thermal bridges and freezing. This involves the need to retract the lintel.
What should I pay attention to when installing roller shutters?
The process itself is not very complicated, even if it seems so. How far it is set back depends on many factors. It is very important to consult with the designer or site manager. The thickness of the building insulation must be large enough to cover the boxes of the flush-mounted roller shutters. The lintel should be set back by the amount of insulation between the box and the lintel – at least 2 cm. With such a small thickness, it is worth using hardened polystyrene for better protection. The further back the lintel is set, the thicker the polystyrene can be, but it should not protrude beyond the face of the window so as not to push out the roller shutter box.
Sometimes, the thickness of the insulation is too small to cover the roller shutter box, in which case the entire window must be moved back into the window recess – how far back it is moved depends on how thick the insulation is and how large the boxes are.
The size of the roller shutter boxes determines the thickness of the insulation. Their dimensions depend on the width and height of the window, the roller shutter profiles and the motor used. Good companies with reliable overload motors require a thicker roller shutter shaft, which affects the size of the box. The roller shutter company must have very precise measurements and many details about the roller shutters in order to obtain the exact dimensions of the boxes and to be able to calculate how far the windows and lintels need to be retracted.
Read also:
FACADE BLINDS OR EXTERNAL ROLLER SHUTTERS? MODERN TYPES OF WINDOW PROTECTION
