You’ve probably seen those metal shutters at malls or busy shopping districts. If you pass by at certain times of day, you may even hear the pseudo-musical rattle as they’re yanked open and shut. Roller shutters offer aesthetic value, both to the shops and your home. They come in multiple colours to suit your decorative theme, and a lot of them are weatherproof. They’re painted with a layer of ultra-violet protectant to prevent sun damage over the years. They’re rain-proof too, though they’re not all certified for flood-proofing.

Roller shutters are most often marketed as a security measure. If you get triple-layered shutters, their physical sturdiness can prevent someone from breaking their way through, whether they’re using a sledgehammer or a battering ram. You can put a padlock on the inside or outside of the shutters for additional reinforcement. There are two main styles of roller shutters – mini-view and regular. Mini-view shutters alternate solid opaque slats with see-through plastic ones. This lets more natural light into your space.

Mini-view shutters are popular for indoor-outdoor spaces, because the see-through slats serve an additional function. The metal portions are made from aluminium panels which sometimes sandwich insulation foam. The see-through portions are plastic, so they’re not as impermeable to heat. In that sense, mini-view shutters are warmer on cool days and cooler on hot days, due to the plastic’s low conductivity. They’ll still keep out the rain and breeze, but they have a gentler effect on heated air.

Beauty and security

You could, for example, install mini-view shutters over your windows as a security measure, then open the windows themselves, which lessens the stuffiness in the house. You won’t have to worry about someone accessing the house, and the shutters will still let in a good amount of light. The clear portions of the mini-view shutters will let some heat in, but not as much as glass windows. And the insulated metal portions will block off even more heat. This keeps the air inside the house from getting too warmed up, so you won’t have to crank up the AC.

Many roller shutters – both mini-view and solid – have automated switches as an option. So you could use a remote controller to have them halfway open or a third way open for ventilation and cooling, then quickly pull them down if you need to. Solid shutters are generally made using metal panels with foam between. They might also be made from PVC panels, which gives them good insulation properties and acts as a barrier to bush fire. If any sparks land on the shutters, the foam will keep them from catching fire or spreading.

Day and night protection

When these insulation shutters are drawn all the way down, they retain the warmth inside the house, keeping cold air out. This is helpful during the winter. In the summer, a kind or reverse effect takes place. Keeping the shutters lowered during the day will block off the sunlight, so the inside of the house won’t warm up as much. Towards evening, you can raise them for a bit to let in some fresh air, but only if you have mesh screens, or aren’t concerned about mosquitoes and other bugs. And remember to close those shutters before you sleep.

Many styles of roller shutters are powder coated, and a few have reflective paint. The primary intent is to ward off UV rays that could damage the shutter material. But they reflect heat too, which augments the effect of keeping excess warmth outside the house. During installation, shutters aren’t laid right next to the glass. There’s usually a gap of a few inches, depending on how the window is designed. That space creates an air pocket for additional insulation, because any heat trying to get in or out of the house will dissipate within the gap.

If you’re still unsure about installing roller shutters, spend some time on a property that has them installed. Visit at different times of day, and if possible, pass by at night too. You’ll feel the difference in temperature, and if you can, take a look at their utility bills – that’s likely to sway you. Installing roller shutters is a drastic form of renovation, but the property value, security benefits, and comfort on hot summer days and night.

Read Also: