Are you thinking about installing roller shutters for your home or business, but aren’t sure whether roller shutter doors are worth the investment?
There are many types of roller shutter doors available for domestic, commercial, and industrial premises, and they all have a wide range of benefits.
Made from horizontal slats of strong steel or aluminium and typically powered by electric motors, roller shutters are one of the top choices when it comes to cost-efficient security measures for homes, shopfronts, warehouses, and more.
However, security isn’t the only advantage of roller shutter doors. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, here are some of the major benefits for you and your property that definitely make installing roller shutters worthwhile.
1) Safety and security
When security is the main consideration, roller shutters are ideal for preventing unauthorised entry to your premises, day or night.
First of all, they act as an immediate visual deterrent for potential thieves or vandals. Closed roller shutters prevent anyone from seeing inside, and let opportunistic criminals know that your property has security measures in place that would make it difficult to break into.
Secondly, even if would-be burglars do attempt to force entry, they’ll likely give up when they realise it will take a lot of time and effort to get through the toughened metal shutters. Criminals are more likely to move on to unprotected properties, as they’re often much easier targets.
While CCTV and alarms will alert you when a break-in is happening, roller shutters help to actively prevent break-ins from happening in the first place. They form a practically impenetrable barrier in front of your building’s access points that will resist heavy impacts.
Thirdly, high-speed roller shutters can open and close very quickly and smoothly, which is perfect for factories, warehouses, storage facilities, and industrial units that may require frequent vehicular access at any time. They allow personnel and vehicles to enter and exit quickly without giving any unauthorised loiterers the opportunity to sneak inside.
All of this also provides greater peace of mind for the property owner, especially when you have to leave the premises unattended for an extended length of time – whether that’s overnight, over the weekend, or a week or two during holiday breaks.
2) Increased weather protection
A roller shutter doesn’t just keep criminals at bay, but also the elements. With extreme weather events on the rise, including heavy rain, strong winds, and heatwaves, it’s worth protecting windows and doors with roller shutters.
This is especially true if your property is located in an area where it’s common for storms to pass through. If the region is prone to high winds, there’s a risk of debris being blown towards your building – and whether it’s litter, tree branches, or street furniture, it can cause a lot of damage that will take time and money to fix.
As metal roller shutters are robust enough to withstand heavy impacts, they can shelter less resilient windows and doors against bad weather. This helps to reduce the risk of injury from flying debris or broken glass, while also prolonging the lifespan of your building.
Most toughened roller shutters are also treated to make them resistant to rust, meaning they’ll hold up against rain, hail, and snow and prevent the windows and doors behind them from weather damage that adds up over time.
Additionally, the extra layer provided by a roller shutter can help to insulate the building, so it doesn’t get too hot during the summer or too cold and damp during the winter. With the added protection of a roller shutter, you could save money on avoidable repairs and downtime.
3) Improved fire resistance
In commercial and industrial environments where there may be a higher risk of fire, roller shutters can serve as temporary firebreaks that help to slow the spread of flames. Every second counts in a fire, so these barriers can save lives and limit property damage.
Of course, if you’re serious about fire protection, you could invest in specialised fire shutters. These are built with thicker or double layers of galvanised steel, often insulated, to prevent heat and smoke from getting through to the other side when they’re closed.
When connected to a fire alarm or heat/smoke sensor that activates, a fire shutter can drop down quickly to seal off potential pathways for the fire to spread, cutting off oxygen to the flames. This can also help to protect people from radiant heat and toxic gases as they escape the area.
Limiting the fire to one part of the building for as long as possible also reduces the extent of the damage to goods and valuables kept on the premises, as well as to the structure itself – replacing items and repairing the building would no doubt be much costlier otherwise.
Purpose-made fire shutters are given an integrity rating after thorough testing to determine how long the product would last in a real fire, allowing you to choose the appropriate level for the intended setting. For example, fire shutters from Roller Shutter Services have a rating of 1 hour.
In some circumstances, fire shutters are required by law, with minimum standards for their production and installation. Be sure to check which fire shutter requirements may apply to your building type and usage before choosing roller shutter doors for your premises.
4) Easy to use and efficient
One of the many reasons why roller shutters are so popular is because they’re extremely easy to operate. Even manual roller shutters that require pulling a chain or winding a handle are simple to use, but modern automated roller shutters remove the physical effort completely by using electric motors to raise and lower the doors, often by remote control.
Of course, all electric roller shutter doors also have manual back-ups, so they can still be opened and closed physically in the event of a battery or mains power failure. There are also extra safety measures like brake arrests and photobeams to prevent the door dropping too quickly or closing on an obstruction, which makes operating the shutter safe and easy.
In situations where the roller shutters need to be opened and closed frequently, you can opt for rapid roll doors that can be raised and lowered much faster. Since roller shutters are relatively compact and move vertically rather than outwards, they’re also a space-saving solution.
This is especially useful for loading and unloading delivery vehicles, which can be parked close to the access point. Foot traffic can also come and go quickly while workers move goods efficiently in and out of the building, increasing productivity and keeping logistical flows running smoothly.
As long as your roller shutters are operated correctly and serviced and maintained properly, this equipment will keep functioning well and making day-to-day operations easier for years to come.
5) Long-lasting and cost-effective
Though roller shutters may seem like a significant upfront investment, they pay this off and more over their lifetime. Made with sturdy construction methods using durable materials, once installed, roller shutters can last for decades if operated and cared for properly.
Installation is straightforward and they require very little maintenance – cleaning and checking them over every few weeks and having them professionally serviced once or twice a year is enough to keep them in good condition. They’re easy to clean, too, and also help to reduce dirt and dust building up on the doors and windows they cover.
If you opt for insulated roller shutters, these are also an excellent long-term investment, as they’ll save you money on your bills by regulating temperatures and improving energy efficiency.
As a strong security measure, having roller shutters can even lower your insurance premiums, since they reduce the chances of someone damaging your building or stealing your property from inside.
Whichever style of roller shutter you choose, it will typically be made of steel or aluminium, which are relatively affordable materials. You can customise the design with your choice of operating mechanism, fitting method, and finish to meet your needs exactly, ensuring you get the most out of the roller shutters for as long as possible.
6) Insulating and energy-saving
When roller shutters are used to cover windows and doors, they trap air between the shutter and the building front, helping to keep heat in during the winter and out during the summer. You’ll rely less on heating and air conditioning, helping you to reduce your energy bills.
You could save even more money over time if you invest in insulated roller shutters, which have extra layers that make them thicker and better at retaining the temperature inside. For even more energy efficiency, rapid roll shutter doors can be opened and closed quickly enough to maintain the ambient temperature inside.
Reducing energy consumption is one of the major benefits that make roller shutters so cost-effective in the long term. Preventing heat loss in this eco-friendly way also helps you to reduce your carbon footprint – which can also boost business reputations.
All roller shutters should come with weatherstripping, or tight seals along the bottom and sides to prevent draughts. However, the metal laths should still be crafted and assembled to regulate air flow in a way that reduces heat loss while preventing moisture from building up.
7) Appealing professional look
Gone are the days when roller shutters were clunky, unwelcoming sheets of bland steel. Modern roller shutters are sleek and as compact as possible, structured efficiently so they don’t appear bulky and unsightly when fitted externally or internally.
As roller shutter doors are typically custom-made, you can be sure that they will fit exactly, with minimal disruption to the façade of your building. Of course, they can also be rolled up out of sight when you need to leave them open, so they won’t interfere with daily business.
Aesthetic appeal is important for residences and businesses alike, and roller shutters can attract residents and customers with their clean and professional appearance. Well-maintained shutters give the impression of security and respectability, invoking confidence and trust.
It’s also possible to finish roller shutters in any RAL colour, so they can match the hue of the building to blend in or create a decorative feature with a bold shade. Commercial premises can also make use of painted roller shutters to display their business colours for an even more professional look.
Order roller shutter doors today
As you can see, it’s clear that roller shutters are a great asset for any property in need of security and safety solutions. From crime prevention to weather protection, the many advantages of roller shutter doors make them more than a worthwhile investment.
If you’re ready to order some for yourself, where better to go for bespoke design and installation than Roller Shutter Services? We have many years of experience in supplying and fitting premium quality custom roller shutters at competitive prices, including roller garage doors, sectional doors, rapid roll doors, fire shutters and fire curtains, and more.
You can trust our products to keep your property secure for years to come. Not only do we provide roller shutters in Bolton and around the North West, but we also offer 24/7 roller shutter repairs in Bolton and the surrounding region. Whether you need emergency repairs or an ongoing servicing contract, you can call on us for fast repairs.
Take a look through our roller shutter gallery for examples of what we can do, and get in touch with Roller Shutter Services when you’re ready to discuss your requirements. Email your enquiry to info@rollershutterservices.co.ukor give us a phone call to speak to our team today.