Rolling shutters are one of the varieties of blinds and have the form of a roll with two guides. The latter run parallel to the plates. Do-it-yourself roller shutters can be installed in window, garage, and doorways.
Using roller shutters
Roller shutters have been popular with consumers for a long time. Today they are installed not only in residential buildings, but also in commercial premises. Roller shutters have a wide range of applications. They are used to protect the room from excess light, dust, noise, burglary, as well as influences of a different nature, including mechanical and chemical. Such designs are very similar to ordinary blinds, but they also have protective functions. With all this, such an addition can be an excellent decoration not only for windows, but also for doors. Roller shutters can be set to adjust the light intensity. If the sun's rays illuminate and heat the room too much, the structure can be lowered to a certain height, while at nightit will close automatically. If you decide to install roller shutters with your own hands, you should be aware that this type of construction also has good thermal insulation qualities. This can be seen if you look at it in a section: the elements inside have air chambers, which are sometimes filled with foam. Both of them perfectly retain both hot currents and cold air, which guarantees an ideal indoor climate both in winter and in summer. Before you install roller shutters with your own hands, you need to familiarize yourself with all their pros and cons. Among the first, one can also highlight the fact that such structures are quite simply installed, and can also be equipped with one of several control systems. For example, for private use, manual structures are used, while for the protection of industrial and commercial premises, structures are purchased that are controlled by electronic systems. It is also important how the roller shutters look. In addition to performing their main tasks, they can improve the exterior of the house. When buying, you can choose not only the color, but also the texture of the material.
Roller shutter installation features
If you decide to install roller shutters with your own hands, you must choose one of the existing methods for mounting the structure. Thus, roller shutters can be mounted using the external method, which is also called overhead. This technology is the most common when compared with other installation methods. In this case, the installation involves fastening to the facade of the building, andguides are installed on the sides. Highlighting the advantages of such an installation, it can be noted that the size of the opening will be saved. This means that in the open state, the roller shutters will not be visible from the room. As a minus, one can name a slight protrusion of the box beyond the outer surface of the walls. Roller shutters can also be built-in. In this case, the guides are fixed inside the opening, which closes on both sides to the width of the guides. The box is to be mounted in the opening, which will be closed from above. If you decide to purchase roller shutters, do-it-yourself installation can also be carried out using a combined method. In this case, the guides should be fixed inside the opening, which guarantees its closure on both sides to the width of the guides. The box must be at the bottom of the opening. For the installation of protective roller shutters using this technology, you need to follow some rules. In some cases, there is a need for special preparation of the opening for the installation of the structure. If the opening is clean, then the height of the structure should be increased by the width of the bar, this parameter is 45 millimeters. If the opening has irregularities, then not only the height, but also the width of the structure should be increased by 8 millimeters.
Roller shutter installation technology
Before starting the installation of roller shutters, it will be necessary to carry out certain preparatory work. Initially, the opening must be measured, its diagonals must be compared in order to understand if these parameters differ by more than 5 millimeters. It is important to analyzehow correctly the slopes are located, the permissible deviation from the horizontal or vertical is 1.5 millimeters per 1 meter. There should be no chips or cracks on the surface of the slopes, and if they are plastered, the finish coat should not peel off.
Preparing the guides
Before you make your own roller shutters, you need to prepare the side rails. To do this, markings for drilling holes must be carried out. In order to ensure symmetry, they need to be laid in pairs: make holes in increments of 15 centimeters from the edges of the guide rails, and only then holes should be made along the entire length with an equal interval of 50 centimeters. If an overhead installation type has been chosen, the holes should be made closer to the outer edge. When carrying out these works, a drill with a diameter of 8 millimeters should be used. If the mounting is to be carried out outdoors, then the through hole of the bar must be made on both sides, while the top bar must be drilled until a diameter of 11.8 millimeters is obtained. This manipulation is necessary in order to mount the decorative cap.
Preparing the box
If you decide to install roller shutters on the gate with your own hands, then the box on each side must be drilled so that two holes are laid through the cover, their diameter should be 4.2 mm. They are necessary for installing rivets aftercompletion of work. Among other things, you need to make holes to fix the box. With surface mounting, the holes should be located at the back, while with built-in mounting - from above, combined mounting involves making holes in both planes.
Box assembly
If you install roller shutters with your own hands, then at the next stage you need to make markings for the holes into which the fasteners will be installed. The box is applied to the opening. When surface mounted, all elements must be attached to the wall; when mounted, the parts are located on the side and upper slopes. Next, you need to check how vertically the guides are located, and also whether the box is correctly mounted in relation to the horizon. Markings on the slopes through the drilled mounting holes must be made with a marker. You need to drill holes through them, and then drive in the dowels. A hole must also be made for the drive.
Fixing the frame
If you decide to install your own cabinet shutters, the technology will remain the same. The next step will be to strengthen the frame. First of all, you should remove the protective film, which is located on the back wall. Fixing should be done with a screwdriver, then you can fix the controls. If an outdoor mounting option is used, the controls must be located indoors. Next, you can install the canvas, and then the coverbox, which is fixed with rivets with a gun. All openings must be coated with silicone sealant, and then closed with plugs.
Repair
If you notice a malfunction, which is that the canvas is assembled unevenly (this happens, as a rule, most often), then repairing the roller shutters with your own hands can be easily done. To do this, check the guides for the presence of foreign objects. Among other things, the guides may be damaged. But, as a rule, after removing foreign elements, the uniformity of the stroke returns.
