Roll-Down Shutters in Sarasota, FL

Roll-down shutters are the most convenient form of shutter protection. Curved aluminum slats lock together and roll up into a box, called a hood, mounted above the opening. When a storm comes, they lower in side tracks and lock at the bottom. For large sliders, lanai openings, balconies and second-story windows they are often the only shutter people will actually use.

Manual or motorized

• Manual crank or strap: a gear operator turned from inside or outside; lower cost and no power needed
• Motorized: a tubular motor inside the roller, run from a switch, remote or timer; the fastest to close
• Motorized with manual override: a backup crank so the shutter can still be raised or lowered when the power is out, which happens often in a hurricane

We recommend a manual override, or a battery backup, on any motorized shutter covering a door you might need to use.

More than storm use

Because they close so easily, roll-downs get used year round. Lowered partway, they shade a west-facing room on a summer afternoon. Fully closed, they add security when you leave for the season and darken a bedroom. Some owners on the keys keep them down when the house is empty, and that convenience is a big part of why people choose them.

Planning the hood and tracks

The hood has to go somewhere. On many block homes it mounts on the face of the wall above the opening; on others it fits under the soffit or eave. Large openings may need a center post or storm bar, and the approval limits how wide a single shutter can span. Wiring for motorized shutters is planned at the estimate, along with where switches and the override access will go. We check association rules for hood color and placement too.

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Maintenance in salt air

Roll-downs have more moving parts than any other shutter. Salt and sand in the side tracks make them stick, and motors and gears need their own care. Expect motors, straps and gears to need service at some point over the system's life. To get the most out of them:

• Rinse slats and tracks with fresh water regularly, especially near the Gulf
• Run each shutter fully down and up once a month
• Keep tracks free of sand and debris
• Test motors and manual overrides at the start of hurricane season

Permits and insurance

Roll-down shutters are installed under a permit, and the approval governs span, track anchoring and hood mounting. With every opening protected, they qualify for the opening protection credit on the wind mitigation form like any approved shutter.