What are window roller shutters?
Foam-filled aluminium laths are the usual choice for homes: light enough for a small tubular motor yet stiff enough to resist casual forcing. The headbox can sit on the face of the wall under the lintel, be recessed into the reveal, or be built into the wall on a new build or extension, and the guides are fixed either inside the reveal or onto the face of the brickwork.
We survey every opening, because a shutter is made to measure: width, drop, the depth of the reveal, what is above the window (lintel, soffit, render bead) and where power can come from all change the specification. You get a fixed written price for each window before anything is ordered.
Window shutters suit ground-floor rooms that face a street or alleyway, bedrooms that need real blackout, holiday lets and second homes that sit empty, and south-facing rooms that overheat in summer.
Which options can you choose?
- Lath profileFoam-filled aluminium in 37–55 mm profiles for most windows; extruded aluminium where you want a tougher curtain on a vulnerable opening.
- OperationElectric with a wall switch or remote, solar with a built-in battery where there is no easy power, or manual by strap or crank.
- Headbox positionFace-fixed under the lintel, recessed into the reveal, or concealed behind render or a soffit on new work.
- FinishWhite, anthracite, black, cream, silver, brown and woodgrain foils as standard, with RAL colours to match frames.
- Light and airLaths with small slots let a little light and air through when the shutter is down but not fully closed.
Typical specification
| Typical lath | 37–55 mm foam-filled aluminium |
|---|---|
| Max width (one shutter) | around 3,000 mm, depending on profile |
| Headbox | 137–250 mm, sized to the drop |
| Power | 230 V tubular motor or solar battery motor |
| Lead time | usually 3–5 weeks from survey |
How much do window roller shutters cost?
| Window roller shutters | Inc VAT | Ex VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Small window up to 1,000 × 1,200 mm, electric | £545 – £795 | £455 – £660 |
| Standard window around 1,500 × 1,300 mm, electric | £695 – £995 | £580 – £830 |
| Large window or wide bay section, electric | £895 – £1,395 | £745 – £1,160 |
| Standard window, manual crank | £495 – £745 | £410 – £620 |
Guide prices, per window, supplied and fitted. VAT at 20% where it applies.
Every price is fixed in writing after a survey. See all roller shutter prices or use the quote tool for a guide range for your size.
What should you check before ordering?
- Escape windows: If a shutter covers a window you would use to get out in a fire, it must open from inside without a key. We fit a manual override or battery backup on those openings.
- Planning: Whether external shutters on a house need permission depends on the property and the council. Listed buildings need consent for external alterations, and conservation areas often bring tighter rules, so check before ordering. We provide drawings and product details for an application.
- Electrics (England, Wales): Motors are wired to BS 7671. Some electrical work in homes, such as a new circuit, is notifiable under Part P in England and Wales (the lists of notifiable work differ slightly between the two). It is either self-certified by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme or notified to building control.
- Electrics (Scotland): Motors are wired to BS 7671 and the Scottish building standards for electrical safety.
- Electrics (Northern Ireland): Motors are wired to BS 7671 by a qualified electrician.
- Ventilation: A closed shutter reduces airflow round trickle vents, so on rooms with gas appliances or poor ventilation we specify slotted laths or a part-open setting.
How does the process work?
Tell us about the opening
Use the quote tool or the form: what it is for, rough sizes and a few photos if you have them.
Free survey
We measure the opening and the space around it, check fixings and power, and talk through options.
Fixed written price
You get a clear quotation with the product, controls, fitting and lead time. Nothing is ordered until you accept.
Made, fitted, handed over
The shutter is made to measure, fitted, set up and demonstrated, with the manufacturer's documents left with you.
Questions about window roller shutters
How much do window roller shutters cost?
Most standard windows come to £695–£995 including VAT for an electric aluminium shutter, supplied and fitted. Smaller windows and manual versions cost less; very wide or tall windows, recessed headboxes and special colours cost more. You get a fixed price after the survey.
Do window shutters need planning permission?
It depends on the house and the council. External shutters on a listed building need listed building consent, and conservation areas and some councils apply tighter controls. On many ordinary houses no application is needed, but check with your council before ordering; we supply drawings if you need to apply.
Will a shutter stop me opening my window?
No. The shutter runs outside the window, so you can still open casements when it is raised. Inward-opening tilt-and-turn windows can also be opened with the shutter down.
Can I fit shutters to just some windows?
Yes. Many people start with ground-floor windows facing the street or the bedrooms they want dark, and add more later in a matching finish.
What happens in a power cut?
Mains motors stop where they are until power returns. If a window is needed for escape we fit a manual override or a battery-backed motor so it can still be opened.
