ᐅ External blinds versus built-in blinds

Hello everyone,
I’m not sure if this is the right place to discuss this topic, but I’ll just start anyway.

We are planning a new build and are now trying to decide whether to go for built-in or surface-mounted roller shutters. We’ve read so many different opinions on this. Some say that surface-mounted shutters contribute more to the insulation of the house than built-in ones. Others say that’s not true and that surface-mounted shutters are mostly used for renovations.
Has anyone had experience with this and can offer some advice?

Thanks,
veti99

Hello veti99,

Years ago, I had a prefabricated lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) shell constructed and completed the rest myself. I was quite impressed with the system, especially how the roller shutter boxes are integrated directly into the exterior walls. The company claims to have a special patent for this.

Both inside and outside, there is a thin, solid clay layer, allowing the plaster to be easily applied over the shutter boxes. From the inside, there is a profile where the slats of the roller shutters can be hooked in. For the belt outlet, there are various plastering solutions. I chose the recessed (built-in) version, where the winder can be serviced by removing the front panel if needed.

I prefer built-in boxes because they largely maintain the wall’s homogeneity. I’m not a fan of plastic attachments; the loosely inserted styrofoam panel in those models seems quite careless compared to integrated box systems.

You might want to check out Lechner Massivhaus GmbH.

Best regards

veti99 schrieb:
... We are planning a new build and are now facing the question of whether to choose built-in or surface-mounted roller shutters. ....

Some say that surface-mounted shutters contribute more to the insulation of the house than built-in ones. Others say that this is nonsense and that surface-mounted roller shutters are mainly used in renovations. Has anyone had experience with this and can give us some advice?

Caution!
You are mixing up the terms right now. You don’t want to end up buying exactly the opposite of what you actually want.

A built-in roller shutter box sits above the window frame, is usually as thick as the wall (wall thickness) and can be plastered on the outside.

Depending on where the access panel is located (for repairs or replacements), the inside of the box can also be finished (wallpapered, plastered, etc.) depending on the manufacturer.

This shutter box is thermally insulated and easy to install (often pre-assembled at the factory when ordered together with the windows).
However, it is one of the more expensive options for roller shutters.

In contrast, the surface-mounted roller shutter box (also called exterior roller shutter box) is installed on the outside of the window frame and is usually visible.
Example photo:

Here the service/access panel is located on the outside.
In the drawing, the box is round; rectangular boxes are more affordable.
The advantage of this type is that it is cheaper and can be retrofitted relatively easily.

However, it is very rarely used in new builds.

An intermediate solution (with a good price/performance ratio) is a surface-mounted roller shutter with a plaster carrier board.

Here the shutter box’s access panel can be plastered on the outside and thus blends into the wall.
This works either with a lintel offset (the window is installed further inside) or if the external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) is thick enough, the windows can be installed “normally” and then finished flush with the insulation.

It should be noted that the box size increases with the height of the window units (logical, as more shutter slats need to fit inside).

For new builds, I consider this option interesting because cost plays a significant role.

Thanks, Romeo, for the ready-to-publish article with pictures,

which I can refer to as a supplement. In my post, I understood all the versions you mentioned as the ones termed "mounted" by veti, although that is not entirely accurate due to the also possible overlay constructions.

What veti calls "built-in," I understood to mean something like the Lechner solid construction house solution mentioned, where the box is basically an integral part of the exterior wall. Since veti is building a new house, this is a genuine alternative where the window size is not so heavily restricted. With mounted or overlay roller shutters, the effective window size is always compromised, but not with the built-in type. In that case, these "solid boxes" also serve as supports for the concrete slab through special reinforcements (a kind of "flat lintel," I’m not a structural engineer, sorry); structurally, they can manage that. My new build is still standing.

Regards

All right, all-rounder!

I just wanted to give a brief overview of the options because the question seemed a bit confusing to me.

But okay, let’s wait and see how the original poster elaborates on it. Before we dive into a detailed discussion here, we first need to understand how the builder envisions the project and which open questions remain.

I’m not familiar with the Lechner solid construction house solution you mentioned.
Before I start searching and possibly say something incorrect, maybe you could post a link or similar so we know exactly what this is about.

Best regards,
Romeo

The requested link ...

is unfortunately not easy to obtain. The company still exists but, in my opinion, has a rather superficial website. They seem to undervalue themselves and have only uploaded parts of their old brochures online.

Unfortunately, a detailed description of the units is missing. I only have paper photos from the construction; digital photography was not so common in 2001. If interested, you would need to request informational material or approach the company at a building trade show, as they usually participate in those.

I don’t want to advertise here, but I don’t know anyone else offering such a system. It’s time for the person who asked the question to provide some feedback...

Regards