ᐅ External venetian blinds in new buildings – integrated or surface-mounted?

Hello everyone,

We didn’t go into the technical details of the external blinds/roller shutters but specified before signing that we want external blinds made of aluminum everywhere.

Now the selection appointment is coming up, and the construction performance description states that either surface-mounted roller shutters or blinds will be installed... When I look it up online, this seems more like a retrofit solution?

We simply want a uniform facade without visible boxes...

Does anyone have experience with this? Is a top-mounted system better than a surface-mounted one? Can the surface-mounted box also be concealed within the facade behind the plaster?

Thanks,
Gerddieter

With today’s wall thicknesses, it is also possible to install a roller shutter in front of the window frames and plaster over it. Here are a few pictures of our system: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/separate-vergabe-der-fenster-und-rolllaeden-gu-stellt-sich-quer.44674/post-609531
Whether this matches what you receive...

Venetian blinds and roller shutter boxes usually have different thicknesses – it is important that the windows themselves are installed at least flush with the outer wall surface, or even better (with external thermal insulation composite systems, ETICS) if they are positioned in front of the reveal using appropriate frames or brackets.

Depending on the window profile thickness, wall thickness, ETICS thickness, window height, and the material of the Venetian blinds or roller shutters, it is possible that precast boxes fit and are still flush. If not, surface-mounted systems are used.

In principle, I believe that precast solutions are not bad, provided that your window profile extension is also well insulated (core insulation). With surface-mounted systems, you always need to check how much insulation is planned inside the box at the front and back, and whether the construction is really completely airtight.

Thanks in advance to everyone. I’m a bit more relaxed about it now. I asked the main contractor; it is a surface-mounted box but flush with the façade, plastered, and not visible.

Do I understand correctly that in any case there will be a few centimeters (inches) of structural opening above the window for the boxes? In the case of a top-mounted box because a box sits between the window and the upper wall, in the case of a surface-mounted box because it is mounted in front?
How should I imagine the differences in the interior appearance?

Thanks, GD

It will be slightly more, depending on the window height and external venetian blind, usually around 30 cm (12 inches).

For the box-mounted installation, the casing on the inside has insulation or wall material applied in such a way that it can be plastered (therefore, during installation, it should be set slightly inward to allow for a smooth transition).

For the surface-mounted installation, you initially see about 30 cm (12 inches) of window frame at the top – which is probably not desirable. Therefore, this area is usually covered again with drywall or similar materials, possibly with corner beads, and then plastered. Alternatively, a wall lintel can be planned there from the beginning.

The final result should look the same (visually).

Addendum: It’s best to request a detailed drawing or section of the window (possibly just a sample). This way, you can see exactly what they have planned and, if necessary, make corrections in case something doesn’t make sense visually or technically.