The garage door market is saturated with roller shutter doors, but there is a big difference in how secure they are based on the thickness of the materials used and if the product chosen is correctly fitted. Although a 55 mm variation might be streamlined for storage when the garage door is open, in reality this type of security roller shutter is not likely to keep your possessions safe. Find out more about what you should consider when looking for security roller shutter doors for your property.
A Quality Survey and Skilled Fitter Really Matters
Any garage door needs to be measured accurately to fit correctly and installed to a high standard using the suitable fixtures and fittings to ensure the finish not only looks great, but also does not compromise your security.
Failure to install roller shutter doors correctly equates to poor security, even if a leading, top product has been chosen.
How and where the roller shutters are located in the garage is important and can have an impact on the security. For example, the frame could be fitted in between the garage opening which makes it easier to break in from the sides, however if the frame is behind the opening it is much harder to get in to. The value in choosing a trusted and experienced installation firm is that you will have access to their expertise and make sure your investment in premium garage doors pays off.
Remember if the garage has no other access, you will need an external manual override mechanism, and this will be key locked but also causes a vulnerability. At Freelance Entry Solutions, we can upscale the security on the roller shutter door by adding extra locking and using stronger slats, this can all be discussed with the surveyor.
"Due to our long-standing relationship of over 25 years, alongside being an approved installer of our products, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Freelance Entry Solutions"
Sarah Cooper (SWS UK - Customer Relations Manager)
Roller shutter garage doors are easy for thieves to attack and can even be lifted from the bottom. However, there are high quality options and thicker aluminium options on the market from industry leaders such as SWS, which will bolster your security levels, and our close relationship with SWS and in depth product and installation knowledge perfectly place us to help with the installation of their roller shutter security measures.
Considerations When Purchasing Roller Shutter Doors
We have outlined the other elements, aside from fitting, that you should consider when choosing shutters for your garage.
Garage Door Slats/Curtain
Roller shutter door security starts with the thickness of the slats, and for customers looking to keep opportune criminals at bay, 77 mm slats are the way to go. 55 mm roller shutters may be more compact and tucked out of the way, but they offer limited security. Slat thickness is another consideration, and roller products may look the same but two lathes from two manufacturers can vary entirely. We have chosen to supply and fit roller shutter garage doors from leading security and garage suppliers SWS and Hormann have done so for over 25 years, because we want to supply our customers only with industry leading products.
Roller Shutter Door Guides
Extruded aluminium guides vary in sizes, dependent on the slats and the width and height of the door. If you have a flimsy slat and a slim line guide it is much easier to penetrate the door. The standard door comes with a 60 mm guide but can be upgraded to a 75-90 mm guide, which provides much more security.
Roller Shutter Locking
The most crucial component but often overlooked, the collars. An aluminium locking collar provides higher security locking, and physical locking can close on the curtain when using the SWS roller door. Most other manufacturers use a plastic locking mechanism, but the aluminium top collar is best for locking, and is of course used by SWS and by our installation teams.
Most of the security roller shutter doors we sell are automated for domestic use. When it comes to roller automation, reputable manufacturers will have rolling code handsets to ensure that the duplication of coding is far more difficult.
Curtain End Locks
Hormann use end locks which consist of having a plastic end cap on every other slat, as shown in the video below, making it a lot harder to remove the slats when they have the end locks. Slats and how they are held together is an important factor when considering a roller door. Industry leaders SWS use a webbing on the slats, as this provides quieter moving and better protection for the door.
Watch the SWS Garage Door in Action
Ready to Beat the Burglars?
Hopefully the video and information about the features of what makes a roller garage door secure have highlighted what to consider before purchasing a new garage door. Below we have addressed some other common questions about garage doors.
Are Roller Shutter Doors Secure?
As we have outlined above and the SWS video highlights, the construction and quality of the roller security shutter determines how secure your property is, but if you choose the right product, and opt for a secure by design product, then roller garage doors are secure. Crucially, the survey and installation need to be up on point to make sure the product can perform to the best of its ability.
How Much is a Roller Shutter Door?
Prices of the SWS SecuroGlide original door start from £1780+ VAT and there is a whole range of colours, finishes, accessories and more to choose from. Our team will be more than happy to discuss pricing, security and any other questions you have, plus come and visit your home or business to assess what the best option might be for your requirements.
What is the Best Garage Door for Security?
Any product which is secure by design is a fantastic option, and we have various garage doors to choose from in our showroom that are not only great on security, but complement the look of your property. There are so many factors involved when looking to choose a secure garage door, such as budget and the amount of space available, but at Freelance Entry Solutions we are confident our experts will provide you with the perfect Freelance Entry Solution whether you go for a roller shutter, trackless, sectional, side sliding, side hinged or anything else.