Aluminum Roller Shutters in Alicante: Buying Guide and Care Tips

Buying aluminium roller shutters in Alicante seems easy until they throw four options at you and you’re none the wiser. I’d boil it down to three things: whether you want it thermal (foam-filled) or hollow, the type of operation (strap or motor), and how exposed your window is to sun and wind. If you live in a flat where the afternoon sun hits hard, the thermal option is noticeable: it reduces the heat coming in and also dampens street noise a bit. On the other hand, if it’s an interior window or one facing a patio, it might not be worth paying extra. And watch the measurements: if your shutter box is old, it may not accept “thicker” slats without rubbing; that’s where jams come from later on. Ask them to confirm compatibility with the box and the axle, not just the width and height. Real example? A neighbour in Elche replaced only the shutter and kept the old pulley: two months later, a frayed strap and it was time to call the technician again.

The big decision is usually this: do I stick with the belt or switch to a motor? If you use it twice a day and the window isn’t huge, the belt will do the job. But if you’ve got large patio doors (the kind that open onto the balcony) or someone at home has a dodgy shoulder, a motor is pure convenience. Now, don’t think of it as magic either: if the installer doesn’t set the end stops properly or the shutter runs stiff because of dirty tracks, the motor strains and won’t last as long. One practical detail: in humid coastal areas, check that the tracks and the axle are in good shape; salt air doesn’t forgive. And if you go for a motor, ask about the option with an emergency override (in case the power goes out). Sure, it doesn’t happen often, but the day it does, you’ll remember. Got kids? A real bonus of a motor is getting rid of the hanging belt, which ends up becoming a “toy” and eventually gets stretched out.

Maintaining an aluminum roller shutter is more about “five minutes well done” than big inventions. Every so often (especially after windy, dusty spells), lower the shutter halfway and wipe the slats and guides with a damp cloth; if there’s sand, the guide turns into sandpaper and then the squeaks start. Avoid pouring 3-in-1 type oil everywhere: it attracts dirt and in the end it works worse. Better a dry silicone spray lubricant—just a small amount and only on the guides (and with a piece of cardboard behind it so you don’t stain the wall). If you notice that when going up it gets “bitten” on one side, don’t force it: it’s usually a slightly bent slat or a misaligned guide. That’s where stopping in time saves you from snapping the strap or burning out the motor. Typical example: in a home in downtown Alicante, the shutter started making a “clack-clack” sound every morning; it was a loose slat that was hitting the shutter box. It was adjusted in 10 minutes, but if you leave it, you end up with a marked box and the shutter developing play.