In part one we went through the things to check on your shutter after winter. If you have not read it, it is worth going back to have a look. In this second part we want to talk about what summer itself actually does to roller shutters, because it is not all rosy just because the frost has gone.
There is a common assumption that shutters have an easy time of it in summer. They have survived the worst of the weather, the temperatures are milder, everything should be fine. The reality is a bit more complicated than that.
Heat makes metal move
Steel and aluminium expand when they get warm. Everyone knows this in principle but the practical effect on a roller shutter is something a lot of people have not thought about. A dark-coloured steel shutter on a south-facing elevation can get extremely hot on a warm British day. Hot enough that if the installation was not done with the right tolerances, or if fixings have shifted over time, you start to notice the curtain binding in the guides or the shutter becoming stiff to operate during the hottest part of the afternoon.
If this only happens when it is very warm and then clears up in the evening, that is usually a sign of a tolerance issue rather than serious damage. But it is still worth having someone look at it, because binding under thermal stress will wear the guides and the curtain edges over time.
Longer days mean more opportunity for opportunists
This is not meant to be alarmist, but it is a real pattern. Warmer nights, more people out late, longer periods of activity in and around commercial areas. All of these things create more opportunity for opportunistic crime against businesses, and a shutter that is showing its age is a more attractive proposition to someone looking for an easy way in than one that is clearly in good condition.
If your shutter is more than ten years old, or if it has had damage repaired multiple times, it is worth thinking honestly about whether it is still providing the level of protection you are relying on. The shutters that get targeted are usually the ones that look like they might give way without too much effort. A well-maintained, high-quality shutter is a deterrent as much as a physical barrier.
We carry a range of insurance-approved and Secured by Design shutters, including the SecurityShield 3801 and the SecurityShield 7501, if you need something that meets specific insurance requirements or that carries police accreditation. They are not much more involved to install than a standard shutter and the peace of mind they offer is considerable.
The ventilation problem nobody wants to admit to
How many warehouses and workshops across the UK have their loading bay door propped open all summer for airflow? Quite a few, we suspect. It is completely understandable. Working in a hot, airless building is miserable and it affects productivity. But a propped-open shutter is not providing any security, and depending on what you are storing, it can also raise issues with insurance.
One of the better solutions to this is a vision or airflow shutter, specifically designed to allow air and light through whilst still acting as a physical security barrier. Our SecurityVision 900 roller grille is particularly good for this application. Air moves freely through the open profile, natural light comes in, and you can still lock up properly at the end of the day. It is not right for every situation, but for premises where the main driver for propping the door open is heat, it solves the problem properly.
Insects. A less glamorous but very real summer issue.
For food businesses, bakeries, warehouses with open access and anywhere that needs to maintain a clean environment, summer brings flies, wasps and all manner of unwanted visitors through any open doorway. If you are in food production or preparation, this is not just an inconvenience. It is a hygiene and compliance issue.
Our PVC industrial strip curtains are probably the most practical and cost-effective answer to this. They hang across the opening, allow people and forklifts to pass through without much difficulty, and create a physical barrier that insects largely cannot navigate. Combined with an existing roller shutter, they work very well and they are a fraction of the cost of other solutions.
Summer is actually a good time to get new shutters fitted
We say this not just because we want the business, but because it is genuinely true from a practical standpoint. Installation in decent weather is easier, faster and less disruptive. Our standard lead times are two to three weeks for supply and fit, and summer conditions mean our engineers can work more flexibly around your operating hours without battling the weather.
More importantly, if you get new shutters fitted in summer, you are set up properly before the autumn and winter arrive. New insulated shutters fitted in August are working for you by October when the heating goes on. There is no mad rush to get something sorted before winter sets in.
Give us a call
Whether you have spotted something on your existing shutters that needs looking at, you want to talk through options for a new installation, or you are just not sure where to start, we are happy to help. We cover the whole of the UK with regional teams in Scotland, the North, the Midlands, Wales and the South.
Phone us on 0800 133 7044, email sales@ddrollershutters.co.uk, or fill in the quote request form on our website. We will not give you the hard sell. We will just have a conversation about what you actually need.
