Retractable Security Grilles vs Roller Shutters

Retractable security gates slide from side to side by hand. They are locked using a key with a dead lock or slammed closed with a slam lock. Retractable gates have a bottom track for extra strength and easy sliding. You can see through the gates when they are closed and locked.

By contrast, roller shutter doors glide up and down inside side guides. They can be automated and operated at the touch of a button. They do not need a bottom track. You can't see through locked down shutters unless some of the solid slats have been replaced with punched viewing panels.

Retractable security gates and roller shutter doors both provide excellent protection so to help decide which is best for you.

Being able to sit out on a patio, enjoying fresh air and sunlight, is one of the great joys of living in a warm country like South Africa. But they can also be an easy access point for criminals, especially if we're prone to leaving doors and windows open, as most of us are. There is a solution: patio security gates that suits your lifestyle as well as your pocket.

Whether it's a petty thief looking to steal small electronic devices or home invaders with more serious intentions, a security barrier is a cost-effective way of keeping them out and you safe inside your entertainment zone, whether it's:

A ground or first floor apartment balcony

A large suburban patio leading onto a garden

A small patio off a simplex or duplex in a house cluster

A home on a golf or eco-estate with a patio that shows off the view

Or a home inside a gated community

Even if you have a burglar alarm, you still need physical barriers around your patio area. This is because most of us switch our alarms off when home, and this is when criminals will try their luck at your home.

Prior to the start of the lockdowns due to Covid-19, the most common times for criminals to attempt a break-in was between 5.00am and 9.00am in the morning and between 5.00pm and 9.00pm at night. This was because people were home, doors and windows were open, and alarms switched off.

With less strict lockdowns in place and more people working from home, these break-in opportunities have broadened as we have become less vigilant about home security, being at home all day.

The most practical solution to improving security at these times is to fit physical barriers to entry, meaning gates on exit doors, burglar bars on windows, and something to block access from the patio.

There are many different patio security designs to choose from, so let's consider two of the most popular options, sliding security gate and roller shutter doors, both made by Trellidor.

Sliding Security Gates:

Steel and aluminium sliding security gates are a cost-effective answer to home safety, particularly if you have a spacious patio. This is also known as expandable security because the gates stack neatly to the side when you don't need them, and then expand when you slide them closed along a bottom track.

Sliding gates can be fitted to just about any size opening, from small city apartment balconies to large outdoor entertainment areas. They are an effective deterrent to criminals if they are good quality and will give you many years of protection.

Although slam lock security gates are available, they are not the best type of lock to choose. The benefit is that it locks automatically when you slam it shut. One of the dangers is that you can easily lock yourself out of your own house.

Also, it is exceedingly rare that you will need to slam your gate shut in the face of a criminal. They are more likely to have walked into your home through a door or security gate that has been left open.

A better option is a dead lock, which requires a key to open and close it. These lock securely with a single throw or turn of the key, locking in several places in the lock stile, not just in one place, adding to its strength.

This design is stronger design than a slam lock. No activation is needed to lock the gate and there is no danger of locking yourself out or of children accidently locking themselves in a room or outside the home.

In terms of appearance, you will be looking out through trellis-style bars when the gates are closed and locked, but it's a small price to pay for being safe. The gates can be opened when you want to get into your garden or pool area.

On the plus side, when the gates are closed and locked for safety reasons, you get great airflow through them. And if you have little dogs, they can generally squeeze through the bars to get in and out. Cut-out 'doggy doors' for bigger dogs are discouraged, however, as they weaken the gates and negate the product's guarantee.

Retractable or sliding gates can be livened up with a bit of colour, so they don't have to be white. Consider bolder options like black, aluminium or charcoal or perhaps a colour to match your door and window frames.

Trellidor sliding security gates are given an anti-corrosion treatment before they are powder coated in the colour of your choice. This extends their lifespan in all areas including the coast.

In summary, the benefits of picking retractable security gates for your patio are:

There are several different models to choose from in terms of strength and cost

They are cost-effective when you balance the cost of installing them against the many years they'll keep you safe

If custom-made, they provide a high level of protection when closed and locked

When fitted next to glass patio doors, the sliding security gates can be unlocked and opened for easy cleaning

Sliding gates do not require electricity so they're always there to protect you even during power outages

Roller Shutter Doors:

Roller shutter doors are made up of slats that roll up and down inside guides fitted into the wall. They roll up into a shutter box, completely out of sight when you don't need them. They are an excellent choice for patios for this reason because when rolled up, they completely reveal your view of the outside.

Trellidor Rollerstyle rolling shutters are made from aluminium and when automated, they open and close at the touch of a button. This makes them easy to use and convenient to operate.

They provide a complete lock-down when closed, providing a high level of protection. In the closed position, roller shutter doors protect you from wind and rain, which means that you can enjoy your outdoor area no matter what the weather.

Patio roller shutters made by Trellidor have the following benefits:

They are made from aluminium, so they're lighter than steel but still incredibly robust

They can be fully automated and controlled using hand-held remotes or a control panel fixed to the wall

They roll up into a neat, compact shutter box when not in use

They can be retrofitted

With forward planning for a new build or alteration, the shutter can be concealed in a wall or ceiling cavity so that the shutter is completely out of sight when rolled up into the shutter box

The shutters don't require much space as they slide up and down inside narrow side guide channels that can be recessed into the wall

No bottom track is necessary, so there is no cutting into the floor and no tripping hazard

Trellidor Shutters Prices:

Like all Trellidor security barriers, Trellidor Rollerstyle rolling shutters and Retractable security gates are custom-made to fit the opening and its specific requirements, so there is no standard price. Trellidor security barriers is available through Nolantrelli, and we will gladly measure the opening and give a quotation.

Louvre Shutters vs Roller Shutters

Louvre security shutter doors are all-in-one burglar proofing and blinds for windows and doors. They are made to match the format of the window or door, e.g. bi-fold glass doors will have bi-fold security shutters next to them for protection when closed. The shutters are usually fitted internally and are locked with a key.

Roller shutter doors are similar in that they are also an all-in-one barrier. They provide burglar proofing and cover the doors or windows when closed. They are different in that they roll down from a shutter box to lock down the opening, either internally or externally. They can be motorised for remote control.

Louvre security shutter doors and roller shutter doors both offer a high level of protection, so to help you choose the best one for you.

Shutters are versatile, practical, and multi-purpose window coverings. The varied range of designs gives you the opportunity to choose the most suitable one for each room in a home or business premises. Here is a guide to security window shutters and roller shutters and which to select.

Security Shutters:

Louvre shutters have been around for decades and are used in most home styles, from French country to minimalist. In the past these shutters were purely decorative and often fitted externally.

But in more recent times they have had to be designed as security shutters to protect people inside their homes from intruders and are more often fitted internally.

Security shutters are made in different types of material, including aluminium, wood, MDF (medium-density fibreboard) and composites.

Most louvre shutters consist of an outer frame and adjustable horizontal slats. Some designs have a mid-rail halfway up the shutter. Others have no mid-rail and a more pleasing, uniform row of slats from top to bottom.

The louvres are operated in different ways to open and close them. Some have a rod to change the angle of the louvres and some louvres are simply tilted by hand.

Aluminium window louvre shutters are one of the most popular choices of material because:

They can be designed with hidden, internal strengthening mechanisms to create a strong security shutter

They are low maintenance and easy to clean

They are lockable for added security

They can be manufactured for just about any window style

They replace blinds, burglar bars and curtains in one product

They allow you to adjust the light in a room by tilting the louvres

They provide the level of privacy you need in each room

They can be installed in coastal as well as inland homes

Trellidor manufacture two types of louvre security shutter. One is a premium, high security window shutter with in-built strengthening features and a patented locking system. It is ideal for free-standing homes, business premises or any other location where crime is a constant threat.

These louvre shutters can be closed and locked to stop intruders from getting inside through the windows. One of their greatest benefits is that by tilting the louvres of the locked shutters, fresh air and light stream into the room and there is a view of the outside.

The Trellidor Estate shutter looks very similar to the premium version, but at a lower price point. It also has in-built strength and a patented lock but does not provide the same level of strength as the premium security shutter.

This louvre shutter is an excellent option for windows in homes in gated communities or secure housing complexes and upper storey windows in houses or apartments.

Both these designs are beautifully streamlined with no external clutter like rods or mid-rails because the louvres are easily tilted by hand. They can be powder coated to complement any décor colour palette, with the most popular colours being white and charcoal.

Why you should select louvre shutters:

It's a cost effective, all in one replacement for curtains, blinds, and burglar bars on windows

They're perfect for windows in estate homes with strict rules prohibiting burglar bars and other visible security measures

Using them on entertainment area doors and windows allows you can tilt the louvres to control light, airflow, and visibility

To create excellent "street appeal" for your home and increase its value

Suitable for low to high risk locations

Roller Shutters:

Roller shutter doors can be fitted to windows or doors. In countries like America they are fitted to the outside of homes to protect them against heavy storms and are called storm shutters. As the name 'roller shutter' suggests, these shutters roll down when you need to use them and roll up when you don't.

In other countries like South Africa, this type of product is used as security roller shutters. They are made from either steel or aluminium. The steel versions are often used to protect shop fronts on streets and in shopping centres.

Aluminium is the material of choice for homes because it is lighter in weight and less noisy when it is moving up or down. These sliding door rollers roll up into a shutter box at the top of the window or door, out of sight until you need them.

Roller shutter doors are popular because:

Aluminium security roller shutter can be fitted to coastal homes as well as inland ones

The shutters can be fully automated and controlled using hand-held remotes or a control panel fixed to the wall

Automated shutters can be integrated into a Smart Home Central Control System

They roll up into a neat, compact shutter box when not in use

They can be retrofitted

With forward planning for a new build or alteration, the shutter box can be concealed in a wall or ceiling cavity so that the shutter is completely out of sight when rolled up into the shutter box

The shutters don't require much space as they slide up and down inside narrow side guide channels that can be recessed into the wall

Trellidor manufactures a variety of roller shutter door sizes and designs. The choice of security roller shutters includes a Lockdown Shutter that has a unique, non-mechanical way of locking down so that it is secure even during power outages.

There are other design options and Trellidor has installed both internally and externally to doors and windows of all types.

The strength of these shutters makes them ideal to create a 'safe zone' in your home. To do this, a roller shutter is installed in the passage or stairway to stop anyone getting into the bedroom area.

The same roller shutters can be fitted to any other external doors in your safe zone as well as to all the windows. Roller shutters on windows block out intruders, but they also open to provide an escape route in an emergency like a fire or a break-in.

Why you should select roller shutters:

To protect your family against intruders in medium to high crime risk neighborhoods and cities

They're a good choice to protect windows, patios, and doors that lead from the garage directly into the home

They add an additional layer of security to front and back doors

Install these shutters on all doors and windows to lock down permanent or holiday homes when unoccupied

Used around patios, they creat great flow between your living and entertainment area, and they shut out the unwanted so that you can use it more often

Still unsure whether to use security shutters or roller shutters? Visit our Nolantrelli Limited offices to see both types and ask questions to help you make up your mind. 

Or request one of our consultants to visit you, do an assessment of your home / property and give you expert advice as to which type of shutter will work best.