Replacing roller shutter tape

Do you have a manual roller shutter, but is it no longer functioning properly? Then it is probably time to replace the roller shutter strap. Ties and ribbons of roller shutters are essential for proper operation and allow you to move the shutters up and down. As a result of wear and tear, you sometimes need to replace the roller shutter ribbon. Read all about how that works, what to look out for and what you pay for shutter ribbon replacement here.

What does it cost to replace a shutter tape?

Shutters are essential for security, shading, insulation and privacy. It is therefore best to have a faulty pull-up belt fixed quickly. This will cost around £50 to £100. Since repairing the existing roller shutter tape is not an option, you need to replace it in its entirety. Check out the average prices of different roller shutter repairs below.

When should you replace a shutter tape?

A shutter pick-up tape generally lasts a long time. Therefore, there is no set number of years in which you should replace roller shutter tape. How often you need a new tape depends mainly on whether you lower and raise a shutter daily, for example. Furthermore, the frequency of use is usually not the same for all shutters in a home. It depends, among other things, on where the shutters are located and whether they have a solar, insulating or security purpose.

It therefore hardly ever happens that all shutter ribbons need replacing at the same time. Although you can of course assume that the bands of anti-intrusion shutters that you open and close every day wear out at about the same rate. You can recognise wear on the pull-up ribbons because they get cracks, frayed edges and other minor damage. Once you have noticed this, it is a good idea to check the wear marks on the roller shutter ribbons regularly. Ideally, you should avoid breaking a ribbon before replacing it.

How does replacing a roller shutter ribbon work?

Fitting a new ribbon for a roller shutter involves a lot of work. It is not a job you just do overnight, as it has to be done right the first time if possible. Hiring a specialist is therefore no luxury. Especially if it involves roller shutters on the first floor or at a greater height. When replacing a roller shutter tape, the specialist follows the steps below:

1. Roll the shutter all the way down
2. Make the shutter’s strap winder open with a screwdriver
3. Fix the retractor in the strap winder, e.g. with a locking screw
4. Loosen the roller shutter ribbon from the roll-up wheel
5. Remove the front cover of the roller shutter and disconnect the leaf springs
6. Fasten the new roller shutter tape to the worn tape using staples
7. Pull back the existing tape from the outside, so that the replacement pull-up ribbon enters the system in the same way
8. Remove the old ribbon from the belt pulley and from the new roller shutter tape
9. Fasten the replacement ribbon to the belt pulley
10. Roll the new pick-up ribbon around the belt pulley several times by turning the axle. Allow part of the ribbon to hang under the strap winder, keeping 20 to 30 cm of slack
11. Retighten the leaf springs
12. Feed the strap through the strap winder of the roller shutter
13. Attach it to the wheel in the strap winder
14. Remove the locking screw of the retractor so that the roller shutter tape rolls itself up
15. Open the roller shutter by pulling the tape and check whether it also lowers smoothly

What should you pay attention to when replacing a roller shutter tape?

When replacing a roller shutter tape, you have several variants to choose from. It is therefore important that you use the right ribbon. If you outsource the roller shutter repair to a specialist, he will pay attention to this. Do you choose to carry out this project yourself? Then we advise you to take the tips below into account when buying a new roller shutter ribbon.

Length of a roller shutter ribbon

For the shutter to work properly, it is important that the replacement pull-up ribbon is the right length. Removing a worn-out tape and fitting a new one is done in one movement. Before replacing the roller shutter tape, it must therefore be clear that the new one is neither too long nor too short. As a general rule, the strip to be fitted should be 2.5 to 3 times the height of the roller shutter. Is the roller shutter fitted with a belt retarder? Then the pull-up tape should be 4 times the height of the shutter.

Width of a roller shutter tape

Roller shutter tapes can be bought in a variety of lengths. As described above, the height of the roller shutter determines how long a tape should be. The range includes roller shutter tapes in lengths of five, seven and 12 metres. In addition, it is possible to buy pull-up tape per running metre or in large rolls of, say, 50 metres. At least as important as the length is the width of the tape. Common widths are 14 and 23 mm. Make sure that the new ribbon is the same width as the worn one. Then you can be sure that it is suitable for the roller shutter’s belt winder.

Colour of the replacement roller shutter ribbon

Colour is also something to consider. Pick-up ribbons are available in white, beige, grey, brown and black, among others. Usually, people make their choice depending on the colour of the wall so that the pick-up ribbon does not differ too much from that. Of course, you can also go by the colour of the roller shutter.

Easy to fix roller shutter tapes

When replacing, the new tape must stay in place. This is why some professionals use a roller shutter tape with holes. Thanks to the holes, it is easy to attach the tape to the roller shutter’s belt pulley and belt winder.

Tips for replacing a roller shutter tape

• Prevent a twisted roller shutter tape:when fitting a new pull-up tape, it is very important that there is no twist in it. If it does, you need to loosen the tape again.
• Choose sturdy material: most roller shutter tapes are made of plastic or cotton. Are you going to replace a cotton roller shutter ribbon? Then consider a synthetic ribbon. This is because, compared to cotton, synthetic material has a significantly longer lifespan.
• Roll Shutter tape with practical controls: Want to make raising and lowering a shutter easier? Then have the roller shutter tape replaced with one with a plastic handle.
• Possibly switch from manual to electric:when your roller shutter tapes need replacing, you can take advantage of this to have electric controls installed. Electric roller shutters are more reliable when it comes to anti-burglary protection and can be automated by means of a timer.

Frequently asked questions