Why choose a manual metal shutter?
Not every shopfront needs a motor. On a narrow opening — a newspaper kiosk, a covered-market stall, a small town-centre boutique, a stockroom or a back-of-house doorway — a manual metal shutter has some decisive advantages: no electrical connection to plan, no motor to break down, a lower purchase price and a remarkable working life when the mechanism is properly set up. It is also the perfect answer for premises with no power supply on the façade, a common situation in Paris's covered passages and in the market halls of the Greater Paris region.
Store Xpress designs every manual closure to measure after a precise site survey, then handles the complete installation: removal of the old equipment where needed, fixing of the side guides and roller shaft, fine adjustment of the spring balance and handover of the keys. We work on new fit-outs and replacements alike — in Paris, Montreuil, Asnières-sur-Seine, Corbeil-Essonnes or Rambouillet — and are just as comfortable dealing with an independent shopkeeper as with the fit-out contractor of an international brand.
Direct pull or spring-assisted: two mechanisms
The direct-pull shutter
This is the most stripped-down version: the curtain winds around a free-running shaft and is moved by hand, with a pull strap or a pole. With no spring or winch, there is almost nothing that can fail. The system suits low, narrow openings — in practice up to about 1.80 m with a light curtain — such as serving hatches, takeaway counters and service windows.
The spring-assisted manual shutter
As soon as the curtain grows, its weight becomes impossible to lift unaided. The spring-assisted shutter houses calibrated torsion springs inside the winding shaft that counterbalance the weight of the slats: the shopkeeper simply guides the movement and the mechanism does the rest. Properly balanced, a curtain of 8 to 10 m² can be operated with one hand. It is the standard for shopfronts up to roughly 3 metres wide; beyond that, or if you open and close several times a day, we will steer you towards an electric shutter installation instead.
Slats, dimensions and finishes
- Solid galvanised steel slats: the most common and most resistant option, 6 to 8 tenths of a millimetre thick, for complete concealment of the window.
- Micro-perforated slats: they let light — and the eye — through to your window display, and remain compatible with manual operation on smaller widths.
- Rolling security grille: lighter than a solid curtain, it makes spring operation easier and suits businesses that want to stay visible at night.
- Dimensions: we manufacture to the centimetre, typically from 0.80 m to 4 m wide and up to 3 m high for comfortable manual operation.
- Finishes: raw galvanised steel, powder coating in the RAL colour of your façade, reinforced bottom slat with end stops and pull handles.
Planning a manual shutter for your shopfront?
Free on-site survey and a detailed quote within 24 hours.
Fixing and locking: the details that make the difference
The strength of a manual closure owes as much to its installation as to its curtain. Our technicians match the fixing method to the wall behind it: chemical anchors in the dressed stone or old brick of Parisian buildings, bolted plates on concrete, reinforcement on lightweight structures. The side guides are sized with enough overlap to resist being prised out, and the shaft is mounted on end plates built to take years of daily cycles.
On the locking side, several levels of security are available: key-operated side bolts passing through the guides, a central lock recessed into the bottom slat with a European cylinder, or a combination of the two for higher-risk trades. We can also fit ground anchor rings for high-security padlocks and match key sets if you run several closures. After installation, every shutter is tested through full cycles and the spring balance is finely adjusted: a curtain that is hard to lift, or that creeps up on its own, is a curtain that has been badly set up.
Indicative prices for a manual metal shutter, fitted
The budget depends on the dimensions, the slat type and the level of locking. As a guide, supplied and fitted in Île-de-France:
- Direct-pull shutter for a hatch or small opening: €900 to €1,500.
- Spring-assisted shutter with solid slats for a standard shopfront: €1,400 to €2,500.
- Manual rolling grille: €1,600 to €2,800 depending on the mesh.
- Options: additional central lock €120 to €250, RAL powder coating €150 to €400.
These ranges include removal of the old closure where necessary. The quote issued after our technical visit is firm and itemised, line by line. And if your business grows, remember that a well-installed spring-assisted shutter can later be fitted with a motor without replacing the curtain — one more reason to get the initial installation right. Finally, think about an annual service: lubrication and spring checks will keep the shutter running smoothly for fifteen to twenty years.
Our installation method, step by step
Step one, the free technical visit: laser measurement of the opening, examination of the lintel and reveals, choice of winding direction (inside or outside) and locking options. Step two, made-to-measure manufacture of the curtain and shaft, taking one to two weeks depending on the finish. Step three, installation in half a day to a full day: fixing the brackets, mounting the shaft and springs, clipping the slats, fitting the side guides, adjusting the tension and testing. We leave the site clean and take the old equipment away. This organisation lets us equip a boutique in the Marais just as neatly as a workshop unit in Créteil, Trappes or Villepinte, with the same standard of finish.
Frequently asked questions about manual metal shutters
What is the maximum size for a manual metal shutter?
With well-balanced spring assistance, you generally stay under 4 m wide and 3 m high — around 10 to 12 m² of curtain. Beyond that, the weight makes manual operation a chore and an electric motor becomes the sensible option.
How long does the installation take?
Half a day for a straightforward opening, a full day if we have to remove an old closure or make good the wall. Made-to-measure manufacture takes one to two weeks beforehand.
Is a manual shutter less secure than an electric one?
No: resistance to forced entry depends on the curtain, the side guides and the locks, not on how the shutter is operated. A manual shutter with solid slats, a central lock and side bolts protects a small shopfront very effectively.
Can my manual shutter be motorised later?
Yes, in most cases. If the shaft and curtain are in good condition, we add a central motor to the existing shaft with a key switch or remote control, without replacing the whole closure.