In comparison: internal roller blind vs. external roller blind

"Whether internal or external roller blinds - what's the difference?"

CONTENTS

1. Basic properties of a roller blind
2. Functionality
3. Design
4. Assembly
5. Conclusion
6. Differences at a glance

BASIC PROPERTIES

Whether inside or outside - a roller blind (not a roller shutter!) always has a fabric covering. It must be clearly distinguished from a conventional roller shutter with armour, a pleated blind or a Venetian blind. You can find out exactly what the differences are in our article Roller blind, Venetian blind, pleated blind, awning - the differences at a glance

FUNCTIONALITY

Heat protection

One of the most important functions of window shading is to keep your home cool in summer. Depending on the age and thermal insulation properties of the windows and façade, up to 80% of the total heat input into your home can come through the windows. In summer, this can lead to very hot temperatures. Suitable sun protection can reduce the room temperature by up to 8°C if suitable window shading is installed. Here, the external roller blind is clearly ahead - the internal roller blind, on the other hand, can even cause the room to heat up more than is the case without any roller blind.

Privacy screen

If you're not into exhibitionism, you should install a suitable privacy screen on your windows, especially in the darker months of the year. As soon as the light is on in your home and it is brighter inside than outside, prying eyes can easily explore the inside of your home. Both internal and external roller blinds offer a suitable remedy here. The only important thing is that the fabric is opaque. In technical jargon, this is referred to as a transmission of less than 1%!

Darkening

Whether it's a night shift, a party or binge-watching - if you don't get your sleep at night, you'll gladly get it during the day! To do this, it should be as dark as possible, otherwise the body won't produce melatonin, which is essential for restful sleep. The same applies here: pull down the blinds - whether indoors or outdoors. However, it should be a roller blind with side guide rails and it should be as close to the window as possible, otherwise a lot of light will still get past the side of the roller blind.

DESIGN

Tastes differ - it is therefore not easy to evaluate the design and appearance. We have tried to weigh up the objective criteria for and against internal and external roller blinds.

The fabric

There is a wide range of different fabrics for interior roller blinds, as the demands on the fabrics are also very low. You can order the colour or pattern of your choice at no extra cost. With external roller blinds, the choice is much smaller - here there are usually plain fabrics in inconspicuous colours. This point goes to the interior roller blind.

Cassette and handle moulding

The following applies to the cassette, shaft mounts and handle moulding: the more discreet, the more stylish. Internal roller blinds in particular have many plastic components that do not look very high-quality. As higher demands are placed on external roller blinds, the parts are usually of a higher quality - this contributes to a more stylish appearance. However, the general rule for roller blinds is: the more inconspicuous the better. Here, of course, the external roller blind has the edge, as it is usually not even noticeable from the inside!

ASSEMBLY

There are various types of installation for both internal and external roller blinds. Indoors, practical clamping or adhesive solutions are often used under the umbrella term of roller blinds without drilling. These have the advantage that no specialist is required and neither windows nor masonry are damaged. Generally speaking, it is much easier to install internal roller blinds than external roller blinds.
As a rule, external roller blinds must be installed using screws and plugs. In outdoor areas, the roller blinds are exposed to wind and weather and must withstand these loads for several years. As external roller blinds are of course also installed outside, scaffolding is often required for installation. Furthermore, either a 230V power connection must be available for the roller shutter motor or a hole must be drilled into the interior for the roller shutter belt. All this makes installation very time-consuming and should be carried out by a specialist. An exception here is the CLIP'N'SHADE external roller blind for clamping is shown. This can be easily ordered online and installed by yourself - without any drilling. It is mounted using a clamping system and therefore requires no drilling, plugs or screws.

CONCLUSION

Internal roller blinds are suitable for anyone looking for a design-orientated and less functional solution. However, internal roller blinds provide privacy protection just as well as external roller blinds - provided you buy the right blinds. Installation is relatively simple and high-quality internal roller blinds are available from around €30 per window.
The external roller blind is the comparison winner when it comes to heat protection and discreet appearance. Due to various standards (e.g. DIN 13561), external roller blinds are also generally of a higher quality in terms of quality and workmanship. However, you will have to dig a little deeper into your wallet. Except for few exceptions the installation should be left to a specialist.

TABLE: DIFFERENCES AT A GLANCE