I need some ideas on how to cover up old floor registers. Thanks.

Question

Help me with this, they do not work and l do not have any of the existing flooring to cover them up.

27524803 · Answer

Is there a place you can steal them from like a closet or under cabinets... if the floors are hard wood... some salvage stores carry planks that are similar in size so the new planks can be 'laced' in with the old... the finish can be matched, or the floor sanded and refinished to be consistent thru out.

Mogie · Answer

Hubby used our old floor vents as templates to make covers out of wood. They are solid and very easily painted to whatever color you want. Also no air leakage or bugs that come thru.

Andy · Answer

Pat · Answer

When you say they do not work....do you mean no heat comes up or cold air goes down? Both important for furnace to work (we put in a new furnace this year and had to add some cold air registers). How about a throw rug over the register and a small ottoman or bench on top....depends a lot on where the registers are.

2dogal · Answer

My first question is why do they not work?? that needs to be addressed and resolved before anything else is done.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

First off do you need them to work

William · Answer

They put in a new furnace but that doesn't change the operation of the registers. Are the registers still connected to the ductwork? Did the installers do more than just replace the furnace? I wouldn't mess with them until I was sure they weren't needed. I installed many furnaces in my day and never did it affect registers in any way.

Flipturn · Answer

There are many places where you can purchase new replacement covers for floor vents- yes on eBay, in hardware stores, even Walmart sells them.

Are you looking for new replacement vent covers or are you asking for ideas on coverings that are not vents?

When you said that these old vents 'no longer work' this is a red flag that something is clearly not right with your new system. This needs to be addressed first and foremost before anything is done to change any covers.

LaLa · Answer

They put in new registers and left the old ones. They are not connected to the duct work, odd l know. They are an eye sore and trying to find a way to cover them until l can afford new flooring.

William · Answer

OK. Use Mogie5757 suggestion. Use the registers as a templates to make wood covers. If you want the covers to be flush with the rest of the floor. Measure the hole opening and cut boards to fit. Use some thinner boards in the hole to support the cut to fit boards.

V Smith · Answer

I would pull them out and paint them the same color as the flooring.

Flipturn · Answer

Oh My Gosh!

I never would have believed it if you had not posted the picture. I would think that for the amount of time and effort someone took to fit in both covers this way, they could have just done it correctly in the first place. Thanks for sharing what not to do.

Flipturn · Answer

You already said that you do not have any spare flooring that matches, but I am wondering if you could take a couple of pieces from an area that seldom shows, such as under a large piece of furniture, in a closet, or similar?

Take both covers out. Use the 'borrowed' pieces of flooring to cover up the hole from the old vent. Then purchase a new attractive vent cover to go over the new hole.

Caryn · Answer

I'm facing this problem, too. They put the working ones in the floor, so the non working ones are in the wall. I have one in a bathroom in the pretty tile that I need to cover. :(

Deb Coleman · Answer

I have a similar problem. I have a poorly patched vent hole in my original oak flooring. I'm concerned that the oak patch may come loose if it is stepped on or a chair leg slides over it. Currently the oak patch is in tack. I have been looking for a sturdy metal vent cover. However, all vent covers I have found have the shaft on the bottom side that would slip into the floor duct opening. I need something that is sturdy and completely flat on the underside - just to lay on top of the patched area. I understand that the rectangle will need to be larger than the exact opening and I will secure the cover with screws to hold it in place. This vent hole is not in an area that could be covered with furniture. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I need some ideas on how to cover up old floor registers. Thanks.

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I need some ideas on how to cover up old floor registers. Thanks.

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