Question about cutting carpet around a tricky floor vent

I was on a job in a 70s split-level last week and the floor vents were set at a weird angle, not square to the walls. I see guys just cutting a square hole and forcing it, which leaves gaps. I made a paper template of the vent shape first and transferred it, and the fit was perfect. How do you handle vents that aren't square?

3 comments

3 Comments

alice_barnes3526d ago

Smart move with the template. I've even traced the vent itself right onto the carpet backing before, works like a charm for those weird angles.

mark_fisher4826d ago

Wait, you trace the actual vent? Isn't that a bit much for a floor grate?

burns.brooke19d ago

And the paper template is exactly what I do too. On a house with diagonal hardwood that had these octagonal vents, I cut a rough square out of brown paper, laid it over the vent, and pressed around the edges to get the exact shape. Transferred it to the carpet back and cut it with a utility knife using a fresh blade. Came out cleaner than any square cut I've ever seen. Takes an extra five minutes but saves you from looking at a gap or a wrinkled corner for the next ten years.