How do I fill and finish a wall vent?

andybookie

We have some old wall vents that are no longer required as we are getting new windows with vents.
How do I fill and insulate this big hole in the wall?
Hole is 6"x3" but area about the hole would be more like 8"x4".
Then how. Would you finish it nicely for painting?

andybookie

Image attached.

listermint

I wouldn't be filling them unless the window vents can give the same level of flow.

I've yet to see ones that do. Including the aluclad top spec in my last apartment.

Rubbish is an understatement.

Id out a slider vent on it. And close them for the moment

My Joe-Soap thought process would be perhaps some expandable foam, and then a bit of plasterboard over the hole? Use some filler on the screwholes?

You'd need someone clued into plastering, though (unless you could DIY it). You can get tubs of filler on amazon for small money:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ronseal-Multi-Purpose-Smooth-Finish-Percent/dp/B007DHSG5Y/ref=sr_1_6?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1541968778&sr=1-6&keywords=filler


But I dunno if you'd get away with covering a big hole using just that.


I used the expandable foam and Ronseal filler approach to fill in a hole on my wall, which was a light switch hole that was never used. Wasn't as deep as yours, or as big (typical light switch is what, 2.5 x 2.5 inch?) but it came out looking well.

andybookie

[Deleted User] wrote: »

My Joe-Soap thought process would be perhaps some expandable foam, and then a bit of plasterboard over the hole? Use some filler on the screwholes?

You'd need someone clued into plastering, though (unless you could DIY it). You can get tubs of filler on amazon for small money:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ronseal-Multi-Purpose-Smooth-Finish-Percent/dp/B007DHSG5Y/ref=sr_1_6?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1541968778&sr=1-6&keywords=filler


But I dunno if you'd get away with covering a big hole using just that.


I used the expandable foam and Ronseal filler approach to fill in a hole on my wall, which was a light switch hole that was never used. Wasn't as deep as yours, or as big (typical light switch is what, 2.5 x 2.5 inch?) but it came out looking well.

I understand. But how would I fix the plasterboard? I couldn't fox it to the foam and I can't fit it to the outside of the wall.

RobbieMD

andybookie wrote: »

I understand. But how would I fix the plasterboard? I couldn't fox it to the foam and I can't fit it to the outside of the wall.

I'd replace that vent with a better one. There's acoustic baffled ones or humidity sensitive ones or combinations of those. You don't even have the messy job of coring the hole out.

In my opinion trickle vents on windows are fine during the day, but as soon as the blinds and curtains are closed, there's no air movement at all.

Seve OB

RobbieMD wrote: »

I'd replace that vent with a better one. There's acoustic baffled ones or humidity sensitive ones or combinations of those. You don't even have the messy job of coring the hole out.

In my opinion trickle vents on windows are fine during the day, but as soon as the blinds and curtains are closed, there's no air movement at all.

have you a link to some better ones?
wouldn't mind putting some decent ones in myself

RobbieMD

Seve OB wrote: »

have you a link to some better ones?
wouldn't mind putting some decent ones in myself

http://www.newstar.ie/product/freshvent-100-thermo/

https://www.aereco.ie/product/eht/

Heat merchants are stockists of the aereco stuff

andybookie

andybookie wrote: »

I understand. But how would I fix the plasterboard? I couldn't fox it to the foam and I can't fit it to the outside of the wall.

Fair point. Unless you made a rectangle wooden frame and screwed to that.




If it was me, i'd fill with foam and use the ronseal filler. will take a bit of time doing it in small goes here and there, but it'd work well I'd say.


But I've never done it before.


I hate vents, personally (although I live in a noisy area), so I'd not replace it myself, but to each their own.

andybookie

Deleted User wrote: »

Fair point. Unless you made a rectangle wooden frame and screwed to that.




If it was me, i'd fill with foam and use the ronseal filler. will take a bit of time doing it in small goes here and there, but it'd work well I'd say.


But I've never done it before.


I hate vents, personally (although I live in a noisy area), so I'd not replace it myself, but to each their own.

While researching, I came across this video.
It seems you were right, however it is easier - you don't even need to muse plasterboard, simply polyfill over the foam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-nhZ63Qy-0

RobbieMD

andybookie wrote: »

While researching, I came across this video.
It seems you were right, however it is easier - you don't even need to muse plasterboard, simply polyfill over the foam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-nhZ63Qy-0

What's your wall build up? It looks like a very shallow depth cavity. Is it timber framed?

andybookie

RobbieMD wrote: »

What's your wall build up? It looks like a very shallow depth cavity. Is it timber framed?

8 inch deep - wha

RobbieMD

andybookie wrote: »

8 inch deep - wha

Have a look in the hole that's there now and try locate the studs, assuming it's timber framed.
If it is, you could trim back some of the plasterboard and using drywall screws, screw on some new plasterboard. Then fill and sand and decorate.

That'll still leave you with a vent on the outside that you might want to also block up.

My preference would be a new vent. Is it a bedroom?

andybookie

RobbieMD wrote: »

Have a look in the hole that's there now and try locate the studs, assuming it's timber framed.
If it is, you could trim back some of the plasterboard and using drywall screws, screw on some new plasterboard. Then fill and sand and decorate.

That'll still leave you with a vent on the outside that you might want to also block up.

My preference would be a new vent. Is it a bedroom?

It's an external wall, so no timber frames, just breeze/cinder blocks.

I don't think I need to block the vent on the outside of the building.
Once filled with expandable foam, i'll just leave it.
I'll ensure it doesn't expand out of the vent.

RobbieMD

andybookie wrote: »

It's an external wall, so no timber frames, just breeze/cinder blocks.

I don't think I need to block the vent on the outside of the building.
Once filled with expandable foam, i'll just leave it.
I'll ensure it doesn't expand out of the vent.

If it's a cavity wall, with the inner leaf being block work, you could mortar in a bit of block or soap bars and buy a bag of plaster to finish it. Won't cost more than €20 to do. Using foam you're gonna bridge the cavity and potentially introduce moisture to the inner leaf

andybookie

RobbieMD wrote: »

If it's a cavity wall, with the inner leaf being block work, you could mortar in a bit of block or soap bars and buy a bag of plaster to finish it. Won't cost more than €20 to do. Using foam you're gonna bridge the cavity and potentially introduce moisture to the inner leaf

I'm not sure why it would introduce moisture?
I am looking to follow this how to video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-nhZ63Qy-0

andybookie

andybookie wrote: »

While researching, I came across this video.
It seems you were right, however it is easier - you don't even need to muse plasterboard, simply polyfill over the foam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-nhZ63Qy-0

Yeah that video is pretty much exactly what I did, except I had to layer the filler on, and let it harden each time, so took me about 2 days.


Also, make sure you put the filler on so it sits proud of the wall a little. Gives you the chance to sand it back down flush to the wall have a smooth finish.




I didn't use plasterboard, but I just thought you might need something as your vent is a lot bigger than the plug socket I filled. Grand that you don't have to use it though. Should make it easier.

EDIT: Make sure you follow the masking tape advice in that video, though. And clean immediately anything that the foam gets on. It's an absolute nightmare to get off anything once it dries.