Fill gaps between the ceiling wall and vent unit

[jay97]

Hi Team,

I need help in covering the gaps between the vent unit and the ceiling wall (please see the attached photo of the bathroom vent).

So the issue is, the cealing hole is cut in a square but the vent installed is round in shape, due to which the hole has 4 corner gaps like seen in the photo circled in white. The reason we are trying to cover the gap is because I think next to our apartment the garbage chute runs and somehow at times the garbage smell comes through those gaps (I can feel the air coming from the 4 corners).

Also please note, i cannot do a permanent fix as am leasing the apartment, so any temp fix is really appreciated from anyone :). We just want the smelly air flow to stop from those 4 corner gaps.

Thanks much in advance.  

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @jay97,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

As it is a rental property, regardless of how practical what you are doing is, it will need to be removable.

So, with this in mind, I would recommend simply grabbing some white tape, such as this Norton Bear White Cloth Tape or this T-Rex White Ferociously Strong Duct Tape and using it to cover the gaps.

I imagine the cover plate would cover most of the tape, but being white, it will blend in relatively well.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[jay97]

Hi Jacob,

Thanks for your recommendation. Just a follow up question regarding the product recommendations. 

Yes ,even i felt tape is the only option as permanent is not possible on a leased property. I wanted to confirm 2 things on the product. 

1) will it withstand the humid air when the vent is on during hot water bath? Because hot water or hot vapor usually loosens the sticky glue? 

2) it should not be so strong that it rips the paint when we take it off.

Thanks again

[JacobZ · Accepted solution]

Hi @jay97,

Unfortunately, yes, tape adhesives will be affected in some way by heat and humidity, but unfortunately, that is a bit of an inevitability in this situation and is something you are just going to have to accept. Considering the exhaust should be removing the majority of the moist air, it shouldn't have a huge effect.

The cloth tape would be the better option of the two if you are concerned about it removing paint. It is still a strong tape, but not to the degree that it is likely to pull paint.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob