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I am wanting to move our front path and put a garden in front of these air vents. What would be the best way to protect water / dirt from going in?
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Kiki810. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about building a garden.
I am assuming the new garden area will replace the existing concrete and that the finished soil level will sit roughly in line with the base of the air vents. If that is the case, it is possible to install a garden there, but you do need to be quite careful. The soil level must never be higher than the vents, and it is also worth considering whether placing a garden directly against the house wall is the best long-term option for moisture management.
In terms of protecting the air vents themselves, they really need to remain fully open to do their job properly. Anything placed directly in front of them to stop water or dirt will also restrict airflow, which can lead to damp or mould issues under the house. Because of that, there is no product that can be added in front of the vents that will block debris while still allowing them to function as designed.
If you are set on having a garden in that location, the best practical approach is usually to space the garden bed slightly away from the wall so the vents remain clear and exposed. Even a gap of around 100 millimetres can make a big difference and help prevent soil and mulch from washing into the vents during heavy rain. Alternatively, if the vents must be covered or removed, they would need to be blocked up properly and replaced with new vents elsewhere to maintain the same level of subfloor ventilation.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
