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How to repair air vent?

Jeto
Just Starting Out

How to repair air vent?

I am about to move into a ground-floor flat, and it has these wall vents. It's an old building

Jeto_0-1762915309322.png

But in one of the bedrooms, they have poorly plastered over one of them, which has caused that plaster to crack and crack along the wall as it has retained moisture. Luckily, no mould!

 

After I remove the patching plaster or whatever they have used to cover it, if there isn't a vent there anymore, are these plates that are still available, or are they just carved into the plasterboard itself?

EricL
Bunnings Team Member
Bunnings Team Member

Re: Repairing air vent

Hello @Jeto 

 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your air vent.

 

I'm afraid the photo you've posted is too small and all the detail has been lost. Generally speaking, the plaster wall can be fixed and if the old patch that was placed on the wall is not compatible, it's highly probable that it can be removed and replaced with proper plaster repair filling. In regards to the vent cover, if it is a standard size then it would be possible to replace it or at least find one that is very similar to its size.

 

In order for us to provide you with a comprehensive recommendation, can you please post a larger photo of the vent along with a photo of the damaged section of the wall? Once our members see it, they will be able to offer suggestions on how to proceed.

 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

 

Eric

 

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Jeto
Just Starting Out

Re: Repairing air vent

The picture is just an example of the vent.

I don't have any full sized quality images unfortuantely, but the image on the far right is where the vent has been completely patched over and then painted and as you can see, cracks have developed because the vent was covered poorly and shouldn't have been patched up in the first place.

Jeto_0-1763089032650.png

Question is probably more, are those vents in my first picture, a plaster plate that is set into the plasterboard, or is it something else?

 

I can attach more pictures once I clear off the cracked and damaged plaster over the vent.

JacobZ
Bunnings Team Member
Bunnings Team Member

Re: Repairing air vent

Hi @Jeto,

 

Those vents, if they are what I think they are, are usually just slots cut into the plasterboard.

 

Once you've cleared them up, we can have another look, but it is almost certainly going to be easier to just cut a hole and attach a Wall Vent.

 

The alternative is to patch everything up and then cut slots in the new plasterboard, which is going to be a fair bit more work than just adding a vent.

 

 Let me know if you have any further questions.

 

Jacob

 

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