I need to block some floor vents

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › I need to block some floor vents

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MikeAqua

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#3500620 5-Jun-2026 15:20

johno1234:

Not an issue though. The only pencil sized gap is the floor register grilles. And Mickey ain't getting back out unless he can climb vertical smooth steel. And he can't eat through the ducting as it's steel too. I don't know when this system installed but looks pretty old, well more than a decade and no sign of rodents in it.

A mouse will climb vertical steel (unless it's polished), but not chew through it.

Mike

eracode

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#3500633 5-Jun-2026 17:18

People still over-thinking this thread. The OP has said what he intends to do - an eminently sensible solution - but people want to re-litigate it to second-guess him.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Handle9

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#3500636 5-Jun-2026 17:36

eracode:

People still over-thinking this thread. The OP has said what he intends to do - an eminently sensible solution - but people want to re-litigate it to second-guess him.

It’s a discussion. No one is being nasty or rude. What’s the problem?

eracode

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#3500644 5-Jun-2026 18:40

Handle9:

eracode:

People still over-thinking this thread. The OP has said what he intends to do - an eminently sensible solution - but people want to re-litigate it to second-guess him.

It’s a discussion. No one is being nasty or rude. What’s the problem?

No harm at all but it was pretty much settled until someone asked what he had actually done. Then it all kicked off again with the second-guessing.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Handle9

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#3500645 5-Jun-2026 19:05

eracode:

Handle9:It’s a discussion. No one is being nasty or rude. What’s the problem?

No harm at all but it was pretty much settled until someone asked what he had actually done. Then it all kicked off again with the second-guessing.

Doesnt that make it your fault for restarting the thread ;)

Kickinbac

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#3500647 5-Jun-2026 19:20

johno1234:

Kickinbac:

I would remove the redundant boots and ductwork, screw and glue a piece of ply from the underside then get another piece to fill the hole level with the floor. Some self leveling compound would sort any unevenness and gaps. Any unevenness can usually be felt through the carpet and underlay.

Anything you do should be sealed airtight as you will get a decent heating benefit from sealing the drafts properly. One thing is that those floors are appear to be nice native timber floors and one day someone may like to restore them so maybe think about that when filling them in and doing any further damage.

I know this is the home DIY selection but a handyman or builder would make short work of this and have it done in a few hours. There are lots of builders looking for work at the moment, work is quiet out there.

Or possibly find a young person willing to crawl around under the floor removing the boots and flexiduct. You'll probably find someone on local community facebook group. Once the boots are out of the way, the patching work becomes so much easier.

Someone else mentioned getting rid of the flexi too as this is a place for rodents to nest.

This is the proper way but... a lot of work for not much benefit unless the flooring is going to be uncovered and sanded. If I drop stiffened plates in before carpeting over it hasn't made any permanent change and if someone later pulls the carpet and wants to sand the T&G floorboards and repair the holes they still can.

Note: that the ducting is not flexible ducting. It is all custom cut and riveted rigid steel tube so a massive job to remove it. Currently there's no way for rodents to get into the ducting as there are the floor registers on all the outlets (which will be covered with plates) and the only inlet is from the furnace which has an inlet screen and filter.

Note: Only the bedrooms and office planned to be carpeted. We have already sanded and wax sealed the floors in the lounge, kitchen and hallway. They look really nice with the wax - it is a matte colourless product so just looks like the natural light colour. At the moment the grotty old floor registers are still staying there. The boots are blocked off from the ducting with insulation stuffed into them. They probably should be repaired with matching T&G but that's a bit of a job to find matching timber and fit it perfectly flush.

That must be a quality and/or very old underfloor heating install. I’ve seen a few in my time and never seen one without at least a metre or more of flexiduct to the grille!

Stick with your plan with the 1mm plate, it will most likely be fine.

You could pretty up the old grilles by replacing them with new. https://smooth-air.co.nz/floor-grilles

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

eracode

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#3500660 5-Jun-2026 20:57

Handle9:

eracode:

Handle9:It’s a discussion. No one is being nasty or rude. What’s the problem?

No harm at all but it was pretty much settled until someone asked what he had actually done. Then it all kicked off again with the second-guessing.

Doesnt that make it your fault for restarting the thread ;)

Absolutely. Maybe I should have PMed him.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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