How to Cut an Opening for a Register in a Tongue & Groove Floor
Tongue-and-groove flooring, also called strip flooring, is a common flooring made of solid oak, maple, fir or other woods. Duct work below the floor delivers air for heating or cooling to a room. A hole cut in the tongue-and-groove flooring and covered with a register allows duct work to feed air through the floor. Placement of the register is determined by the configuration of the duct work. Before cutting a hole in tongue-and-groove flooring for a floor register, you must determine the size and style of register by measuring the size of the air duct opening. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Straight edge
- Pencil
- Masking tape
- Electric drill
- Wood drill bit
- Electric jigsaw or reciprocating saw
- Vacuum
- Floor register
Instructions
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1
Determine the location of the air duct on the tongue-and-groove floor where the register will be located. If you do not know the location of the air duct, consult the floor plan. Move any furniture or floor covering out of the way so your work area is easily accessible.
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2
Measure the register to determine the size opening to cut in the tongue-and-groove flooring. The inside measurement on the register so that the lip fits into the hole is the size required. For example, if it is 10 x 4 inches, the hole will be 10 x 4 inches.
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3
Draw lines on the floor, using a straight edge and a pencil, in the configuration for the register hole.
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4
Place masking tape outside the pencil lines to cover at least six inches of flooring around the register hole. This will protect the tongue-and-groove flooring around the register.
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5
Drill a 1/2-inch pilot hole, using a wood drill bit, near any edge of the register hole you have marked with pencil.
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6
Saw, using an electric jigsaw or reciprocating saw with a fine wood blade, starting at the pilot hole. Saw along the pencil lines, moving slowly and carefully, until the entire area is cut out.
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7
Vacuum the sawdust. Remove the masking tape. Set the floor register into the hole.
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Tips & Warnings
The wood pieces cut out from the register hole may fall down through the floor; move or protect any items below your cutting area. If the hole is too tight to easily set the floor register, re-mask the area and trim larger as needed.
