Air conditioning registers are the termination point of the HVAC system. The grills and registers are the only portion of the HVAC system seen within your home. Mastering the art of installing a register in a finished ceiling will give you a better understanding of the installation process as a whole. You will then be able to adapt the installation process to new construction, which is less complicated, but uses many of the same techniques.
Instructions
1. Locate the center of the room that requires the register. Measure the length and width of the room. Divide each measurement by two to find the room's center-lines. Mark both center-lines on the drywall ceiling.
2. Mark the length and width of the register outlet opening using the room center-lines as the center-lines for the register. Scan the marked area with the stud finder. If you locate a ceiling joist within the register location, move the location 2 inches to the side of the joist.
3. Layout the cut lines for the register with the framing square. Insert the keyhole along one side of the air conditioning register opening. Cut along the line. When you reach the corner, re-insert the keyhole saw to cut the next line. Continue to cut until the drywall is free from the ceiling.
4. Climb into the attic. In the attic you will need the grill box, light gauge angle, aviation snips, tape measure, permanent marker, drill with the 9/64th drill bit, #2 Phillips screw tip, pop-rivets, pop-rivet gun, and 2 inch wood screws.
5. Lay the grill box in the joist cavity, over the hole you cut in the ceiling. Measure the distance between the ceiling joists. Measure in from the end of the angle 1 1/2 inches and place a mark. With the aviation snips, cut one side of the angle from the angles raw edge to the angle's bend. Place the end of the angle with the cut against the joist. Press against the joist with the angle. The angle will bend closed. Measure over from the closed end.
6. Place a mark that is equal to the distance between the ceiling joists. Place another mark 1 1/2 inches past that mark. Cut off the excess angle with the aviation snips. Perform the same procedure to close the end of the angle as described earlier. Make a second angle in the same fashion as you fabricated the first angle.
7. Align the angles on either side of the grill box. Mark the location of the grill box on both angles. Use the locking pliers to secure the angles to the grill box. Drill two holes in each angle, 1 inch in from each end of the grill box and 1/2 of an inch down from the raw top edge of the angle. Insert a 1/8th inch pop-rivet into each hole. Replace the assembly into the joist cavity. Secure the closed ends of each angle to the ceiling joists with the 2 inch wood screws.
8. Insert the grill into the hole in the ceiling from inside the room to be air conditioned. Drill a 9/64th hole at each hole in the register's mounting flange. Insert one of the supplied finish screws into each drilled hole. Tighten the screws with the Phillips screwdriver. Caulk around the register's flange with the latex caulk. Smooth the caulk with your finger to create a seamless finish appearance to the register.
Tags: aviation snips, ceiling joists, against joist, angle with, between ceiling