So you’ve done installing your perfect hardwood flooring and feel like something is missing? Yes, the vents! Although most people don’t give them a second glance, they can make a huge difference in your house’s decoration.
Flush mount vents, in particular, can be your best choice to add glamour to your house’s interior design, conceal the unsightly air conditioning ducts in the floor, and balance your home’s temperature.
But what exactly are they? Why are they better than their self-rimming counterparts? And how to choose them? These are the questions we’re going to answer in this article, so keep reading while we give you some ideas to take your floor’s decoration to a whole new level. PS. Want to know if epoxy flooring can work for you? Click here.
Flush Mount Vents Explained
As you may already know, vents, in general, are a part of the HVAC system that controls the airflow throughout your home. They come in two types: self-rimming (drop-in) and flush mount (in-floor) vents.
The significant difference between them is that the former has a cover that sits on top of the surface while the latter acts as a part of the floor itself. In other words, self-rimming vents sit on an elevated level from the floor, usually less than one inch, while flush mount ones integrate into the floor and make the whole surface even.
However, both of them are used with wood floorings, which takes us to our next point.
Why Choose Flush Mount Vents?
Flush mount vents are more practical and generally more aesthetically pleasing. Think about it; would you like your floor to look all seamless and even or have bumps that get in your foot’s way? Flush mount vents sit firmly on your floor and blend with the surrounding wood.
You can arrange your furniture in the way you like without making an indecipherable map just to avoid putting a chair on the elevated rim of the vent.
Moving heavy furniture will be more comfortable, too, since you can push them on the floor without bumping them on the vent’s raised surface. And if you have children or older people in the house, you’ll be safer with flush mount vents since there will be nothing on the floor to trip or fall over.
What’s more, they’re super easy to clean. Unlike drop-in vents, which collect dust and grit under their elevated rim, flush mount vents are flat and even on the floor, so they don’t have crannies and nooks to trap dust.
Plus, if you want to clean the duct itself, you can slide and remove the tray easily to have better access to the duct opening. Another nice feature is that they often come with dampers, which allow you to open or close the flow of air.
Yet, their major pro for a hardwood owner is that they come in various finishes and materials to match your house’s decoration and style. You can get them in the same type of wood covering your floor, and even if you can’t lay your hands on the same wood species, you can get them in any material then stain and coat them to fit in with your hardwood floor.
But they’re not all pros. While they’re easy to install on a new hardwood floor, fitting them in an already existing floor requires professionals. Also, you’ll have to come to terms with the fact that you’ll have to drill holes in your expensive hardwood floor to install flush mount vents. Not to mention that they can add a burden to your wallet.
Factors to Consider Before Installing Flush Mount Vents
Since flush mount vents don’t come at low prices, you don’t want to end up with vents that don’t match your wood flooring or hold up for a couple of years, then become chipped and scratched.
To pick the right ones, you’ll have to consider their material, style, and size to blend in with your house’s style and complete the whole picture.
Type of Wood
One of the main reasons homeowners choose to cover their properties with solid wood floors is their durability. You want to find vents that match the strength of your hardwood floor. The best you can do is choose vents made from the same wood type as your floor to match the durability and grain pattern of the rest of the surface.
Whether you purchase new or old wood falls back to your preference. Normally, people pick new and shiny wood to embellish a new home. Antique wood is another cool choice if you want to add warmth and a soul to a house.
In all cases, make sure to match the finish of your floor. If your hardwood is sealed, make sure the vents you installed are sealed as well. This will make them easier to maintain and care for.
Color and Luster
Choosing appropriate colors for your vents is as crucial as selecting the material. Making them stand out much will take the eyes off your classy hardwood floor. Covering them in too plain colors will ruin the entire pattern of your house. Try to stay in between and match them with your house’s style, whether it’s conservative or nontraditional.
Also, ask yourself if you want your vents to look glossy or matt. Do you want them to match the luster of your hardwood floor, or prefer them dim?
Size
Finally, since flush mount vents fit in your floor, not above it, you should pay attention to their size. There are standard sizes on the market that range from 4”x10” to 6”x12”. If none of the standard sizes match your duct opening size, you can always order custom-made vents.
Footnotes
Flush mount vents have the upper hand when it comes to practicality. Yet, they can add pops of unique style to your living space if you choose them wisely. It’s the small details that make a design great, so make sure to choose vents of top-notch quality and style.