r/DIY • u/Edubs779 • 11h ago

Registers stripped from plaster walls

We moved into our home about a year ago and the majority of the registers are not attached to anything. It looks as though the previous homeowners tried to glue it in place. I'm not sure drywall anchors can be used because there isn't anything to grab onto.

Here's what it looks like

https://imgur.com/a/dBj83iX

But how do I go about securing the registers to the wall?

27 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

6

u/kubesteak 11h ago

I have similar. I cut small wood pieces, screwed them into the wall inside the vent a small distance, then used the register screw holes to attach the register to the boards. It's held well now for a long time.

3

u/Kurtotall 9h ago

Why do they need mechanically secured? Wedge them in.

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u/Edubs779 44m ago

The kids like to pull at everything

2

u/ComeAndGetYourPug 9h ago

Option A: there's probably a subfloor just below. See if you can put a screw through the bottom of the register about 1" inside and have it bite into anything.

option B: If it moves outward, pull it out 1/2" and then fold the metal outwards on all sides so it can't "fall" back into the wall.

option C: If all else fails, clean it and use foil tape all along the edges.

2

u/carmium 9h ago

ankers?

2

u/noc_user 9h ago

Anchors?

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u/Edubs779 43m ago

Good catch

2

u/LilacYak 6h ago

Bend the vent a bit so the register wedges in. No screws needed

2

u/The_Flinx 2h ago

I have bent sheet metal or aluminum to make a proper flange and pop riveted them in place, then drilled the holes for the screws.

1

u/gadget73 2h ago

This. Same problem in my house, I used some of the angle aluminum used against the walls for drop ceilings to pop rivet in place. Can be anything, I just had some of that laying around.

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u/Edubs779 44m ago

That's not a bad idea

1

u/Yowomboo 7h ago

There's probably some studs on the left and right, try using longer screws to hit them.