PSA: The way you cut around a floor vent can make or break a job

I keep seeing installers, even some with years under their belt, just freehand cut the carpet around a floor vent with a knife. They make a quick X and call it good. I learned the hard way on a job in Tempe that this leads to fraying edges and a loose fit over time, especially with plush piles. Now I use a template cut from cardboard to trace a perfect square, then slice just inside the lines. It adds maybe 90 seconds per vent, but the finished look is crisp and it prevents callbacks. My old boss in Phoenix would dock your pay if you didn't template vents. What's the standard in your area, do you template or just go for it?

3 comments

3 Comments

clark.morgan19d ago

Your old boss in Phoenix docking pay is wild. How many vents on a typical job would you say that 90 seconds per vent actually adds up to?

claire_gibson19d ago

Let's do some quick math. A normal house has what, maybe 10 to 15 floor vents? That's already over 20 minutes of unpaid work right there. He was basically getting a free lunch break out of my day for wiping dust off a register. Pretty sure that's the real crime, not my speed.

wells.olivia18d ago

Wasn't it like 20 vents on a normal house?

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