Laying Laminate Around Heater Vents

Turn the screws holding the heater vent in place counterclockwise with a Phillips screwdriver until they pull from the vent-mounting flange. Pull the screws from their position. Set them in a safe place.

Pull the heater vent straight up until the lower flange is clear of the floor opening. Set the vent aside.

Install the laminate flooring until you reach the opening for the heater vent. Ensure the last piece of flooring does not cover any part of the hole. Measure the distance from the leading edge of the floor and the edge of the opening with a tape measure. Deduct 1/8 inch from the distance. Measure the distance from the end of one wall to both sides of the opening. Deduct 1/8 inch from the lesser measurement and add 1/8 inch to the larger measurement.

Mark all measured lengths on a length of laminate flooring. Cut along all marked lines with a jigsaw. Do not ruin the piece of flooring by cutting past the marks. Install the cut piece on the floor. Measure the distance from both walls running perpendicular to the installed laminate to the nearest notch in the last piece of installed flooring.

Cut two pieces of laminate to length with a power miter box. Install both pieces of flooring. Repeat the process until the heater vent opening is surrounded by laminate flooring.

Slide the heater vent into the opening. Secure a 1/8-inch drill bit into a drill. Drill a hole at each opening on the top vent mounting flange. Run one screw through each drilled hole, by turning the screws clockwise with the Phillips screwdriver.