How to Finish the Ceiling Around Air Ducts

Covering a Correctly Sized Air Duct Hole

• 1

  Peel off the dust cover from the bottom of air duct after it is installed. Once the cover is removed, the air vent will be visible from inside the room.

• 2

  Place the air vent grille cover over the air duct opening in the ceiling. The grille is the decorative cover for the air vent, and it must be large enough to cover the entire air vent hole.

• 3

  Mark the screw holes for the air vent grille with a pen. Remove the grille.

• 4

  Drill holes into the ceiling drywall with a Phillips screwdriver or power hand drill.

• 5

  Twist drywall anchors into the screw holes. Then replace the grille and line it up with the inserted drywall anchors. Insert screws through the grille screw holes and into the inserted drywall anchors. The ceiling around the air duct is now finished.

Patching an Oversized Ceiling Hole

• 6

  Place the air vent grille cover over the hole. Determine how much of the hole you will need to patch so the hole doesn't exceed the length and width of the cover. Measure the length and width of the excess area that will need to be patched.

• 7

  Cut a piece of drywall with a utility knife that matches that length and width needed. Place the cut piece in the air vent hole to make sure it fits.

• 8

  Secure the patch to the joist with drywall screws. If the hole doesn't line up with a joist, use a utility knife to create a larger hole and patch that do line up with the joist. You can attempt to patch the hole without securing it to the joist if the patch is only a few inches in size: Apply a thin layer of joint compound over the borders of the patch and each adjoining piece of drywall. Smooth the compound with a drywall knife.

• 9

  Line the edges of the patch piece with drywall tape. Smooth the tape in place using a putty knife.

• 10

  Apply a thin layer of joint compound over the borders of the patch and each adjoining piece of drywall. Smooth the compound with a drywall knife.

• 11

  Smooth the joint compound with medium-grit sandpaper after it is dry. Apply an additional layer of joint compound and sand it if necessary.

• 12

  Paint the patch to match the rest of the ceiling. Then secure the air vent grille cover over the air duct hole.