How to Make a Square Louver Door

Cutting Out the Prep in the Door

• 1

  Determine the dimensions for the louver prep cutout in the door. Locate the dimensions in the louver's installation instructions or by measuring the width and height of the vent on the louver. Do not include the flange in your measurement since the flange needs to overlap the door to hold the louver in place.

• 2

  Use your tape measure and pencil to mark the dimensions of the cut out prep. Make sure you center this on the door. The bottom of the louver should sit about 12 to 16 inches from the bottom of the door but follow the dimensions provided if there are instructions available.

• 3

  Lay tape down over the cutout prep area to protect the finish of the door when you cut it with the circular saw. Stencil the lines with your pencil and a straightedge to guide your cut. Scribe the lines with your razor blade to avoid splintering the wood on the face of the door.

• 4

  Plunge the circular saw blade into the center of the lines and cut through the door but do not go past your marks. Do this to all four lines on the door.

• 5

  Complete the cuts in the four corners of your cut out with the jigsaw.

• 6

  Remove the cut out wood and then remove the tape.

Installing the Louver

• 7

  Place the vent in the front of the door. Tape the flange to the door to hold it in place.

• 8

  Insert the inside frame into the door on the opposite side of the vent.

• 9

  Line up the holes on the inside frame with the holes on the vent and insert the screws. Make sure that louver is aligned properly and tighten the screws with the Phillips or flathead screwdriver.