Floor Registers Glued Down?

[amanda_h]

Here's the scenario, I broke a Correlle bowl after I dropped it on the floor near the kitchen sink. It, of course, broke into a million pieces and little shards of glass were all over the floor. Some of the pieces and shards went into the nearest floor register located on the vinyl kitchen flooring.

It was a time consuming job to get all the pieces cleaned up off the floor as I didn't want to sweep or vacuum without picking up the bigger pieces by hand since I didn't want to scratch the floor too badly. Even with gloves, I did manage to get several slivers of glass in my fingers.

After finally getting everything cleaned off the floor, I figured I'd just pop off the register and clean out the stuff that accumulates in there in addition to the pieces of glass.

To my surprise, I couldn't easily get it off. I figured it would just pull off. So I got a few pieces of cloth and couple of screwdrivers and attepmted to pry the register off. To my horror, it was not only heavily glued down but as I continued to pry it off, the vinyl tiles around it started to become unglued. I put it off for another time.

What I'm going to have to do is to cut away the glue under the register so that it won't pull up the flooring with it. It will take some time but what I'm wondering is why do they glue them down so heavily in the first place? I don't see the purpose. Or is it just mine?

I'm assuming that everybody will want to clean those registers out from time to time because they easily will accumulate stuff since they're located in places on the floor where there is plenty of traffic.

What do you all do to clean them out?

[amanda_h]

Here's the scenario, I broke a Correlle bowl after I dropped it on the floor near the kitchen sink. It, of course, broke into a million pieces and little shards of glass were all over the floor. Some of the pieces and shards went into the nearest floor register located on the vinyl kitchen flooring.

It was a time consuming job to get all the pieces cleaned up off the floor as I didn't want to sweep or vacuum without picking up the bigger pieces by hand since I didn't want to scratch the floor too badly. Even with gloves, I did manage to get several slivers of glass in my fingers.

After finally getting everything cleaned off the floor, I figured I'd just pop off the register and clean out the stuff that accumulates in there in addition to the pieces of glass.

To my surprise, I couldn't easily get it off. I figured it would just pull off. So I got a few pieces of cloth and couple of screwdrivers and attepmted to pry the register off. To my horror, it was not only heavily glued down but as I continued to pry it off, the vinyl tiles around it started to become unglued. I put it off for another time.

What I'm going to have to do is to cut away the glue under the register so that it won't pull up the flooring with it. It will take some time but what I'm wondering is why do they glue them down so heavily in the first place? I don't see the purpose. Or is it just mine?

I'm assuming that everybody will want to clean those registers out from time to time because they easily will accumulate stuff since they're located in places on the floor where there is plenty of traffic.

What do you all do to clean them out?

[AFChap]

Must be a vinyl tile thing?? None of ours are glued down. Those on carpet are held down with a screw in each end. Those on ceramic tile are not fastened down at all, although they are a snug fit into the floor.

[DonavonP]

Here's a recent thread on this subject.
Apparently a double coated foam tape was used to hold the register in place.

If you wreck the register, Home Depot or similar supplier will have a suitable replacement. Good luck!

[amanda_h]

Oh man, am I embarrassed! Thanks, Donavon.

I usually try to do a search before I post but I've been away from this site for awhile and was in a hurry.

Sorry folks, disregard this thread (or moderator, please delete).

[CHIPPYSGT]

Double sided tape is right. Use a wide stiff bladed putty knife to pry it up. If you use even force but don't jerk or pry hard it will do little or no damage to the register or floor.

[Richard 34A]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by amanda_h:
Oh man, am I embarrassed! Thanks, Donavon.

I usually try to do a search before I post but I've been away from this site for awhile and was in a hurry.

Sorry folks, disregard this thread (or moderator, please delete). </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Don't be embarrassed and don't delete; it's a good question and one that will come up again! Just be glad that there is an easy solution...

[DonavonP]

Please don't delete. There are lurkers that are too timid to post who will be helped when searching for "registers" instead of "vents".

Timid lurkers buy from our sponsor's and help IRV2 stay on the air.