Should I Add Decorative Gable Vent

How to Build Decorative Gable Cranium Vents

When I purchased the Saving Etta house (a Triple-A structure house congenital in 1900), I fell in honey with the decorative gable attic vent shape at first sight. The little diamonds decorating each gable had my centre skipping a beat, even if she really needed a full gut job and renovation. When we stripped off the former faded aluminum siding and started to assess the condition of the gable vents, it became clear they were in really crude shape. And these cute custom shaped decorative gable attic vents weren't available anywhere. Of grade, you know that won't stop me from getting what I desire, so I taught myself How to Build Decorative Gable Cranium Vents.

1900 triple A frame house

If you are a professional person gable attic vent builder, this may not be the way yous build gable vents, but I had to figure it out by myself considering I couldn't find whatever tutorials for building custom shape gable cranium louver vents.

Decorative Gable Attic Vents Inspiration

Earlier we go to the tutorial on how to build custom shaped attic vents, I want to prove yous another decorative gable vents to give you lot some inspiration. Information technology seems I'm drawn to decorative gable attic vents, because I take several photos from my travels of quondam houses with cute custom shaped gable vents. Have a await at these beauties!

This attic vent doesn't accept louvers, just has a decorative cut out instead. I'm not certain it provides much ventilation, but the vent certain is cute to look at.

I saved the best for final. Banquet your eyes on this beautiful early 1900 quatrefoil louvered vent. This was a Sears & Roebuck business firm that was unfortunately torn down a few years ago to make way for apartment buildings. Don't get me started on all the history existence torn downward effectually Raleigh, NC. At least I have a photograph to remind me of the cute architectural features.

Still want more than custom shaped gable vent ideas? You lot can see more Decorative Attic Gable Vents in my Pinterest Board.

At present it's time to larn How to Build Decorative Gable Attic Vents! So, let's get crackin'.

Materials:

(I've included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percent from a buy using these links. In that location is no boosted price to y'all. You tin can read more than about affiliate links here .)

one×4 lumber (PVC would make it truly rot free, but yous can use any wood as long as you seal it with primer, pigment, or stain.)
1×6 lumber (for louvers)
1×four Miratec trim (I used Miratec trim for the diamond shape since it will be exposed to the elements)
Difficult cloth mesh
Exterior primer
Paint
Paint castor
Paintable Outside caulk
Forest glue

Tools:

Table saw
Miter saw
16 approximate Boom Gun
16 gauge nails
Speed Foursquare
Staple gun
Pencil
Tape Mensurate
Caulk Gun

Directions:

If you have to make multiple gable louvered vents, you may desire to kickoff by making a template of your shape. And, you'll desire to measure out the rough opening for your gable vent if you are trying to install into existing attic framing.

1. Build a rectangular box using the 1×4's. Prime number the frame (if wood) earlier installing the louvers.

ii. Run the 1×half-dozen lumber through the table saw to cut a 45 degree bending onto one side. (Cut the first louver to test the fit inside the rectangular frame.) Brand sure the louver fits and does non protrude past the front or back of the frame. Y'all may need to rip more off your i×6 material to brand the louvers fit within the 1×4 frame.

3. Cut and set a second louver into the bottom of the gable vent frame.

Measure the infinite between the top and bottom louver and carve up the distance into equal spaces for your middle louvers.

Mark the location for each louver onto the gable vent frame. This volition give you the number of remaining louvers to cutting. (For reference, my louvers are approximately three inches apart.)

4. Tack the top louver in place using trim nails (two ½", 16 approximate nails.)

5. Apply the speed square to agree the second louver in place. Line the louver up with your pre-marked spots. Secure the second louver in place with three nails on each side.

Keep attaching the louvers into the gable vent frame.

When all the louvers accept been installed, information technology should await like to the photo below.

6. Caulk all the joints on the louvers and the frame. Let the caulk cure. Prime and pigment the gable attic vent (especially while yous have access to the dorsum).

7. Flip the gable vent frame over and cut a slice of wire mesh hard material to fit onto the dorsum of the vent frame.

Secure the mesh with heavy duty staples.

Now your gable attic vents are gear up for their decorative shape!

8. Yous can utilize whatsoever shape you lot similar every bit long as it fits over the rectangular attic vent. The shape is only created by attaching a frame to the front end of the gable cranium vent. I chose the diamond shape since the original house had diamonds. Using the original house vents as my template, I cutting Miratec trim into the same diamond shape.

Connect the frame using woods glue and nails. And so secure the decorative frame shape to the gable vent with trim nails.

Installing Gable Attic Vents:

Secure the gable vent within the house framing using trim nails or screws. The shape frame will sit down on meridian of the house sheathing. Be sure to install house wrap or flashing behind the shape frame, simply non over the vent.

A drip cap is installed on top of the shape frame to prevent water from seeping within. Then the siding is installed.

Finally the painters should caulk effectually all the seams where the gable attic vent meets the siding.

Saving Etta: 1900 Home Saved from Demolition and restored into a beautiful Triple A construction modern farmhouse. With Flat Sawn Ballusters on porch

Not bad considering the original gable vents were 118 years sometime! I consider it a win being able to go on the original architectural feature and hopefully permit it to last another 100 years or more than.

Did I mention I had to build five decorative diamond gable cranium vents? The house had 3 gables on the front original section of the business firm…

saving etta front view seeded and straw

…and two on the addition side of the house.

two story side of house backyard transformed

Coming up, I'll show you how I built the custom diamond shaped window to match the gable vents!

Allow me know if you institute this tutorial helpful in the comments. It only takes yous a minute, but your comment helps keep me motivated.

I hope you are enjoying these tutorials from the Saving Etta business firm. If you are just visiting this website, you might want to read the entire Saving Etta series! It was a awe-inspiring undertaking (did I mention it was my first business firm rehab?)