Modern looking air brick vents

[phatboy]

We are having our house externally insulated in a few weeks and having the air brick positions lowered as they are partially behind the skirting boards!

The building is solid 9" blockwork, and so it has been suggested to diamond core a 5" or 6" hole. for the vent.

The house will look very modern after the insulation work and so we would like to have the air brick vents matching this. I have had a good look around online and not come up with much. Found a few fan type grills that may do the job, but hoping others can suggest something?

Thanks
Tim

 

[oldbutnotdead]

That's the lazy way to do the airbricks (core drilling them). Need to think about joist ends and bearings, wallplates, damp course, heating pipes, cables, gas pipes and any other random stuff that may be under the floor especially if they (or you) are coring after the wall insulation has gone on and not lifting any floorboards for any reason.

Pretty vents- if you do core them, you can still have rectangular vents over the front (as long as you are getting adequate airflow). These would probably do the job http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/d190/Vents+&+Grilles/sd3148/Louvre+Vent+Plastic/p47334. While you're on, if you're in an area prone to flooding you might want to think about being able to cover them.....

Or if you're feeling flush, have a look at something like this https://www.novametals.co.uk/products/decorative-designs/- you'd need to frame them (or pay them a fortune to do it for you) and you'd need to paint the non-drilled bit of wall black (otherwise it'll look naff) and you might need to put a wee sill above them (otherwise you could get splashing into the insulation/wall which is undesirable)

 

[phatboy]

Thanks, the likely expensive Nova ones look good!

All of the floors have been up, or can be easily accessed from below so that's not a big concern.

I imagine the alternative is a combination of grinding and lots of SDS drilling?

 

[oldbutnotdead]

If you've got access to the underfloor then that's good. Removing bricks-I usually stitch drill the mortar from each side with a 6mm bit , then increase to 10mm (or 8mm, depends how deep the bed is), then a few holes through the middle of the brick then start hitting it with a chisel til bits fall out. Of course on modern builds (with block internal wall) that technique doesn't work so well. Coring is also time consuming but easy especially in blocks.

 

[theprinceofdarkness]

If you use a pair of 60mm holes about 50mm apart (edge to edge), then you can use round eave ventilator grills. Like :- http://www.screwfix.com/p/circular-spffit-vent-brown-70mm-10-pack/96495
Frank