Build a Gable Louver Vent

A vent on the white gable of a private home.
  • 8 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 45
What You'll Need
Tape measure
Paper
Pencils
Kiln-dried lumber or PVC panels for the vent box and louvers
Brick or aluminum siding to suit your home exterior
Portable power saw with diamond blade if needed for brick
Table saw to cut materials
Waterproof glue in push tube
Silicone caulking
Staple gun
Galvanized staples
Aluminum wire mesh
Wire cutters
Screen molding, 5/16-inch thick
Long safety ladder or scaffolding
Hard hat
What You'll Need
Tape measure
Paper
Pencils
Kiln-dried lumber or PVC panels for the vent box and louvers
Brick or aluminum siding to suit your home exterior
Portable power saw with diamond blade if needed for brick
Table saw to cut materials
Waterproof glue in push tube
Silicone caulking
Staple gun
Galvanized staples
Aluminum wire mesh
Wire cutters
Screen molding, 5/16-inch thick
Long safety ladder or scaffolding
Hard hat

Gable louver vents installed just under the roofline will work wonders to cool your home in the summer and reduce mold buildup in the winter as well as venting the attic, preventing ice buildup. While it is simpler to install a gable louver vent when your house is being built, you can add them to an older home. If you follow these directions, of course.

Step 1 - Determine the Size and Shape of the Gable Vent

Gable vents come in different shapes and sizes to accommodate most needs, but the triangular or rectangular vents are the easiest to build. Measure the space where you want to install the gable louver vent to pick the best size and shape.

Step 2 - Draw a Plan for Cutting the Lumber or PVC for the Vent

blueprints and sketching tools

Your building plan for the louver vent must include the following: vent box walls 3/4-inch wide by 2-3/4 inches deep; face trim attached to the vent box, 2-3/4 inches deep; and two-inch molding for your exterior wall. Louvers should measure 3/4-inch thick by 3-1/2 inches top to bottom. They should tilt at 30 degrees away from vertical and overlap each other by 3/4 inch. Between each louver bottom, the exposed airspace should be no more than 7/8-inch.

Step 3 - Cut the Wall Space to House the Louver Vent

Measure carefully and check all measurements before cutting. Remove the drywall and check for wiring and pipes in the area where you are cutting. If cutting through a wall covered in aluminum siding, mark the cut lines on the interior wall, and cut through the siding. If you are cutting through a brick wall, use a diamond-bladed saw to cut through the bricks on the outside.

Step 4 - Assemble the Louver Vent

Build the vent box first, to the measurements you noted. Attach the face trim with a combination of waterproof glue and galvanized staples placed at the corners and at six-inch intervals down each side. Cut the louver pieces to the desired size and affix them at the correct angle and spacing inside the vent box.

Step 5 - Insert the Louver Vent Into the Wall Hole

gable vent in brick side of house

Apply a bead of silicone caulking to the bottom of the vent on the face trim and insert the assembled louver vent into the wall. Secure it to the drywall on the inside with glue and galvanized staples.

Step 6 - Attach the Screen Wire and Screen Molding

On the back of the louver vent, attach the screen wire with staples. Fasten the screen molding to the screen wire with staples, and secure it to the drywall surround with waterproof glue.

Step 7 - Seal the Edge of the Louver Vent with Brick or Vinyl Siding

From the outside of the wall hole, insert the brick or vinyl molding around the finished gable vent. Seal the outermost edge with silicone caulking.