STRUGGLING WITH VENTILATION INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS LATELY
That bandaid-on-a-tuxedo image is spot on. I swear, ventilation inspections are the same—sometimes it feels like the code was written for a spaceship, not a 100-year-old house. I get why they want everything perfect, but there’s just no way to hide a new vent in old lath and plaster without it sticking out. At some point, you just have to accept a little “character,” right?
- Ran into this on a 1920s bungalow last year—vent had to go right through a cove ceiling.
- Inspector wanted it “flush,” but that just wasn’t happening unless we tore out half the dining room.
- Ended up painting the vent cover to match the trim. Still obvious, but at least it blended in a bit.
- Honestly, sometimes you just have to pick your battles...old houses weren’t designed for modern airflow, no matter what the code says.
Honestly, sometimes you just have to pick your battles...old houses weren’t designed for modern airflow, no matter what the code says.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I had a similar headache with a 1915 craftsman—tried to run a return through a plaster archway and the inspector wanted it “disappear.” Ended up using a custom wood grille that matched the original trimwork. Not perfect, but at least it didn’t scream “modern retrofit.” Sometimes I wish there was more flexibility in the code for these old gems. It’s a balancing act between preservation and performance, and honestly, compromise is usually the only way forward.
It’s wild how inspectors sometimes expect these century-old homes to magically meet modern standards without a trace. I’ve run into similar issues—tried to hide ductwork in a 1920s bungalow and it felt like a game of Tetris. Your solution with the custom grille sounds like a solid compromise. Honestly, I think you nailed it—preserving character while still making things work. Sometimes “good enough” really is the best you can do with these old beauties.
STRUGGLING WITH VENTILATION INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS LATELY
You’re not wrong about the Tetris comparison—sometimes it feels more like Jenga, honestly. Inspectors can get a bit tunnel-visioned about codes without considering the realities of these old houses. I get where they’re coming from, but there’s a fine line between “safe and functional” and “let’s just gut the place.”
Custom grilles are probably the least intrusive option, and if you managed to keep the original trim or details intact, that’s a win in my book. I’ve had projects where we had to reroute things in ways that made zero sense aesthetically, just to check a box. Drives me nuts.
At the end of the day, some compromises are inevitable. As long as you’re keeping the integrity of the space and not creating a safety issue, I’d call that a success. Perfection’s rarely possible with these old gems anyway… and honestly, sometimes the quirks end up being the best part.
