Ceiling Registers

[amateurfishing]

well we have our basement done with lots of thanks to some of you on here with great ideas, recommendations, and help.

i bought floor registers to put in ceiling (cause did not know any better) and due to no screw holes (or screws) with registers i wedged folded up scrap cardboard pieces to make them stay up in the hole, but that idea aint workin so well now. Is there "secret" to keeping them up on the ceiling, screws dont work holding into the drywall (ive tried that in the past) and wall registers (return air)are much different shapes and sizes than heat & cool versions.....suggestions plz!!

[Macgyver55]

Either use drywall anchors in the sheet rock, or if it is accessible put wood blocks behind the sheet rock so you have something solid to screw into.

[Tom7227]

A bit off your point but IMO a big problem with basements is the lack of cold air returns. Consider adding them if you still can.

[CAMAN]

Attach some wood blocks with construction adhesive on the backside of the drywall.

[Archtek]

If you can't get wood blocking up there, try making a metal angle out of a piece of sheet metal, a couple inches long. You should be able to bend the boot enough to work it up behind the sheetrock. Then run a couple sheet metal screws through the boot and into the vertical leg of the angle. Then the register screws can go into the horizontal leg of the angle. In fact, as I write this, I think you could have the horizontal leg on the exposed side of the sheetrock as long as it's short enough to be covered by the register.

And, yes, Tom is absolutely correct. The only thing I would add is that the returns have to be at the floor to really work well.

[amateurfishing]

return air was done properly first time around

basement is completely done, rocked, painted, moved in, the works, not able to move ducting to get behind sheet rocked ceiling as i tied down ductwork with metal stripping to joists b4 putting ceiling in to prevent from moving. just need a solid way to keep register on sheet rock

drywall anchors (even tho i hate em) may be best & easiest option

[PurpleFloyd]

The vent you are looking for is available, you just have to poke around for them. I did a google search and found them in just a few seconds. Keep looking.

BTW- If you don't have any wood blocking to screw into, then use those butterfly anchors and they will hold it tight.

[Surface Tension]

Same as What PF suggested.

Hollow Wall Anchors.

Mark the hole locations.

Drill hole. Choose bit size so that you have some friction when pushing in anchor.

Insert anchor and tighten screw to collapse anchor.

Remove screw and install register.

[amateurfishing]

thx guys, really appreciate it. i do have all of those anchors on hand but had some issues to work around. 1. no blocking 2. i used metal strapping to make sure duct work did not move so could not push it up for any butterfly anchors. 3 was afraid to use any drywall anchors as they are thick and figured would just be too close to edge of cutout to do any good. ended up just using old receptacle screws with matching color head direct into the drywall ceiling, worked a lot better than i expected. thx again for all the ideas