We are having a room with high walls repainted in a deep color. The
same wall has a typical return-air grille (24 x 24") with adjustable
vanes that has the usual factory-baked enamel, off-white color. We
wish to repaint the grille, so that it blends into the wall color,
rather than standing out in stark contrast.

It would seem that using an enamel or gloss paint is necessary, so the
grille may be cleaned periodically. Would it be best to use a primer?
Should the grille be sanded first? To achieve a smooth finish, should
the grille be sprayed?

What is the best way to do this job?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

tacker wrote:
We are having a room with high walls repainted in a deep color. The
same wall has a typical return-air grille (24 x 24") with adjustable
vanes that has the usual factory-baked enamel, off-white color. We
wish to repaint the grille, so that it blends into the wall color,
rather than standing out in stark contrast.

It would seem that using an enamel or gloss paint is necessary, so the
grille may be cleaned periodically. Would it be best to use a primer?
Should the grille be sanded first? To achieve a smooth finish, should
the grille be sprayed?

What is the best way to do this job?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.


As I've been working my way through the house painting and fixing I've
tackled each air-grille as I've come to it. My experience may not apply
directly to your situation since mine are retrofitted into the ceiling
and my ceilings are mostly pure white. I've had perfect adhesion and
coverage by placing the grille into the dishwasher and running through a
normal wash/hot-dry cycle to remove all oils and dust and then I've
primed and painted the grilles using standard spray can enamels.

It is possible to obtain custom can spray paints or at least it used to
be so that might be one way to tackle your situation.

--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com

tacker wrote:
We are having a room with high walls repainted in a deep color. The
same wall has a typical return-air grille (24 x 24") with adjustable
vanes that has the usual factory-baked enamel, off-white color. We
wish to repaint the grille, so that it blends into the wall color,
rather than standing out in stark contrast.

It would seem that using an enamel or gloss paint is necessary, so the
grille may be cleaned periodically. Would it be best to use a primer?
Should the grille be sanded first? To achieve a smooth finish, should
the grille be sprayed?

What is the best way to do this job?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

I remove them, clean them and then brush on the same paint that is going
on the walls. They all look good to me.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

This agrees with my experience.
TB

I remove them, clean them and then brush on the same paint that is
going
on the walls. They all look good to me.

--
Joseph Meehan


Agreed! If they are shiney sand lightly for better painy adhesion.
running thru dishwasher after sanding a excellent idea

wrote in message
ups.com...
I remove them, clean them and then brush on the same paint that is
going
on the walls. They all look good to me.

--
Joseph Meehan


Agreed! If they are shiney sand lightly for better painy adhesion.
running thru dishwasher after sanding a excellent idea


A spray can like this
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=1102
can be used to spray the wall paint or any other enamel you buy in a can.

So many colors of normal spray paint available, I'm sure you can find
something you like.

I would use a spray paint in a semi-gloss. It need not be a precise match

I used regular wall paint to paint my registers. At first they looked OK, at
best. After a few years they looked crummy and made the rooms look old. I
bought new grilles. The difference is like day and night, although the new
registers are white and the walls are of-white.

--
Walter
www.rationality.net
-
"tacker" wrote in message
oups.com...
We are having a room with high walls repainted in a deep color. The
same wall has a typical return-air grille (24 x 24") with adjustable
vanes that has the usual factory-baked enamel, off-white color. We
wish to repaint the grille, so that it blends into the wall color,
rather than standing out in stark contrast.

It would seem that using an enamel or gloss paint is necessary, so the
grille may be cleaned periodically. Would it be best to use a primer?
Should the grille be sanded first? To achieve a smooth finish, should
the grille be sprayed?

What is the best way to do this job?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

I agree with the methods of those who replied but I take it one step
further. I "bake" any metal I paint. I use the BBQ grill and bake for
one hour on most items. Baking the paint makes it adheres much better,
eliminates future chips and flakes and holds its' luster much longer.

PipeDown wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
I remove them, clean them and then brush on the same paint that is
going
on the walls. They all look good to me.

--
Joseph Meehan


Agreed! If they are shiney sand lightly for better painy adhesion.
running thru dishwasher after sanding a excellent idea


A spray can like this
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=1102
can be used to spray the wall paint or any other enamel you buy in a
can.
So many colors of normal spray paint available, I'm sure you can find
something you like.

You can also work in reverse. I found a spray color I kinda liked then got
the exterior house paint to match. Touch up is easy now.