Re-coating Air Return Register/Grille?

Hi folks,

In our ongoing renos, we are looking to recoat an old metal Air Return Grille. We looked at purchasing a new 31x7 replacement, but in all honesty, the quality was pretty poor, with bent/waved edges and felt flimsy in comparison. So, deciding to clean up our existing grille, can anyone recommend a spray paint suited for this type of application?

All the best,
Cal

 

Most any spray paint will do a decent job. The main thing is to make sure the old grill is clean before you apply the paint.

 

Sounds good to me!

Indeed, will give it a light sand (to remove old paint runs) and remove dust of course. So, it's off to purchase a can of white spray paint and see if we can bring this grille back to "nearly new" ... without spending another $25!!!

All the best,
Cal

 

I have always had good success using Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy, which is sold with the spray paint.

 

Thanks for the recommendation XSleeper.

I dug this link up from Home Depot. It appears that it's only available in Silver or Black, so I will hunt down a similar product in white - if I can?

Edit to add link ... DUH! lol
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/appl...y-black/979902

All the best,
Cal

 

It comes in white and almond too. Don't know what colors home depot carries or where you're located. Menards in our area carries it too.

Nice thing about the epoxy is that it gives the grille a nice glossy tough finish just like an oven door, doesn't look spray painted at all.

 

Often registers will be made of galvanized steel if they are that rustoleum paint will not work.

I found this out the hard way when trying to repaint one of mine. All the surfaces with the old paint were repainted, everywhere where I had sanded it down to prep would not hold paint.

 

My wife had adhesion problems on some registers once, but it was because she didn't follow the instructions regarding the recoat time... (within 1 hr or after 24 hrs) not because of the type of metal. It also should not be used with any type of primer.

https://www.menards.com/main/store/2...pec/241168.pdf

 

Sometimes a heavy coat of paint over very thin metal will cause all the paint to pop if/when the metal flexes too much. The time or two that I've had issues when repainting registers it was because of an earlier problem that I failed to address during prep

 

Well, finally managed to drop into our local Home Depot last night and pick up Rust-Oleum Specialty Appliance Epoxy - White for $8.27.

So ... I'm leaving this task of re-spraying the air return register/grille to my wife, as she has more "spray can" experience than myself. Whatever the outcome, it will surely be better than paying around $20 for a new "flimsy" replacement grille, which in my opinion, are clearly cheaper made (lighter and easier to warp/twist) than the equivalent a good 10+ years ago.

Anyway, will rub down the old grille, clean it and hand over to the wife for spraying. Also a bonus that no primer is required.

Will post a photo of the finished job once it's had a spray!

All the best,
Cal

 

IMO spray cans are a lot harder to use than a spray gun. I've sprayed 1000's of gallons of paint and have no qualms picking up any gun with any coating and spraying BUT I find it difficult to get a good job everytime with a rattle can.

If she makes mistakes with the aerosol paint, it's no big deal to let it dry, sand and try again ..... but I'm sure she'll do well