Forum Discussion

bluebarry1964b's avatar
Apr 26, 2015

Best Paint For Metal Floor Heat Vents

I posted about looking for a good quality paint for repainting my plastic A/C ceiling vents. Many suggested Krylon Fusion so I tried it. It worked out beautifully!! The vents look like new. Although, the can mentions that Krylon Fusion can be used on metal, I think it's really designed to adhere to plastic.

Now I'm looking for a good quality paint for repainting my metal floor heat vents. In the past I primed, then painted with Rustoleum, then clear-coated. Unfortunately, due to them being stepped on so much, the paint never seems to stay on for very long. Is there a better paint for metal than Rustoleum??
  • I'd use either the appliance epoxy paint or Hammerite (under the rustoleum label in the US) Both are available at Home Depot. The appliance epoxy comes in white and almond. Takes 4 or 5 hours to cure. Wears like iron. The Hammerite has fiberglas in it. Wears like iron. It comes in about 8 colors.

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  • edatlanta wrote:
    My plastic ones look and work fine and never need painting. So far I haven't broken one with a heavy foot. If I do finally break one I will definitely replace with plastic.

    5 years Full Time.


    I think maybe you're on to something. It looks like a choice right now between getting mine professionally powder coated, or simply tossing them and replacing with plastic ones. I just wish I could find plastic ones that were brass color; so far all I've found in plastic is brown or white.
  • My plastic ones look and work fine and never need painting. So far I haven't broken one with a heavy foot. If I do finally break one I will definitely replace with plastic.

    5 years Full Time.
  • If it means that much to you which it did to me at the time, have them powder coated. When we had our 85 HR carpet redone the floor vents just looked like******so i took them to a powder coater picked out a color that matched the carpet and looked great to the day i sold it which was several years later.
  • jvowell1 wrote:
    Most paint out of a can is going to scrach easily. I just replaced all 4 in mine a couple weeks ago with ones from Lowes with louvers to turn on and off for a little over $6 bucks each.


    Why is it that it scratches so easily? I've never fully understood why a professional paint job on things seems to be more durable.
  • Most paint out of a can is going to scrach easily. I just replaced all 4 in mine a couple weeks ago with ones from Lowes with louvers to turn on and off for a little over $6 bucks each.
  • The metal floor vents are a common size and can be economically replaced with some form Home Depot.