painting grills and frame of in wall/ceiling speakers - Tips please?

[newstuart]

Hi guys

my living room project is getting close to completion and I am starting to decorate.

I have in wall and ceiling speakers installed and want to paint the plastic trim surrounds and the speaker gill (which is removable) to match the ceiling/wall colours.

Any tips for using normal emaulsion on plastic or or speaker grills without clogging them up would be very much appreciated

[stevelup]

Hi

Do it with a roller first, then dab it with a soft bristled brush to fix any blocked holes.

Paint both sides (I know this sounds ridiculous) - it makes it a lot easier and you avoid the grille looking white when you view it from an acute angle.

In terms of painting the plastic trim, your speakers probably come with a paint mask - just stick that in place and paint straight over the speakers when you paint the wall. I'd run a small bead of 'Painters Mate' around the edge of the speaker where it meets the wall as well to ensure there are no unsightly gaps.

Steve

[dj-dulux]

We use a guy who airbrushes the grills and matches any wallpaper pattern etc. Not sure what the paint is, standard airbrush I guess, but I have never seen it clog the grill so it appears to work.

Dupe...

[neilball]

I'd suggest spraying the grilles a few thin coats - you need to water down the emulsion to make it sprayable in any case. Avoids blocking the holes in the grille and also means you do not get a thick build-up of paint.

[newstuart]

Thanks guys

Going to try a roller 1st as suggested as the extra cost in getting someone to match spray paint will come out of the fund that is paying for my pronto pro

If that does not work I will sand down ans get them sprayed.

Good idea about the decorators mate around the edges, I didnt htink of that even though I have been using it for the skirting and coving.

Would you recomend watering the paint down before using with a roller and if so by how much ?

[stevelup]

I didn't water it down - and had no trouble - but YMMV...!

Steve

[-Sp-]

Probably not much help but I've sent mine off to a friend who paints cars for a living along with a foot of skirting board to color match too. they should be done on the weekend so hopefully they'll look good and be robust enough not to get chipped by my daugher (whos about face height to the center speaker.)