Paint for suspended ceilings

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Author Message David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 667 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 06:37 pm:    What paint do you guys recommend for painting acoustical ceiling grids and panels? These panels are for new construction and not an existing remodel. Do you recommend that the wholes system be painted at once or paint the grid separate from the panels? My concern is that if the whole system is painted in place that little white border lines may show up. Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 162 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 07:12 pm:    Question - Why would you paint new ceiling panels and grid, unless of course the designer wants someting other than white or one of the manufacturer's standard colors. You're right about the little ridge lines if you paint it all at the same time. Also, the acoustic panels should be painted with a "non-bridging" paint or you will lose the acoustic value. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 669 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 07:33 pm:    The designer wants something other than white or one of the manufacturer's standard colors. She wants "sky blue" for the auditorium ceiling color. (Puts head in hands and softly sobs.) Yes! I want a nonbridging paint that not mess up the acoustical value of the panels. Do I need any special prep for the prefinished aluminum grid? Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 163 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 07:46 pm:    David, I feel your pain - I've been there. I would check with the mfgr to see if their grid can be otained primed only. If not, you have to probably etch it and use a bonding coat to allow the finish coat to properly adhere. I would contact one of your favorite paint reps who can help you with this as well as with the "non-bridging" paint. Good Luck! (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 12:51 am:    David, Will post painting effect the acoustic properties of the panels? Check with the manufacturer. Perhaps your client does not care about the acoustic properties? John Guill AIA, CCS, SCIPa Senior Member Username: johng Post Number: 23 Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 04:57 pm:    Non-Bridging Paint: "Acoustikote" W-615 manufactured by Dunn-Edwards. D-E products are VOC compliant in California, meet LEED standards, but check first. This spec is less than a year old, but nothing changes faster than VOC requirements. Painting the panels does have an acoustic effect, can be minimized by use of a paint intended for this purpose. Suggest review with panel mfr, paint mfr. and acoustician before settling on this approach. Probably will void the panel warranty. Paint panels separately, take care to cover edges, if a dark or contrasting color is used, be aware that every construction dent and ding will show up. Suggest consideration of a baked enamel steel grid which could be painted with less prep effort. Painting grid after assembly might be less work, but work above the grid might be hard to mask. How bad would that be? Up to you. Blue...? John McGrann Senior Member Username: jmcgrann Post Number: 65 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 07:51 am:    David, I suppose the budget is too tight or the quantity is too small for something like USG's Advantage Color Program? (3,072 S.F. minimum panel order; minimum one carton per component capped suspension order). The other approach we've used in the past was a metal ceiling system with a custom color, but again the quantity was fairly large. John.