Folks,
Looking for some advice to get a good finish detail on a high end custom home I am doing.
I have a number of 1/8″ bronze wall mounted (custom) register grilles intended to be installed flush to the 1/2″ drywall and, in one case, flush to the raised wood (poplar) paneling … typical grille size is 14″ x 14″.
Problem is, I did not actualize flush was the detail until now, and I have already finished a flawless level 5 paint finish in two of the locations (there are unfinished drywall locations as well, which could always be cut and compounded if necessary).
So i am looking for advice on how to install grilles without having to repaint the walls they are on or installing corner bead in the drywall locations.
I can still make changes to how the grilles are fabricated,, so changing the spec could be an option if I can develop an equally attractive finish detail. For instance, I could possibly have the (custom) grille manufacturer bevel the edges on the last 1″ of the frame so that they taper to the outside edge.
Better would be to figure how to install flush with a clean line that doesn’t flake (especially the drywall).
I could slowly screw down the grill to have it cut its way into the drywall – this would not work on the wood because it is too hard, but on drywall if I screwed down the grill as far as it went, then I could remove it and cut out all but the outside edge of the imprinted drywall and repeat the process until it was a clean fit. Then I would remove it, seal the drywall so it doesn’t flake, and reinstall the grille one last time.
Any of you had to delal with this condition before?
Replies
wow
I have no idea other than to screw down the grill and when tight to, but not crushing the drywall-sharp knife the outline of the grill-cutting away from all the corners. Cut the depth of the thickness of the grill-not more, not less
Remove grill, attempt to remove the gypsum.......seal like you were talking about.
Man, woulda been so easy to L-bead.
The wood, same way as for the drywall I would guess-remove waste with a router-like a hinge mortise-if you could figure a way to fence it or template it. Clean out the corners with a sharp chisel.
Best of luck.
This sounds tricky but, I can't imagine that flush would be the best look. With finish work we always try to avoid flush surfaces especially where different materials come together. I think a small flange all around the register that laps over the wall finishes would be a more attactive detail, especially in the drywall. If one of these registers ends up anywhere there is a seam or build up of compound there's no way flush with work everywhere, assuming the register itself is flat. Good luck. I would be interested to hear what you end up doing and seeing a photo of the finished product.
fine
I'm glad you mentioned the rim over (tho this should have been directed to the original poster).
Using your idea, if he doesn't like laying the rim over the drywall/wood panel, perhaps a thin picture frame of the same grill material let in (and over the perimeter of the cutout) with the grill inset into that.
good ideas
I like the idea of a bead, the problem will be fabricating it. The custom grille companies I spoke with have tools for flat metal work like laser and water jet cutters, but they don't get into other projects (I know because I asked - I always need people who can make things).
The picture frame, however, I think gives me a solution - they are making these from 1/8" sheet but also stock 1/16th, so I could probably have them make a slightly larger 3/4" wide picture frame from 1/16th to be welded to the face of the 1/8th register with 1/2" all around as the flange that will lap the drywall. That plane-recessed-within-a-frame would be a better look, and it remains all flat work by one fabricator which is much easier.
You might consider painting the "picture frame" border to match the adjoining wall... at least on the drywall areas, not the wood paneled parts. Then the frame would visually go away leaving the grill to stand alone and say "look at me."
Yeah, at the very least one should strive for a small amount of "reveal". Among other things this would protect the cut edge of the rock from snagging and tearing as people walk by.