Exposed HVAC Duct Cleaning/Buffing/Polishing

[icemann427]

We are purchasing a condo that has exposed 2' diameter ducts in the living room near the ceiling. Approximately half of the ducting is tarnished/dirty and does not match the brighter other half. The first two pictures are of the subject ducting and the third one is of another condo in the building that seems to have a more desired look.

Even though the brighter half looks better than the tarnished half, I would even like the brighter half to shine more than it does and for any scratches not to show.

Does anyone have any experience with these ducts and could counsel me on whether or not the ducting could be cleaned, buffed, or polished to make them an architectural feature instead of the existing eye sore? Or, will they have to be spray painted a shiny silvery color to do what I want?

Thank you so much!

[sc_rufctr]

I'd paint it to match the silver column on the right of your bottom photo.

Or paint it to match the wall the TV is mounted on.

[wayner]

Looks to me like one half is aluminum and the other half is galvanized metal?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by wayner

Looks to me like one half is aluminum and the other half is galvanized metal?

I think it's all galvanized metal. (old and new)

Easy to paint with the right primer.

[masraum]

So you're going to need a dremel, 10000 little buffing heads for said dremel, a tall ladder and four 5-Gal buckets of polishing compound.....



Yeah, not much you can do to polish that ducting. I think your best bet is the right kind of point.

[john70t]

Replace the one 'bad half' with the other material.

Spend a lot of time trying to accurately replicate a specific finish, with little hope of total success.

Spray paint both.

[dad911]

Wrap it in Carbon Fiber.....

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AWTE3QU/ref=asc_df_B01AWTE3QU5364190/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B01AWTE3QU&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198074801421&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2760489415492816045&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011879&hvtargid=pla-348043390267

[wdfifteen]

Cool room!
You’re not going to get the same finish from both of those pieces of metal because they aren’t the same metal. I would go with some kind of coating - paint, wrap, etc.

[dan88911]

You could have it boxed (2X4's,dry wall) and painted like that area on the right near the ceiling in your photo.

[dan88911]

And of course keeping the vent.

[icemann427]

Thanks guys! I like the exposed look so I don’t want to enclose it. I just wanted it to be shiny metal. Not the way it looks now. I guess spray painting both halves is the way to go. Can someone please refer me to a spray paint that would mimic an original shiny metal look? Thanks!

[Crowbob]

Whatever you decide to do, you might try to negotiate the cost of doing it off the sale price.

[icemann427]

^^^^^^

Yep, I did. Actually, getting the duct presentable is the seller’s responsibility. I’m just trying to figure out what I will like the best...And have that done.

[Norm K]

A few cans of Duraglit combined with a bunch of rags and enough time is all you need. If you've ever seen the galvanized shitcans in an MCRD squadbay (at least when I was there) you know that material can shine.

_

[eastbay]

Replace the whole thing with polished stainless.

[icemann427]

Norm, do you put the Duraglit on with the rags?

Edit: Oh, Duraglit is like Brasso! I polished my share of buckles...lol

[billybek]

Will check with the insulators at work. They have some cladding for topping pipe insulation that is amazing when polished. Could apply it directly over the ductwork.

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by icemann427

Norm, do you put the Duraglit on with the rags?

Nope, it's a wadding with an embedded polishing compound. That's a great looking room and polished duct work would surely look better than paint. That said, you've got a pretty long run of ducting there - be prepared for some protracted polishing.

_

[icemann427]

Thanks, Bill! Yeah, sorry Norm. I figured out too late what it was...

[icemann427]

East bay, yeah that would look awesome. I’m not sure I could sell the seller on that option. I’m guessing that would be a bit over budget. But I’ll look. Thanks!