How to Paint Gutters

Have your gutters' paint started peeling or appear worn out and dirty? Gutters constitute a significant part of your home improvement program, and whereas it might look like a straightforward DIY, hiring a professional will give you value for money. The professional painter will remove dirt and debris, strip and sand the gutters, prime them and then apply a thin paint coat at the top to bring out a nice finish.

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Items You Will Need To Paint Gutters

• Power washer
• Mild soap and water
• Horsehair scrub brush
• Mildew retardant
• Paint stripping chemicals
• Plastic putty knife
• Sandpaper
• Gutter seal compound
• Primer
• Top coat
• Paintbrushes and rollers
• Airless paint sprayer
• Ladder

Safety Precaution

• When working with paints or chemicals, make sure you wear a face mask and gloves.
• If you are using a ladder, ensure it is placed on a flat surface and stable before you climb it.

Washing the Gutters

Using Pressure Washer

• Use a pressure washer to clean debris – Start by cleaning off dirt and debris on the gutters.
• With its extendable arm, a power washer makes the task of cleaning the gutters very easy.
• Use a ladder for better reach – To get closer to the drains, use the ladder
• Fix the damaged gutters – Ensure your gutters aren’t loose or severely rusted before power-washing them to avoid potential damage
• Rinse – Do thoroughly rinse the drains using the power washer, ensuring you get rid of dirt, flaking paint and any other debris.

Using Soap As An Alternative to the Power Washer

• If you don’t have a power washer, you can use soap and water to clean the gutters. Use two tablespoons of mild soap for every eight glasses of water
• Ensure you stand beneath the drains on a ladder to apply the paint well
• Scrub using a brush with soft bristles or a horsehair brush
• Unfortunately, this method will take more time than if you used a power washer
• to remove the gutters and scrub them from the ground
• To make it easy for you to fix them back, ensure you label from which part of the house you removed them

Cleaning Mildew

• You can use the mildew retardant to remove the mildew from the gutters
• Note that retardants contain chemicals that remove mould and inhibit it from forming
• Apply the retardant as instructed on the label
• The compound is dangerous to inhale, so you are well advised to wear a face mask and gloves when using it.

Air Drying the Gutters

• Always clean gutters on a sunny day. After you have cleaned them, allow them between four and six hours to dry.
• To drain the water from the cracks and crevices, flip them over every now and then.

Stripping, Sanding, and Sealing

Use a Plastic Putty Knife to Strip Off Old Paint

• The plastic putty knife is ideal as it does not leave scratch marks on the metallic gutters as would a wire brush.
• Use long strokes and apply pressure as you remove the old paint on the gutters.
• Ensure you remove as much old paint as you possibly can.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons by Fibergutter

Use Stripping Chemicals to Remove Old Paint

• Sometimes, the old paint is caked onto the gutters, so it is hard to remove it. Apply stripping chemicals to make it easier to remove the paint.
• Apply a bit of paint stripper on a rag and rub off the old paint
• The paint stripper chemicals are dangerous to inhale, so use as little amount as possible
• Always wear a face mask and gloves to protect yourself from the stripper chemical fumes

Use Sanding Block to Smoothen the Surface

• Use the sand block to remove rough patches as well as any remaining old paint.
• Sanding helps the new paint to adhere better to the gutters
• You could save more time if you used a palm sander
• Take your time to ensure the drains are as smooth as possible

Rinse the Gutters

• Use a pressure hose or a wet cloth to remove residue from sanding
• Ensure the gutters feel smooth to the touch

Use a Cloth to Dry the Gutters

• Ensure that there is no residue from sanding the gutters or water from washing.
• Before you prime the gutters, make sure they are completely dry

Use a Gutter Seal to Seal the Joints

• To seal the gutter joints and downspout connections, apply the gutter seal
• Allow the gutter seal to dry before priming the gutters
• Skip this step if your gutters have no joints

Applying Primer on the Gutters

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Protect Your Home From Paint with Cardboards

• Put small pieces of cardboard below the gutters to prevent the paint from pouring into your fascia and soffits.
• You can use painter’s tape to fasten the cardboard below the gutters
• Ensure your home’s soffits, siding and fascia are covered away from the primer being applied to the gutters

Alternatively, Remove the Gutters and Paint them on the Ground

• Remove the gutters using a screwdriver if you are not comfortable painting them when they are attached to the fascia
• Lay them on a painter’s tarp in your yard
• Make sure they are correctly labelled to make it easy to put them back
• Go ahead and prime and paint them on the ground where you are sure the paint will not get into your home

Use Oil-Based Prime to Prevent Rusting

• Ensure the prime is specially manufactured for use on the gutters
• Ask your professional painter to give you recommendations of the best primer for gutters in your area
• The primer helps the top coat of the paint to stick better on the gutters, thus preventing peeling or flaking

Use an airless Spray Quick Application

• Use the airless spray to get value for money
• If you use a sprayer, mask the fascia and the roof to prevent over spraying.
• Wipe off the paint that gets to unwanted places
• Apply the light coat by adjusting the pressure knob on your sprayer
• Wear a respirator mask to keep the fumes from the sprayer at bay

Use a Brush or a Roller if You Don’t Have an Airless Sprayer

• Use the traditional roller or a paintbrush as an alternative to an airless sprayer
• Never over-apply the primer, as this makes it hard for the top coat to be applied evenly
• If you used an oil-based primer, allow it one to two hours to dry
• The label on the primer will give you the preferred wait time until it dries
• Never apply the top coat until the primer is completely dry

Applying the Paint

Use Oil-Based Paint for Outermost Layer

• To protect the gutters from water damage, use gloss or satin paint for the top coat.
• The oil-based paint dries faster and has a better finish
• Research the best oil-based paint for gutters available in your area

Ensure the Paint Colour Complements Your House’ Colour

• Most homeowners prefer white for gutters as it looks clean. It is a good colour, especially if you have painted your house’s exterior walls black
• For homes with grey or brown exteriors, you may opt to paint your gutters similar colours to blend in

Use a Paint Brush or Sprayer to Apply a Thin Top Coat

• A brush helps you evenly spread the top coat on the gutters
• If there are any runs from using the brush, correct them immediately
• If you are in a hurry, you can still use the sprayer to apply the thin top coat, but you will need to adjust your pressure knob
• If you use the sprayer, only spray the top layer once to prevent the paint from getting thick

Allow the Paint to Dry

• The top coat will take two to four hours to dry completely
• If you are lucky, you will be using fast-drying paint, and you won’t have to wait this long
• To ensure the colour appears even, you can apply another top coat with a paintbrush or a paint sprayer

Put Back the Gutters if You Were Painting Them From the Ground

• Fix the gutters back after the paint is completely dry

Make the Final Touch-ups on Missed Parts

• If you spot any places you may have missed, use a small paintbrush to do the final touch-up