Guttering is moulding made of painted wood, plastic or metal installed under the upper eaves of a sloping roof. It directs water from the roof to a downspout and is otherwise known as “eave troughs”. They are great for curb appeal and can really change the look of your house. Gutters are generally made of plastics, metal, or wood. To apply a coat of paint to them, you can use a brush or sprayer. You could use a primer first to reduce the surface tension of the paint to avoid leaving any stains. It is also necessary to use primer again if you are using multiple coats. Regardless of your skill level, a professional could always be hired to paint your gutters.
Gutter Paint
You can either choose a design or colour that matches your house, or you can paint it in the same colour as the roof. If your roof is dark and you paint your gutters white, it may make them look like they run all the way down to the ground. If you want to use a different colour for gutter than what’s on your house but don’t feel confident doing it yourself then hire an exterior painter to do this for you.
Gutters need not match exactly with other features such as windows, door trims and so on because there is still some flexibility. You also need to remember that gutters are usually hidden from view unless viewed from below so could be painted in lighter colours that reflect light rather than dark colours that absorb it.
When to Paint Gutters?
It is best to wait for the weather to be dry and warm, especially when painting galvanised or aluminium gutters because you could colour them with rust if painted in cold weather. However, if your aluminium gutters are in good condition then you can begin repainting them any time of year. Wooden gutters could only be painted when they are clean and free from dirt, grease, mildew, moss etc. Otherwise, the paint may peel off the gutters after a while. Plastic gutters can be easily cleaned with soap suds or detergent but avoid using abrasives that might scratch the surface.
Gutter Painting Methods
There are two commonly used techniques to paint gutters:
- Painting gutters from the top down
- Painting from the bottom up
They both have their benefits and disadvantages, but you may need to use a combination of both depending on your roof design.
Paint from the Top Down
If you want to paint gutters from the top down, then you could get a ladder that can reach all the way to the ground because gutters are usually long and you don’t want to have to keep going back and forth while painting them. You also need a sharp-angled brush or roller so that it may be able to cover more surface area in fewer strokes. The thicker the paint, the easier it is for you too, so opt for a high-quality exterior paint that dries quickly instead of cheap stuff. Painting from the bottom up is usually more challenging and you may need help on this one. It’s best if you can get someone to hold a ladder on the other side of where you need it, while another person holds the ladder on your side (if possible). If not, then attach a rope or string on both ladders and use it as an improvised paint pole for extra height. Homeowners make a mistake in this painting process so a professional could be hired since painting jobs such as this are a breeze for them.
Painting from the Bottom Up
This method involves standing on top of your roof with your feet firmly planted in guttering boots (make sure these are firmly attached before climbing onto the roof), holding a brush or roller in one hand and using your other hand to apply paint to it at its highest point. You may likely need an extension pole to reach the entire length of your gutters because you don’t want to have to stop and start painting at different spots. You need to make sure that you paint from the highest point downwards so that everything beneath is covered with a coat. This technique is only ideal for smaller gutters projects where you can reach most parts of it by climbing onto the roof. In this case, it’s best if two people do the job together, one on top of the roof and another person holding a ladder on the ground close to the wall or house for support for those who are painting from the bottom up. Once again, a professional could be hired for this paint job due to their experience.
How to Paint Gutters?
Now you may have an idea of how to paint gutters properly. Using a power washer to power wash your pipes and gutters first is an extra step that can’t be neglected because it may help your paint stick to the surface better. It might seem like a daunting task but just remember that gutters are usually hidden from view so you won’t need to do anything too difficult or fancy, especially if they are already painted in a nice colour. Some homeowners make the mistake of painting their gutters before cleaning them which leaves them looking spotty and dirty, so avoid making this same mistake at all costs.
How to Choose the Right Paint for Your Gutter?
It’s important for you to know what type of material your gutter is made out of before picking up some paint because not every material reacts well to certain types of paints. This is where professional help may come in handy because they can check this for you and give you the right advice. Gutter paints also come with detailed instructions on how to apply them, so make sure that you read these first if it’s your first time trying out a new paint brand. Whatever type of paint you choose could be suitable for outdoor use to prevent it from deteriorating quickly after just a few months.
Painting gutters is not as difficult as it looks originally, but homeowners usually opt for professional help because their schedule might be too busy or the amount of gutters needing paint is simply overwhelming. If you’re feeling confident then go ahead and attempt the task yourself otherwise, call professional painters if your house needs painting and let them do all the hard work for you.
How to Prepare Gutters for Painting?
Another common mistake is not preparing the gutters for painting properly. For example, if you’ve been using your ladder or a high-rise platform to paint from the top down then all that you need to do is reattach it and go ahead and start painting again. However, gutters painted from the bottom up or with white caulk need a bit of extra preparation to make sure that your finished paint job is going to last for a long time. Prepare and clean your gutters and let them dry before you start painting. You can use a cloth or scrub sponge to wipe down the gutters and remove dirt, rust and any loose paint flakes (uses a paint stripper) which might fall off during the next step of attaching your extension pole for reaching difficult spots.
Painting Guttering
With proper surface treatment, it is not difficult but it’s definitely not something you want to attempt if you’ve never attempted anything similar before. A professional painter may have no trouble with this project so save yourself the stress and the money by hiring one instead. If you’ve done gutters for painting before and feel like a pro then go ahead and give it a try because the task is not complicated at all. Use quality paint that can be used both indoors and outdoors to prevent any mishaps. Painting gutters on your own can result in disappointing paint jobs if you’re not careful or experienced enough to make sure that the paint sticks to the surface properly. Make sure you have taped off all surrounding areas with masking tape and newspaper before starting. This is to make sure that your finished coat of paint is not going to damage other parts of your house accidentally.
Repainting Gutters and Downpipes
If your gutters are already in dire need of a fresh coat of paint then they may most likely need repainting in the future. This is why it’s best to pick up some quality exterior paint that can be used for both purposes in order to save yourself time in the long run. If your gutter has started leaking or if it looks like it’s completely falling apart then you might need to get a professional opinion about its condition and the best course of action to take in order to keep your house safe from water damage.
People generally ignore these little details but this can have a huge impact on how well their exterior coat of paint may last over time. This is why it’s important to hire a professional painter to take care of these little details for you.
Painting your gutters can help you save money in the long run by protecting them from rust and water damage which may eventually shorten their lifespan significantly over time. Make sure if painting it yourself is too much hassle you hire a professional to do this task for you so that your gutter looks great for many years to come. Painting your gutters yourself is doable, but it’s not the most recommended option.
In order to prevent any accidents, make sure that you have properly covered your surrounding areas before painting with protective tape and newspaper. If you’ve never done this before then hire a professional to do this for you instead, it is best not to risk getting paint on anything else but your gutters.
Gutter Paint
Gutters need a special kind of paint that is meant to be specifically used for this task and it could not damage your gutters, pipes, fascia and downpipes, so you might want to consider using a professional service.
Enamel Paint
This is a type of oil-based enamel paint that is known for its durability and elasticity. This type of oil-based paint is best to use for exterior surfaces. This paint applies easily on gutters and metal surfaces, but you need to make sure that the surface has already been sanded with heavy grit sandpaper in order to give this type of paint something to stick to.
Oil-based enamel paints are recommended for exterior surfaces. Because of this, it’s best to avoid water-based paints which are not specially made for exterior applications and painting gutters, especially if the materials gutters are made (including downspouts)of are common such as vinyl gutters.
Taking good care of your gutters, power washing from time to time, may keep the gutters in top condition and, in a way, in working order for longer, which means fewer repairs are needed on your part during the years ahead. Properly painting them can ensure that rust and moisture do not damage your house over time so choose the right paint type and take appropriate precautions when working with chemicals or power tools to avoid any accidents or injuries while preparing your house for a fresh coat of paint.
Painting gutters is one thing that can potentional be done from time to time, but it can become a real hassle if you’re not prepared for the task at hand. Painting your own gutter might save you some money in the short run, but hiring a professional service to do the job may ensure much better results and a lasting paint job as well. Paint manufacturers offer special varieties made specifically for this purpose so it’s best to stick with those types instead of going for oil-based paints which can become extremely slippery when wet and cause accidents as a result. They use special tools such as a power washer, putty knife, airless sprayer, acrylic bonding primer and similar.
Applying Primer
It helps prevent rusting by sealing the surface completely after having been painted over with two or three layers of enamel paint. This process requires some time and effort, but if done properly it may leave your gutters looking brand new again every time they need repainting. Don’t skimp on using proper tools and materials when doing the job yourself because this may reflect in your finished product.
Exterior Siding Painting
This specific type of paint is available for various surfaces including metal, vinyl gutters, aluminium gutters, mineral fibre and much more. It’s best to hire a professional painter whenever possible because they’re able to apply several layers of exterior siding paint which can result in great-looking results that last for many years. Painting your own gutters might seem like an easy task at first but it can quickly become frustrating if you don’t have the skills required to make it look good, which is why hiring someone who knows what they are doing is definitely recommended by all contractors. Paint manufacturers offer special varieties made specifically for this purpose so it’s best to leave this task
Fascia Painting
Fascia is a wooden strip that covers the exterior part of all gutters and downspouts, so applying a coat of paint to a fascia can be a bit tricky. If you have metal gutters then you shouldn’t apply any coat to this part as it may only cause problems in the long run by affecting its functionality as well as appearance. Always use acrylic bonding primer before the actual coat of paint has been applied.
Paint Remover
All sorts of paint coats can be removed from exterior surfaces with the right type of paint remover available for this specific job, such as the putty knife. It’s best to hire a professional service instead of trying to remove a coat yourself because it requires some special tools including paint sprayers and highly efficient solvents. Interior surfaces can be painted with acrylic latex paint which is highly durable, but if you’re thinking about applying oil-based paint in your house then think again because it may require constant maintenance in order to keep the surface in good condition.
Paint Sprayers
A power paint sprayer is manufactured for specific painting tasks and generally, a sprayer leaves a great finish behind which could be protected with a clear coat. It’s best to hire a professional service, that used quality primer and has a special preparation treatment, for this task because it requires specially designed sprayers for multiple coats, that are able to pass through different types of exterior paint as well as those available for other surfaces including metal, wood, vinyl gutters and more.
