New-looking gutters can reinvigorate your home’s aesthetic, tie a property’s color scheme together or turn back the clock on an aging house. Fortunately, you don’t have to install an all-new gutter system whenever you’re in the mood for a change — painting house gutters is beneficial in several ways. This guide to painting gutters explores everything you need to know, from the appropriate paint type to critical preparations and when it’s best to call a professional.
Can You Paint Gutters at Home?
If you’re a DIY enthusiast with time and tenacity, you can gather your materials and paint your gutters yourself. A freshly painted gutter system can add curb appeal to your home and spruce up the signs of aging, but you’ll eventually need to repaint them after a few years of weather exposure. Professional gutter installation services offer gutters with longer-lasting, moisture-resistant paint specifically formulated to resist flaking and peeling, so if you’re after longevity, consider replacing your gutters instead.
Should You Consider Painting Your Gutters?
Before starting a gutter painting project, compare the pros and cons to ensure you’ll be satisfied with the results and are willing to take the potential risks.
Benefits of Painting Gutters on Your Home
There are several good reasons to paint your gutters.
- Aesthetic appeal: You can customize your gutters to complement your home’s look, improve curb appeal and redo older, chipping paint.
- Corrosion and weather protection: High-quality paint can shield metal gutters from humidity and rain, reducing rust and oxidation.
- Cost-effective change: Painting is the best option for changing colors without installing a whole new gutter system.
Drawbacks of Painting Gutters
Before painting your gutters, consider a few potential cons.
- Frequent repainting: DIY gutter paint jobs typically start flaking and chipping from exposure earlier than professionally painted gutters.
- Time, effort and finances: Cleaning, preparing and safely accessing gutters on larger homes may take several days and cost hundreds of dollars.
- Risk of clogging: Paint that peels or chips off can accumulate in downpipes and combine with debris to clog the waterway.
Which Paint Works Best for Painting Gutters?
UV-protected, weather-resistant exterior paint is essential for long-lasting results. The ideal paint type for your gutter painting endeavors also depends on your gutter material.
Aluminum
Acrylic latex paint is excellent for aluminum gutters due to its flexibility and outstanding adhesion properties. You can also use oil-based paint, but be aware it may require more preparation. Before painting, ensure the surface is clean and free from oxidation, and select a primer designed for metal to enhance adhesion and longevity.
Vinyl
The best choice for vinyl gutters has a special formulation that sticks to vinyl surfaces and withstands temperature fluctuations. If you use specialty vinyl paint, you can skip the primer, though cleaning the gutters thoroughly with a vinyl-safe cleaner is essential so the paint adheres properly.
Copper
For copper gutters, use an oil-based paint designed for metals. To maintain the natural orange copper look, consider using a clear coat to prevent oxidation and the formation of a greenish-blue patina. Before painting, clean the gutters’ surface with a vinegar-water-salt solution or specialized oxidation cleaner, and apply a primer suited to copper.
Steel
Steel gutters benefit from rust-inhibiting oil-based paint, which offers corrosion protection. An alternative is acrylic exterior paint, provided you correctly prime the surface first. Remove rust using sandpaper or a wire brush before you start painting, and apply a corrosion-inhibiting primer to prevent the paint from flaking off.
Should You Paint the Inside of Your Gutters?
If you’re giving your gutters a makeover, it’s usually best practice to skip painting the interior. This precaution prevents flaking or residual paint from clogging bends and downpipes as it mixes with debris. Scooping up debris can also be more challenging, as you risk chipping the paint. Also, the inside of gutters sees a lot of moisture, and many hardware store paints lack the durability to withstand prolonged submersion.
However, there are exceptions to this guideline. If you can see inside your gutters from specific angles, you may want to paint the insides to preserve their aesthetic appeal. Your gutters may also need holistic corrosion protection or a smoother surface for debris to flow over, and smooth, glossy metal paint can address both concerns. If you decide to paint the inside, always use the appropriate paint and primer and properly prepare the surface for adhesion to reduce clog risks.
What Do I Need to Do Before Painting House Gutters?
Follow these steps to ensure your painted gutters look stunning and stay intact for a long time.
- Gather your materials and tools: You’ll need a long ladder, gloves, safety glasses, a dust mask, a putty knife or paint scraper, sandpaper, dish soap or gutter cleaner, a scrubbing brush, a bucket, paintbrushes, primer and exterior paint.
- Wait for clear, dry weather: Begin your painting process when the forecast calls for several days of fair weather so rain, snow and wind don’t sabotage your hard work or make it unsafe to traverse ladders.
- Ensure they don’t need replacing: Have a professional inspect your gutter system and confirm that everything functions well. If they have leaks, warps or cracks, it’s better to repair or replace them.
- Decide where to paint them: You can take your gutters down or paint them directly from your ladder. Dismantling and reinstalling them takes time, but direct painting is messier, less thorough and more precarious.
How Do You Paint Gutters to Look Professional?
Here’s how to get a long-lasting, professional-looking finish when painting your gutters yourself.
1. Thoroughly Clean and Wash Your Gutters
Start by removing any gutter guards and clearing out all debris, dirt and corrosion inside the gutter section you’re working on. Use a scoop or a pre-cut plastic cup to remove larger clumps, then wash away what’s left with a hose. You can also use a pressure washer on a low setting. Scrub the gutters with soapy water or gutter cleaner and a plastic-bristled scrubbing brush, then roughly rinse. Allow the gutters to dry completely.
2. Remove Flaking or Chipping Paint
If your have previously painted your gutters, use a putty knife or scraper to delicately remove peeling, flaking or chipping paint without scratching the gutter material. This step helps the new coats of paint adhere properly and creates a smooth, longer-lasting finish.
3. Sand and Wipe Down Your Gutters
Sanding removes lingering dirt and loose coating and creates a slightly rough surface for the best paint adhesion. Sand down the gutter surfaces you plan to paint with medium-grit sandpaper, around 120-grit. After you’ve sanded them, wipe down the gutters with a damp cloth to remove any dust, and let the gutters dry. While non-coated vinyl gutters don’t need sanding, those with gloss coatings do.
4. Apply Primer
Once your gutters are clean, sanded, wiped and fully dry, apply high-quality primer suitable for metal surfaces or vinyl-specific primer if your gutters are plastic. Add an even coat of primer to all areas you intend to paint. This step helps the paint stick effectively and prevents corrosion. Let the primer dry completely according to the instructions on the label.
5. Give Your Gutters Two Coats of Paint
Use the durable exterior paint you selected according to your gutter material type and apply an even first coat using your brush. This initial coat should take around four to six hours to dry, though you should still read the directions on the paint can for the most accurate information. When it’s dry, lightly sand rough spots before applying a second coat for added protection and color depth.
Improve Your Gutters’ Beauty and Efficiency With AmeriPro Roofing
Since 2000, AmeriPro Roofing has provided homeowners with durable, high-quality, custom gutter services that perfectly reflect their property’s aesthetic with minimal maintenance. We’re the ones to call if your gutters need repairs before a big paint job, and we’re your solution if you realize you’d be better off fully replacing your drainage system with a professionally pre-painted, seamless set of gutters.
AmeriPro Roofing’s team of certified technicians service locations spanning 15 states in the Northeast and Central United States. Book your complimentary inspection and set up an appointment with us online today, or contact us with any further questions.
