If your gutters have seen better days, maybe it’s time to replace them. Or is it? It’s also possible those scuffed, weatherbeaten gutters just need a good cleaning and a paint job to take them from drab back to fab. You might be able to breathe new life into the exterior of your home if you know how to paint your gutters.
For gutter installation or gutter repairs, we’ve got you covered.
Can You Paint Rain Gutters?
Yes, you can absolutely paint your gutters. It doesn’t matter whether they are made of aluminum, vinyl, or steel. While it is more involved than just slapping color on with a paintbrush, it’s certainly a DIY project most homeowners can manage.
But before you get started, you’ll want to make sure you know the type of gutters you have on your house. This is important to know ahead of time because it will impact the type of paint you will need to buy.
For instance, you want to make sure to get an epoxy-based paint for vinyl gutters. But if you have aluminum gutters, you’ll need paint specifically made for metal, same for steel gutters.
What You Need
- Paintbrush or paint sprayer
- Ladder
- Face mask and gloves (if using a sprayer)
- Scrap cardboard (if using a sprayer)
- Painter’s tape
- Paint
- Vinyl: Epoxy-based acrylic paint
- Aluminum/Steel: Metal paint/Ammonia-free acrylic paint
- Primer
- Vinyl: Epoxy-based primer
- Aluminum/Steel: Metal primer/Ammonia-free clear acrylic bonding primer
- Sealer (for vinyl gutters)
- Drop cloth
- Utility gloves
- Scrub brush
- Bucket of soapy water
- Aluminum oxide or silicon carbide sandpaper
- Plastic putty knife
- Screwdriver
Spray or Brush?
You can paint your gutters with a paint sprayer or paintbrush. Naturally, both options have positives and negatives, so consider both before deciding what will be best for you.
Sprayer
Using a paint sprayer may seem like the most efficient way to paint, but the prep work can be time-consuming and the application requires a little practice.
A sprayer works best if you are removing your gutters and painting them on the ground. Otherwise, overspray can get on things you don’t want painted, like the roof, eaves, fascia, and siding.
Note: Even if you use a sprayer, you should still keep a paint brush handy for drips.
Pros of Spraying:
- Provides coverage from every angle
- Paint covers quickly and evenly
- No brush marks
Cons of Spraying:
- Overspray may get on the house
- Gutters should be removed for spraying and then reattached when dry, which actually raises the level of DIY difficulty and negates any or most time savings
- Challenging to use on windy days
- More expensive to buy or rent than brushes
Tip: Wear goggles and gloves if you use a sprayer and always follow the instructions included with the sprayer.
Paint Brush
We recommend using a paint brush or small roller if you are leaving your gutters on your home while you paint.
Pros of Using a Brush
- No overspray
- Can actually be faster using a brush than removing gutters to spray
Cons of Using a Brush:
- Gets into nooks and crannies
- Labor-intensive
- Requires working on a ladder the entire time
- May leave brush marks
How to Choose Paint
This is crucial. You need the right type of paint because certain kinds adhere better to specific surfaces like metal or vinyl. Choosing the wrong type of paint will result in the paint bubbling and peeling, sometimes within only a few months.
Paint for Vinyl Gutters
Epoxy-based acrylic paint is designed for use on vinyl. You should use them in tandem with an epoxy-based primer and a high gloss epoxy-based sealer. Both primer and sealer are important to make sure your color lasts as long as possible.
Why epoxy-based acrylic? Because regular acrylic paint will flake and peel off fairly quickly. Epoxy makes the acrylic paint thicker and makes the paint bond with the vinyl. While the upfront cost of epoxy-based paint may be more than plain acrylic, it will be worth it in the long run.
Steer clear of latex or oil-based paints for vinyl gutters. They may stick at first, but latex and oil-based paints will not expand and contract as the temperature changes, so your paint will peel.
Paint for Aluminum/Steel
Choose a clear acrylic bonding primer and 100% acrylic paint for your aluminum or steel gutters. Be sure both the primer and paint are ammonia-free because ammonia reacts with aluminum.
Should I Remove My Gutters to Paint?
There are a few things to consider when deciding whether to remove your rain gutters and paint them on the ground or whether to leave them on your house and paint them where they are.
- Damaged: If there is a section you know will need to be repaired, then you may want to take them down so you can safely do the repair.
- Heights: Consider how long you are comfortable being on a ladder.
- Safety: You will definitely be up on a ladder for longer periods of time if you don’t remove your gutters. Consider any physical restraints or limitations.
While there are certainly advantages to removing your gutters, it’s not necessary for most people.
How to Paint Rain Gutters
Clean
Start by cleaning all the gunk out of your gutters. If there is a lot of buildup of leaves and sticks, then it’s best to put on a pair of utility gloves and scoop out as much as you can.
Once you’ve cleared out as much as possible by hand, you may still need to scrub your gutters with a brush to be sure they are clear of any and all debris.
You will also want to remove any gutter guards or shields as well as gutter braces during the cleaning process. Be careful to keep track of these so you can reinstall them when you are done.
Scrape
If there was a previous coat of paint, you will need to use a plastic putty knife to scrape off old, loose paint. You can also use a drill with a soft wire brush attachment to scour off old, loose paint.
Be careful not to damage the gutters in the process. A plastic putty knife is preferred to a stiff wire brush because it won’t scratch the gutters. Those scratches might show through the new paint.
Repair
Inspect the outside of your gutters for any damage and repair them as needed. Fix leaky gutters, and keep an eye out for nicks and scratches.
Sand rough areas with either aluminum oxide or silicon carbide sandpaper untill all repaired areas are smooth and flush with the gutter material. This ensures the paint will glide right over the area without leaving streaks.
If you are leaving your gutters on your home to paint, this is also the time to repair any sagging gutters. Screws often loosen over time, particularly when weighed down by debris. Use a screwdriver to tighten loose screws and consider adding extra reinforcements on severely sagging areas.
Wash
Next, wash all dirt and grime off the outside of the gutters. These are the surfaces you will be painting and paint adheres better to a pristine surface free of dirt, sap and oils.
Using a bucket of soapy water and a scrub brush is best to ensure your gutters are thoroughly clean. It’s very important to get your gutters as clean as possible. Clean gutters are essential in order for the paint to stick well.
Note: Some say you can pressure wash your gutters, but that only removes some of the grime. Good old-fashioned elbow grease is the way to go for the best possible outcome.
Prep
Once your gutters are dry, tape off or protect areas you don’t want painted. Don’t forget to lay down a drop cloth. No matter how careful you are, drips are inevitable, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you are using a paint sprayer, you need more than just painter’s tape. Use cardboard or a tarp to protect your roof from overspray.
Prime
Some people want to skip the primer and go right to painting. Don’t. Primer helps the paint adhere to the gutter. Primer also helps to prevent mold and mildew growth and helps to achieve a professional look.
Be sure to buy the correct primer for the type of paint and gutters you have (see above). Apply a thin even coat of primer; be careful not to spread it too thick. Too much primer can make it difficult to apply the paint smoothly and evenly.
Paint
Once the primer has fully dried, it’s finally time to paint. Spread the paint evenly across the surface, being careful to fully cover the gutter. Don’t lay it on too thick for the first coat; you will be adding a second coat later.
Sealer (for vinyl gutters)
If you have vinyl rain gutters, you have one more step to go before you are done. You need to add a coat of sealer once your paint is fully dry. This will seal in the color and make your paint last.
FAQ About Painting Gutters
Spring and summer tend to be the best times of the year to paint your gutters. But ultimately, the best time is during your region’s dry season and when the temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything colder will stop the paint from drying.
You can match your gutters to your siding, your roof, or your trim. When in doubt, pick a color that matches the trim. The lines of the gutters and downspout complement the same lines as the trim.
You can expect the paint to last several years if you prepared your gutters well and used high-quality paint and primer. However, there are other factors that can also impact the paint’s lifespan, like extreme weather conditions.
Ready to Get to Painting?
Are you ready to drag out your ladder, pull on your coveralls, and start painting? Or would you rather have someone else do it? If so, let us help you find local professional painters who will have your gutters looking sparkling new in no time!
You’ve got gutter and gutter guard questions. We’ve got answers.
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