Painting your gutters is a simple job, if not exactly an easy one. Here’s what you’ll need.

Before you go to the paint store you need to note a couple of paint tips. First, you need to look for ammonia-free primers. Ammonia reacts with aluminum to create a layer of gas between the aluminum and the paint, which can create a bubbling effect. Eventually, this bubbling will ruin your paint job.

Second, you need to make sure your enamel is satin or gloss because these will help your gutters repel water simply because they are non-porous.

You might want to make sure that you’re going to have a few days of dry weather before you tackle this project. Check the forecasts!

Start by performing a standard gutter cleaning, getting rid of all debris. You’re also going to need to remove any previous paint. That means that you’re going to have to take the sandpaper or the scrubber to your gutters until every scrap of the old paint has been removed.

Once you’ve done that you’re actually going to have to scrub down your gutters with soap and water. Sadly, you can’t simply pressure-wash them for this project.

Once your gutters are squeaky clean you can start with the primer.

Then, you’ll need to let the primer dry. This will take about 48 hours.

The enamel comes next. You’re going to need two coats, and, again, you’re going to need to let each one dry. 48 hours is a safe number once more — you can see why you were looking for several days of good weather.

You can then apply the paint in its final color. This will make your whole exterior look fresher! It’s not a bad project to take on if you’re planning to sell your house, since it will help make everything look a lot fresher.

If you’d like a professional gutter cleaning before you start painting, call us! We help homeowners throughout the Tampa Bay Area, from Brandon to Ocala. We offer free estimates, so call us today!