Painting zinc gutters - need urgent advise

[mreddie]

We recently had zinc guttering put up on the rear of our house. I was just about to paint it when someone suggested to me about washing the gutters with a water/vinegar mix which apparently makes the paint stick better and prevents paint flaking off in years down the track.

Has anyone heard of this before and if so what part vinegar to what part water...... or is it a straight vinegar wash. Also how soon should I paint after applying?

Sorry for the silly questions but I want to find out now before going through the long haul of painting.

Cheers!

[Kev Y.]

mreddie,welcome to the nuthouse

you only need to wash the guttering IF it is brand new, if it has been in the weather for a while it should be OK.

The reason you wash it, either with the vinagar mix or with metho, is to remove the oil film that is coated over the metal when it is manufactured.

once it has been either wiped down or weathered, use a good etch primer before applying the finish coat. I usually like to use an oil based paint, but
i belive that the solver "solaguard" range is just as good.

[mreddie]

Thanks so much Brudda.

The zinc gutters have probably been up for 3 months???

But might consider the metho option just to be sure....

Thanks for your guidance....... (wish I'd put up colorbond to start with....!)

mr eddie.

[Barry_White]

If it is gavanized gutter which I doubt if it is only 3 months old, it will need an etch primer.

If it is Zincalume gutter, which is probably the case you will not need an etch primer as paint will stick to it no trouble. If it has been up 3 months all it will need is a wash down to get the dust off and just paint it.

There is also no need to paint the inside of the gutter as it will outlast you even if you are only 1 year old.

How do I know? 11 years with Lysaght

[dapainter]

We recently had zinc guttering put up on the rear of our house. I was just about to paint it when someone suggested to me about washing the gutters with a water/vinegar mix which apparently makes the paint stick better and prevents paint flaking off in years down the track.

Has anyone heard of this before and if so what part vinegar to what part water...... or is it a straight vinegar wash. Also how soon should I paint after applying?

Sorry for the silly questions but I want to find out now before going through the long haul of painting.

Cheers!

if its been up for three months it will be fine to just dust down and to paint. No undecoats etc needed. Two coats of weathertough forte low sheen or gloss if using bristol... solarguard if using wattyl etc etc.

[mreddie]

Thanks everyone will take all ideas into account....but I have a Zincalume gutter so I'll just get painting (when the weather settles).... thanks guys!

[mreddie]

One further question I do have (I promise the last for a while), I've come across some silicone on the outside of the corners of the zinc guttering where the dodgy plumber did some appalling join work. And obviously when I've tried to paint in these corners the paint isn't completely covering the area and disappears. Now that I've painted on this corner... is there something out there that I can paint on the corners over the silicone that will allow the paint to stick??? Because I've already painted, it would need to be something that I could paint on with a brush..... If anyone has any thoughts on a product or solution that would be terrific.... !!!! Thanks Mr Eddie!

[Barry_White]

There is a product out now that will clean silicone up don't knoe the name but any hardware store should be able to point you in the right direction.

You may just have to scrape the paint off first and then clean the silicone up and repaint the corners.

Just found this.

http://www.lincolnsentry.com.au/Product.aspx?id=887

[Sirgillespie]

Mate im a painter, and the quickest easiest way is to smear some no more gaps over the area with a damp rag then paint. Goodluck matey.

[mreddie]

Thanks mate, was thinking no more gaps but wasn't sure on the smoothness.....but I'll have a crack.....Cheers !