How to Preserve Wood Gutters
Wood gutters require more maintenance than vinyl gutters, but their aesthetic appeal is well worth the extra effort. Wood gutters can add value to your home and, with proper sealing and maintenance, can last for decades. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wide bristle brush
- Linseed oil
- Paint thinner
- Wire brush
- Putty knife
- Exterior primer
- Exterior paint
- Rubber gloves
Instructions
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1
Remove debris from the inside of your gutters, scraping with a wire brush or putty knife if needed. Clean the inside of the gutters with a hose and allow to dry.
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2
Use a medium grit sandpaper to rough up the interior of the gutters. This helps raise the grain, allowing the sealant to soak in.
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3
Seal the inside of your gutters using a 50/50 mix of linseed oil and paint thinner. Apply the sealant mixture with a well-made, firm, wide-bristle brush. Use a liberal amount so that the wood is well soaked. (If you don't see any puddling, you're not using enough of the linseed oil and thinner.) One good coat is all that's necessary.
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4
Scrape any peeling paint from the outside of the gutters and sand with a medium grit sandpaper, or a heavy grit if there is a lot of peeling. Wipe down the outside of the gutters to remove any dust from the scraping and sanding.
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5
Apply one coat of exterior enamel primer and allow it to dry according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
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6
Apply one coat of exterior paint, following the manufacturer's recommendations for drying time. NOTE: If this is the first coat of paint the gutters are receiving, apply two coats of both primer and paint.
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Tips & Warnings
Oil the insides of your gutters once each year in the spring. Attend to the outside of the gutters as needed, generally at the same time when the exterior of your house needs painting.
Don't skimp on the cleaning; the insides of your gutters are their lifeline.
Use rubber gloves rather than leather to protect your skin. Linseed oil will ruin the leather.
