Over a period of time your guttering will begin to deteriorate. This is usually caused by a combination of hot sun during the summer and the cold winters we experience in the UK. 

Guttering comes in a multitude of materials including aluminium, plastic and even cement if your home is an older property.  Unfortunately, as the years pass, all guttering will need some care and attention as the joints start to leak.  

Leaky guttering is not only annoying but it can cause further problems to your property such as damp water soaks the walls beneath the guttering and eventually penetrates the interior. Replacing the guttering on your home can be an expensive job, but you can reduce this cost dramatically by carrying out maintenance regularly.  

There is no better time to do this than summertime so your guttering is working perfectly for those wet winter months.  

One particular product that is perfect for sealing leaky joints is Bedec Superflex Elastomeric Coating for gutters, roofs and walls – in fact it can be used on almost any surface including roof tiles, bricks, corrugated iron, asbestos and copper. It is a flexible and elastic coating which can be quickly applied by brush to form a high build, seamless, waterproof skin to prevent leaks and provides ultraviolet protection.  It’s also available in a range of colours to suit your outdoor surface, here I’m using the coating in black.  

You’ll find Bedec Superflec paint in a metal paint can which is ideal for storage as metal’s robust nature will keep the contents safely stored for your next use and when the tin is empty, simply recycle it at your nearest recycling centre.  

Here I have a step-by-step tutorial on how to prepare the guttering and apply Bedec Superflex to prevent any leaks in your guttering.  

• 1x 2.5 litre tin of Bedec Superflex Paint  
• 1x hard bristle hand brush  
• 180 grade sandpaper (medium)  
• 1x 2 inch natural bristle paintbrush  
• 1x wire brush  
• Safety googles and mask 

My first and most important tip for painting and sealing your guttering to prevent leaks is really quite simple… it’s all about preparation! And don’t forget to wear safety goggles and a face mask. 

Over many years of painting, it will be quite likely that there will be a lot of flaky paint. So, the first job to undertake is to remove all the old paint. I suggest that you use a wire brush to remove all debris. A wire brush will make it quick and relatively easy before moving onto the next step.  

Once you have wire brushed the surface to be painted, brush it down with a hard bristle hand brush to remove any remaining loose paint.

Once you have removed the bulk of loose paint you will need to make sure the surface is sound and well prepared before applying Bedec Superflex Coating. I suggest at this point that you give the guttering a light sanding with a 180 (medium) grade sandpaper to make sure you have a good key (the slightly scratched surface which allows the paint to grip to the under layer). 

We are now ready for the final part of our tutorial in preparing your guttering for the winter months and preventing any leaks.  

Bedec Superflex paint is, as I have mentioned, an elastomeric paint. It is quite thick but can be applied with a brush. When applying the paint it’s very important, especially on the joints, to work it right into the joints and apply the paint liberally. The coating takes about 4 hours to dry at 20 degrees centigrade.  

You’ve now applied the Bedec Superflex paint to all of your guttering so it’s time to test it. Fill a watering can and pour it into the guttering – the water will run away through the downpipe and into the sewers or soakaway.  

It’s worth taking the time to check your gutters before the winter as a leak can cause unnecessary costly problems down the line!  

Blog by Nigel Higgins – DIY Daddy