How to paint downpipes

Nailbag

Difficulty: Beginner

Transform your home's exterior by painting the downpipes. This simple project can modernise and restore old downpipes or change the colour of new plumbing, giving your home a fresh look.

Whether you have PVC (plastic) or metal downpipes, this guide will help you achieve a professional finish. The process for both materials is similar, but you need to use the right primer to ensure paint adhesion.

Painting downpipes typically requires the use of a ladder. Check out the guide How to use ladders safely and engage a helper to support both yourself and the ladder during this project.

Steps

Step 1

Prepare the surface.

Achieving a long-lasting exterior paint finish starts with proper surface preparation.

For old pipes in poor condition, begin with an adhesion test. Make several small crosscuts through the existing paint with a sharp knife, then press packing tape over the cuts and remove it. If paint comes off, it must be fully removed.

Use a scraper or sharp putty knife to remove loose flakes, then sand the surface with fine to medium sandpaper, starting from 180-grit up to 360-grit for a smooth finish.

Thoroughly clean the surface with a heavy-duty Scotch-Brite pad and sugar soap to remove contaminant before flushing with fresh water. This process also creates fine scratches that help the primer adhere. Remember to wear your personal protective equipment.

For new downpipes, start with the scourer pad to scuff the surface and then wash the pipe down with sugar soap before flushing with fresh water.

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Step 2

Mask the area.

Use old newspaper and masking tape to protect the surface behind the downpipe. More newspaper or a small tarp on the ground will protect from any drips. Use painters tape where any surfaces meet that you might want to protect. Remember to remove the tape as soon as the final painting is completed.

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Step 3

Apply the primer.

A primer helps your paint bond to surfaces that typically resist coatings and helps smooth out old painted piping, preventing the original colour from bleeding through.

For pre-painted downpipes and bare PVC, use Dulux Precision Max Adhesion Primer. For bare metal downpipes, use Dulux Precision All Metal Primer.

Before applying the primer, first use a paint stirrer in a scooping up and down motion to thoroughly mix the contents. Apply an even coat of primer with a brush (or a small roller if you prefer). Only one coat is required. Follow the directions on the can for drying time before proceeding to the next coat.

If your downpipes are exposed to direct sunlight, try to paint on a cloudy day. This will allow you more time to apply the primer evenly.

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Step 4

Select a colour.

Choosing a colour obviously comes down to personal taste. Typically, downpipes are either matched to the same colour as the gutter and facia boards or a colour that is the same or similar to the wall behind it.

Newer guttering and facias are often one of the Colorbond colours, which are easily identified and matched. If the wall is rendered, it may also be a Colorbond colour. Choosing a colour that’s similar the house cladding will help blend the pipe into the background.

If you don’t know the colour, you will need a sample chip to have the paint tinted to match. These are best sourced from an area of the wall that’s clean and won’t be noticed if you need to patch it afterwards. Removing one of the downpipe clips or inspection cap is another good source.

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Step 5

Paint the top coats.

It’s recommended to use a quality water-based exterior paint rather than using a spray paint. This is because all solvent-based spray packs (including ones for exterior use) will fade and crack over time. Products like Dulux Weathershield are more durable in high UV environments that can expand and contract.

After stirring your exterior paint thoroughly, apply your first coat. Then after waiting the recommended drying period, apply a second coat to achieve full coverage.

Once the paint has dried, remove all tape and admire your handiwork.

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