DIY Supermarket

The regular maintenance of the gutters on your home is important, and you should check them every year.  Many older homes still have metal gutters, and these tend to rust over time.  If caught early enough, rusted gutters can be saved, and will not need to be replaced.  Always make certain to use a sturdy ladder when you are checking and/or working on your gutters. 

You can remove small patches of rust with sandpaper or an emery cloth.  If there are large areas of rust, you will want to use a wire brush; you can also use a wire brush wheel attached to a drill.  Rub the rusted area until you see clean metal.  Once all the rust is gone, liberally coat the gutters with a rust-neutralising primer, and let it dry thoroughly.

If you see cracks or small holes where the gutter has rusted through, fill them with roof and gutter sealant.  Larger holes should be repaired with glass fibre filler or gutter repair tape.  Only apply these after the area surrounding the damage is free of rust and dry.

When all your repair work is dry, paint the gutters with either black bitumen paint or gloss paint suitable for exterior use.