When planning an exterior paint job, many homeowners find themselves grappling with unexpected questions—one of the most common being: should painters remove gutters? It’s a surprisingly nuanced issue that intertwines aesthetics, structural integrity, and smart budgeting. In Melbourne, Australia, where home styles range from Edwardian weatherboards to modernist builds, making the right decision isn’t just about looks—it’s about long-term value.
With Steve Arnie of Gutter Cleaning Melbourne, we’ll explore whether it’s worth removing gutters before painting, what local Melbourne professionals recommend, and how this choice affects your home’s curb appeal, maintenance costs, and project outcomes.
What Do Painters Actually Do with Gutters?
Before we dive into the yes-or-no of removing gutters, let’s clarify what painters typically do during an exterior paint job. In Melbourne suburbs like Brunswick, Fitzroy, and Brighton, licensed exterior painters are meticulous about surface preparation. This includes:
- Cleaning and pressure washing walls
- Scraping off peeling paint
- Filling and sanding damaged areas
- Priming exposed wood and masonry
- Protecting fixtures—including gutters—from overspray
Most commonly, painters tape off or mask gutters rather than remove them. However, whether they should remove them depends on the type of paint job being done, the condition of the gutters, and the architectural details of the home.
Pros of Removing Gutters Before Painting
1. Cleaner Lines and Full Paint Coverage
If your gutters hug the fascia boards tightly—as many do in Melbourne’s Victorian and Federation homes—they can obstruct painters from reaching the timber underneath. Over time, this unpainted area can deteriorate, especially in Melbourne’s variable climate where rain and wind expose every crevice.
Removing the gutters ensures:
- Seamless coverage of fascia boards
- Uniform paint protection
- A neater, more professional finish
2. Opportunity to Inspect Hidden Damage
Gutters can conceal a multitude of sins: rotting wood, termite damage, rust stains, or cracked render. When removed, you or your tradesperson can inspect the underlying areas and conduct repairs before painting—particularly important in humid areas like the Dandenong Ranges or older suburbs like Northcote.
3. Easier Maintenance Down the Line
Paint applied behind gutters prevents wood from prematurely weathering. This adds years to your home’s maintenance schedule and reduces the frequency of repainting—something any Melbourne homeowner paying premium tradie rates can appreciate.
Cons of Removing Gutters Before Painting
1. Added Labor and Cost
In many cases, removing and reinstalling gutters isn’t part of a standard painting quote. It involves:
- Unscrewing brackets
- Disconnecting downpipes
- Safely storing long gutter runs
- Ensuring correct fall upon reinstallation
Hiring a gutter specialist or roofer for this step can add hundreds—if not thousands—to your project. In Melbourne’s competitive trade market, that’s no small consideration.
2. Risk of Damage
If gutters are old or fragile—as seen in many post-war homes in Preston or Reservoir—removing them can cause bends, warping, or broken clips. Reinstalling damaged gutters may require full replacement, pushing up your renovation budget.
3. Potential Scheduling Delays
Removing gutters might require coordination between multiple trades (painters, roof plumbers, gutter installers). Given the tradie shortage in Melbourne post-pandemic, delays can derail your project timeline significantly.
For professional needs, just go to https://gutter-cleaning-melbourne.com.au/.
When Is It Necessary to Remove Gutters?
Here are some situations where gutter removal is strongly recommended:
- You’re repainting after decades of neglect and fascia boards show signs of water damage
- You’re changing gutter styles, e.g., switching from quad to squareline profiles
- The guttering was previously installed poorly and doesn’t allow paint access to the rear
- You’re installing new insulation or sarking, and gutters need to come off anyway
In contrast, if your gutters are in good shape and the existing paintwork is relatively recent, Melbourne professionals usually advise leaving them on and masking around them—especially when using weatherproof paints like Dulux Weathershield, which are common for local conditions.
What Melbourne Tradies Say
We spoke with several licensed painters and guttering specialists around Greater Melbourne, including suburbs like Essendon, Elwood, and Glen Waverley. Here’s what they had to say:
“If the fascia’s not rotten and the gutters are well-installed, there’s no need to remove them. A good painter can work around them without compromising quality.”
— Jared M., Exterior Painter, South Melbourne
“Removal makes sense if you’re replacing gutters anyway. But otherwise, most of us prefer to mask and spray—it’s faster, cleaner, and cheaper for the client.”
— Leonie T., Gutter Installer, Bayside
“We always offer the option. Some homeowners in heritage homes want every detail exposed and painted—especially in areas like Williamstown where authenticity matters.”
— Carlos D., Heritage Home Specialist, Inner North
SEO-Savvy Answer for “Should Painters Remove Gutters?”
So, let’s circle back: Should painters remove gutters? In Melbourne, the answer depends on three main factors:
- The age and design of your home
- The condition of existing paint and gutter installation
- Your renovation goals and budget flexibility
For modern homes in areas like Doncaster or Point Cook, painters can usually work around gutters effectively. But for older or weather-damaged properties, particularly those facing the Port Phillip Bay breeze, removal may be the smarter long-term move.
If in doubt, get multiple quotes, and ask each painter or builder their policy on gutter removal. This gives you a clearer sense of what’s standard in Melbourne and helps you compare apples to apples.
Final Word: Don’t Skip the Details
Painting your home is about more than color—it’s about preservation, protection, and pride. Ignoring what lies behind your gutters could cost you more in repairs down the track. But unnecessarily pulling them off can open a Pandora’s box of extra expense and coordination.
In a city like Melbourne, where property values and climate considerations are high-stakes, the decision should be tailored to your specific situation.
So next time you ask: Should painters remove gutters?—you’ll know it’s not just about convenience. It’s about craftsmanship, condition, and care.
💡Pro Tip for Locals: If you’re in Melbourne’s inner-east, check if your council offers rebates for external house painting or gutter upgrades as part of heritage conservation programs.