QA

Question: What Is A Drip Edge In Roofing

Drip edge is metal flashing installed at the edges of the roof to keep water away from your fascia and from getting underneath your roofing components. If your roof doesn’t have drip edge, water gets behind your gutters and rots out both your fascia board and roof decking.

Does a roof need a drip edge?

Without a drip edge, water may end up beneath the shingles and may cause damage to various parts of the home. Though your home may not have originally had a drip edge installed, drip edges are now required by most building codes across North America to protect homes from damage.

Can drip edge be installed after shingles?

The drip edge is often replaced when new shingles are installed, but it can be replaced at any time. Asphalt roof shingles can become brittle in cold weather, so wait until a warm (but not hot) day to remove and replace eave stripping.

Does drip edge go around entire roof?

Drip edge is installed around the whole perimeter of the roof. It is used to hold the underlayments down and create a watertight seal around the edge of the roof. Only the face of the metal is seen and is usually just white one to one and half inch stripe located right under the shingles and above the fascia.

When should you not use drip edge?

Just like normal drip edge, aluminum fascia and rake molding goes along the eaves and covers the edge of your roof’s deck to prevent water from going where it’s not supposed to. If your home has either one, you don’t need drip edge.

Do I need gutters if I have a drip edge?

It is recommended that gutters are placed under or ‘behind’ the drip edge of your roof. If gutters are installed below the drip edge, water can drip behind the gutter and cause damage to the wood supporting the gutter system.

Does drip edge go over or under underlayment?

According to most building codes and manufacturer recommendations, the drip edge should be installed beneath the underlayment along the eaves of the roof. But over the underlayment along the rake edges of the roof. Understanding the proper way to install the drip edge will only get you so far.

Does drip edge go under tar paper?

The drip edge should be over the paper at the eaves, and under along the rake. mroberson: Its a TRAP! Back in my construction days, I learned that you place the tar paper OVER the drip edge on the eaves so if moisture gets through the shingles, it does not get under the drip edge.

How far should shingles overhang drip edge?

Asphalt shingles should overhang the exterior edge of the drip edge by ¼ to ¾-inch. Check local building code for drip edge requirements prior to the start of your roofing project.

Should there be a gap between drip edge and fascia?

The best installation method is to leave a gap between the drip edge and the fascia board, about the width of a finger. The shingles should also overhang the drip edge 3⁄8 to 1/2 an inch.

Should drip edge be nailed to fascia?

A vertical drip edge lip extends down roughly 1 5/8″ and as Steve points out, should not be set tight against the fascia board or water may run behind the gutter and down the fascia, inviting leaks and rot.

How long is drip edge?

Roof drip edges are generally sold in 10.5-foot lengths, but they are occasionally sold in 8-foot lengths or smaller. The length of the overhang itself commonly ranges from 2 to 5 inches.

How do you calculate drip edge?

The drip edge metal is only used at the bottom edge of roofs – near the gutters. Measure the length and add 10% to find how much drip edge you will need.

Does drip edge go on top of felt paper?

Installing roof drip edge flashing properly The best way is to install the roof drip edge only along the eaves first, then place ice-and-water barrier (in the snowbelt) or felt paper (underlayment) over the drip edge. This lets any water that gets on the roof run down the underlayment and over the drip edge.

What is the proper overhang for roof shingles?

Shingles should not extend more than 3/4” (19 mm) past the drip edge. If shingles overhang the edge of the roof by more than 3/4” (19 mm), then they are not supported and may crack and break off. In addition, the wind resistance at the roof edge may be compromised.

How many nails do you use on drip edge?

Install the starter strip so that it overhangs the drip edge by 1/2-inch. Nail the starter strip about 3” up from the leading edge, using 4 nails evenly spaced for a full strip (approximately 10”-12-inches apart).

Is drip edge used with metal roofing?

A drip edge is not needed for metal roofing. If you make sure to overhang your metal roofing at least an inch, the drip edge is not necessary at the eaves and rakes.

Should I paint my drip edge?

The drip edge in and of itself is designed to protect the integrity of your roof, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t also need its own protecting! Priming and painting will deliver that protection, along with a cohesive aesthetic if your drip edge is visible.