QA

What Is A Roof Drip Edge

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.

Is a drip edge necessary on a roof?

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 most popular time to install a drip edge is when new shingles are installed. However, the drip edge can be installed at any time. The materials involved include: a ladder, a flat pry bar, a hammer, tin snips, eave stripping, and galvanized roofing nails.

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.

Where is drip edge installed on roof?

The correct placement of a roof drip edge is on top of the roof’s exterior cover directly between the sheathing and the fascia board, which forms a drainage gap between the drip edge and the fascia board. As a result, the drainage improves water flow and protects the roof from potential water damage.

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 gutters need to be removed to install drip edge?

The ONLY and VERY IMPORTANT exception is 4” flanged gutter, those should ALWAYS be removed when the roof is stripped. Once they are locked on with new, independent drip edge and shingles, they can never be re-pitched, a common maintenance item for gutters.

Can you install new drip edge over old drip edge?

Replacing Drip Edge Eave Strips: Align one end of the lower eave strip even with the edge of the roof decking. Lift up roof shingles, and nail the eave strip in place with galvanized roofing nails. Overlap the other pieces of eave strip by at least 1” and nail them in place.

Does drip edge go under tar paper?

Does Drip Edge Go Over or Under Felt? 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.

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.

What is the difference between drip edge and gutter apron?

A drip edge, which is installed along the eaves and roof edge, directs the water away from your fascia board and into the gutter. On the other hand, a gutter apron has the advantage of providing you with less maintenance over time. Gutter flashing or gutter apron serves the primary purpose of collecting all the water.

What is the difference between drip edge and rake edge?

It involves the point of application in relation to the underlayment and/or eaves flashing. At the rake edge, the perimeter drip edge metal is applied over the underlayment with the appropriate fasteners secured every eight (8) to ten (10) inches on center.

Why is water dripping between gutter and fascia?

If water is dripping behind your gutter, it’s probably because it was installed without any flashing over the back of the gutter. The gutter apron will prevent the dripping. A gutter apron is a bent piece of flashing that tucks up under the shingles and over the gutter.

How do you build a drip edge on a house?

Installation: Dig a trench that is 18” wide and at least 8” deep along the drip line. Slope the bottom away from the house so that water will drain away from the foundation. Make sure to dispose of the soil in a flat area where it cannot be washed into the lake. Fill the trench with ½” -1½” crushed stone.

Does a metal roof need a drip edge?

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.

How far should drip edge be from fascia?

Drip edge height: 1 5/8″ Drip edge lip extension: 1/2″ Recommended drainage gap: 1/4″ (approx) spaced off of the fascia board.

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.

Which goes first gutters or roof?

While there is no perfect way to approach exterior remodeling, when it comes to gutters versus roofing, your best bet is usually to go with a new roof first. If your gutters are damaged or ineffective, you may have no other choice but to have them installed before your new roofing system.

Are you supposed to remove the plastic strip on the back of shingles?

The GAF shingle application instructions for our entire product line specifically state that that film does not need to be removed. Note: The film strips on the back of each shingle are to prevent sticking together of the shingles while in the bundle. Their removal is NOT required during application.