Can You Install It On Existing Roof
It is most often replaced when a new roof is installed, but it is possible to replace the drip edge at any time. We would not recommend a local roofing contractor who suggests leaving the old drip edge. It is best to replace the it on an existing roof in the warmer months, shingles can become brittle in the cold and break.
All Dimensions Are Approximate With ~1/8 Tolerance
- 1 – Pick your material. For other materials navigate back to Edge Metal.
- 2.0 – Pick your dimensions. These are provided in the chart below.
- 2.1 –Custom dimensions: Pick the appropriate selection for the amount of stock material needed.Example: If adding all dimensions of your custom profile equals 11.5″, you’ll pick the next size up, for example, 12″ stock. Provide dimensions for A, B, C and D on field 5.
- 3 –Hem. The hem is the folded portion after the kick. If you select “No hem”, the material that is used for this portion would be added to the roof portion. Example: A 1.5″ profile in copper has a 0.375″ hem, which would be added to the roof dimension . would become 2.5″ .
- 4 – Roof pitch. Select 0 for no pitch / 90° standard angle / flat roof, or the appropriate / closest pitch. The roof pitch is determined by the rise over the run.Example: If for every horizontal 12″ your roof rises 6″, you have a pitch 6.
- 5 – This is where you’ll enter dimensions for fields A, B, C and D if a custom profile was selected on field 2, otherwise leave blank.
- 6 – If you prefer to email a sketch you can use this field, otherwise, leave blank.
Where Does The Drip Edge Go On A Rake
If the drip edge runs along the leading edges, it is placed on a paper backing. If you are not a professional, dont worry, its not that hard to understand. Learn what drip edge and felt paper are used for and why you place drip edge on or under felt paper. I will also explain the difference between ridges and leading edge.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Under The Roof: What Is A Roof Drip Edge
By: Alan Net66|Published on: Oct 11, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|
Roof drip edge is a detail that can play an important role in protecting your home and valuables from rain, snow, sleet, or hail. If youre not sure what roof drip edge is or how it works, then this blog post will be helpful to you. Well discuss why roof drip edge should be installed on roofs and some of the benefits of having one installed.
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Does Your Roof Have Drip Edge On It
The trailing edge is a metal trim that is installed along the edges of the roof to control water flow from the siding and protect the roof components below. The fire rises above the ceiling walls and has a small metal â â â â â â bent out of the panel. It is non-corrosive and non-staining, keeping your ceiling looking great while remaining stable.
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Drip Edges And Gutters
While gutters are great on their own for moving water away from your home, pairing them with drip edges can help you keep your home free from standing water or water-based rot in the wood. This helps keep your roof looking nicer, longer, and pairing them with gutters provides a great defense.
Gutters are designed to catch water before it pools on your roof and causes standing water that attracts bugs and other animals. They also stop the water from pooling and sinking into your concrete and your homes foundation. No one wants cracked concrete or water stains on their foundation, and gutters help to prevent that.
The best part is you can install the drip edges even if you have gutters on your home. You wont have to worry about overlap or complicated installation, and you just need to make sure that the water flows directly into the gutter once it goes off the drip edge.
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The Circumstances When Drip Edge Isnt Required
You just learned that drip edge needs to be installed on your roof to be up to code. However, there are circumstances when drip edge isnt technically required.
If you have prebent aluminum fascia thats flush with your roofs decking, that serves as your drip edge. Theres also rake molding that serves as drip edge on homes built before the industry started using the aluminum fascia.
Just like normal drip edge, aluminum fascia and rake molding goes along the eaves and covers the edge of your roofs deck to prevent water from going where its not supposed to. If your home has either one, you don’t need drip edge.
Reasons To Use Drip Edge
Drip edge directs water away from the fascia and prevents water from rotting the fascia over time. Due to cohesion, surface tension, and other forces, water droplets tend to stick to one another and to the surfaces they are on, albeit slightly.
A drip edge is designed to take advantage of those forces and, along with gravity, direct water into the gutter.
If the home has no gutter, the drip edge will prevent the water from running down the fascia and onto or into the soffit cavity. However, without the drip edge, the water sticks to shingles, potentially working its way under the shingles to cause a leak.
For example, water may cling to the fascia, which may cause rot, or, in severe conditions, a leak into the home.
A drip edge prevents movement between fascia and deck boards, as well as assisting gutters to direct water away from your house and its foundation. Additionally, the drip edge extends the life of your roof and improves its overall effectiveness.
Drip edge protects the edge of the decking due to water penetration during driving rains. When conditions are serious, the wind pushes water around on a roof. Shingles, along with underlayments and ice and water protectors, keep wind-driven rain from harming the roofs deck.
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Roof Drip Edge Flashing At Roof Eaves & Gable Ends
Roof drip edge flashing serves multiple functions on a building, the foremost of which is to assist water in leaving the roof edge with minimum damage to other building components by directing the water off of the roof and into the gutter.
Without this detail water leaving the roof edge wants to run down building fascias, soffits, and walls, sometimes even entering and damaging the structure.
The drip edge also gives us a nice straight edge with which to align roof shingles, slates or other roofing material.
Drip edge varies in dimensions but typically the flange that nails to the roof surface is about 2.5″ wide and the vertical edge that directs roof runoff down and away is about 1.5″ in depth.
Lengths of drip vary but typically it’s sold in ten foot lengths .
The sketch above illustrates the end-profile of roof drip edge flashing and shows its placement on the roof. Usually you won’t see much of drip edge as it’s under the roof shingles, under the underlayment, and behind the roof gutter.
But where no gutters are installed you might get a peek.
Our photo above shows what we ask of roof edges:
if there is no gutter, water leaves the edge and zooms out into space away from the building
. If there is a gutter, water leaving the lower roof edge is directed into the gutter, not behind it, not down building walls, not where we don’t want it to go.
Keeping Your Home Safe
Now that you know what a drip edge is, you should know that they complement your gutters and that they are needed to help keep your home safe from water leaks. If water isnt directed away from your shingles and fascia, then leaks and wood rot can get into your roof.
For most homes, drip edges are required to protect your home from water damage, and they are needed whether you have gutters or not. A roof without a drip edge is only inviting water-based rot, leaks, and attracting animals into your home with standing water.
Drip edges are necessary, whether you have gutters or not, and theyll only serve to keep defending your home. They are easy to install and only provide benefits for your home, so why wouldnt you have them installed?
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Drip Edge Roof Flashing Types:
A T-shaped drip edge flashing is better because it adds distance between the edge of the roof and the fascia.
Tool sidebar:
Paul shows a few types of snips and explains a little about why they are called what they are called. Aviation snips come in right and left-hand versions. Right-handed snips can cut circles to the right. Left snips can cut circles to the left. You can also just use tinning snips, which cut straight.
Ensure Your Roof Has The Edge It Needs
A roof drip edge protects your roof and fascia from water damage, extends the life of your roof and decking, and protects the exterior parts of your home. With the right drip edging, you can enjoy your home and the outdoors without having to worry about weather damage.
To learn more about roof edge installation in Southern Maryland and Annapolis, check out our roofing products and services. We can install a roof drip edge that will fit the design of your desire and the budget you need.
Contact us today to learn more and schedule a free no-pressure estimate.
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Where Does A Drip Edge Go
Drip edges go at the edge of your roof, hanging off the sides so the water can drip down the edge and away from your fascia. Youll want to peel back your roof underlayment and slide the drip edge underneath it before securing it to the edge of your home. If you do have gutters, then youll need to make sure the water can drip into the gutters and be carried away.
If the drip edge is too long, then the water will simply fall over your gutters and pool at the base of your home. Make sure to measure and figure out how to place your drip edge, so they compliment your gutters and help bring water into them.
Do You Peel The Plastic Strip Off Shingles
No. 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.
If you are installing starter strips and you should always use starter strips beneath your first course of roof shingles then youll need more nails. You should have at least 5 nails in your starter strip shingles, as they are your first defense against wind uplift and moisture penetration on your roof.
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What Is A Roof Overhang
Before starting the whole article, lets first know about a roof overhang. An overhang is the part of the roof that extends past the wall and provides protection for the area around your sheds base. The breadth of an overhang can range from a few inches to many feet.
Usually, two types of overhang are used and they are rake overhang and eave overhang. The first one is created by extending the gable ends of your roof and the next one is created by extending the slope of the roof at the longer side of the shed.
Why Doesnt My Roof Have A Drip Edge
If your house is like many, you may find that you do not have drip edge flashing installed. Often the common practice is to leave out the drip edge and compensate by installing asphalt roof shingles so that they hang over the edge by an inch or two. This has been a common practice that is becoming less and less popular. It is now more frequently understood that a roof needs this extra protection. In 2012 the Internation Code Council changed things to reflect the requirement of drip edging on all asphalt roofs.
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The Cost Of Drip Edge Installation
The standard drip edge, which is made of aluminum, is about $2.00 per linear foot. This cost includes the labor needed for installation. If you are upgrading your metal to a different type of metal, that would affect the cost. The roofing contractor you choose to hire can have a big impact on the cost you will pay when buying drip gutters and other roofing material. The overheads and labor prices charged by roofing companies vary by industry, keep that in mind the next time you receive a roofers estimate. The cost of the materials should be the same across the board.
Why Is The Gap Important
If there is a gap resulting from an unsuccessful overlay, it may result in water flowing behind the edge instead of into the gutter. This is known as back flowing gutters, which can cause water damage to your home and roof system. If you run into issues with the overlap and need to resolve the gap, review the following tips:
- If the overlap is too short, fix it by placing drip edge under the first row of roof shingles and be sure that the exterior edge is reaching over the gutter.
- If the gutter is lower than the bottom edge of the drip edge, install flashing behind the drip edge and over the back edge of the gutter to remove the gap.
When you choose a reliable roofing contractor, you can feel confident that you are getting the work done right the first time. Here at Mr. Roof, we want you to feel confident that you are in good hands, so we offer one of the best warranties in the industry. !
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How To Properly Install A Drip Edge
Cut Lengths: Use a metal snip to divide the portions of the drip edge in accordance with your measurements. With the first section, place the strip toward the edge of the fascia at the point where the titled border reaches the parallel side. Note the slopes angle with a pencil and cut it to align so it will be easy to level with the edge upon fitting.
How Much Does A Drip Edge Cost
Since aluminum is considered the standard material for drip edges, this costs between $1 and $2 per linear foot. If you want a copper or steel drip edge instead, these types of metal will cost you more money.
Bear in mind that the cost of your drip edge will also be influenced by the style of the drip edge that youre going to be installing on your roof. There are three drip edge styles:
- Type C. This is an L-shaped drip edge thats bent at a 90-degree angle.
- Type D. This is a style that looks like the letter T with a flange at the bottom. Its designed to keep water further away from your fascia.
- Type F. This is a longer drip edge and its ideal for installing over your existing shingles, but you can also use it on rake edges.
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Use A Furring Strip To Improve Drip Edge Drainage
Some roofing manufacturers such as IKO suggest installing a furring strip to make sure that the drip edge is spaced well out from the fascia.
If using a Type C drip edge, you can install a furring strip to increase its performance. A furring edge is a strip of one-by-two wood you install on the vertical surface of the house just beneath the roofâs edge. When you install the drip edge over this strip, it keeps the lower flange further from the homeâs siding, which helps to keep water further from the home.
In the sketch above the furring strip is shown in blue. Nail thefurring strip to the fascia board near the fascia top – tight under any extending of roof decking the Drip edge will be installed 1/8″ proud of the furring strip in best practice or may be installed tight against the furring strip .
The gutter will be secured to the fascia board with the gutter high-end up tight against the under-side of the furring strip.
How To Replace A Drip Edge On An Existing Roof
What if you need to replace the drip edge on an existing roof or install a drip edge on an existing roof for the first time? It can be done heres how:
- Step One : Gently lift up the shingles on the edge of the roof and locate the nails holding the existing drip edge onto the roof.
- Step Two : Use a flat pry bar and hammer to pry the nails out of the drip edge gently.
- Step Three : Once free, slide the drip edge out and discard.
- Step Four : Install the new drip edge as described above, with cement and nails. Youll need to ask another roofing professional to hold up the shingles while you do so.
Just as with installing drip edges on new roofs, you should check with your local building codes to see if there are special rules you have to follow about drip edge replacement.
In years past, many building codes did not require drip edges but the roofing community realized that these relatively inexpensive products make a big difference in the performance of the roof. By installing drip edges properly, youll be giving your customers a better roofing system.
If youve discovered your roof is missing a drip edge, or has a damaged drip edge, you can get in touch with a roofing contractor through our Roofing Contractor Locator to get professional advice.
The video below provides additional information on drip edge installation on shingle roofs:
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