#Installing drip edge on roof install
#Installing drip edge on roof code

Should this moisture enter your home, it can lead to mildew or mold growth.

If snow is unable to thaw and drain, that moisture gets backed up and trapped on your roof, which adds weight and can cause wood rot. Ice dams prevent snow from thawing and draining correctly.

Drip edges protect your roof from ice dams: Winter can be a dangerous time for your roof. Ice dams are a culmination of ice that collects and freezes on the edge of a roof.

Since wind damage is among the top reasons homeowners file an insurance claim, this is one benefit you should not ignore.

They stabilize your roof: Roof edge flashing can help stabilize your roof during strong wind or rain.

They can keep your porch dry: Because drip edges redirect water into gutters, you don’t need to worry about a downpour washing down from your roof and onto your porch or deck during heavy rain.

This area of your roof is often responsible for letting small animals or other unwanted pests enter your home through your attic. A carpenter’s gap is the area of space between a roof deck and a fascia board.

Drip edges keep pests out of your home: Drip edges cover the “carpenter’s gap” of your roof.

This damage can take the form of discoloration and wood rot.

If your soffit and fascia are left exposed, they can be damaged by the excess moisture.

They prevent fascia and soffit damage: Drip edges redirect water away from your roof’s vulnerable soffit and fascia areas and funnel it into your gutters.

Why Do I Need a Drip Edge on My Roof?Īny homeowner who is interested in protecting their home and prolonging the lifespan of their roof should consider having aluminum drip edges installed. Benefits of installing a drip edge follow: They can also be constructed out of durable plastic, vinyl, or fiberglass. Metal drip edges are typically made of a non-porous, non-corroding metal, like galvanized steel, aluminum, or copper. They extend beyond the fascia and are a minimum of one-third of the gutter width. The gutters then carry this water away.ĭrip edges can be installed on the rake, eaves, and gable of your roof. The purpose of a drip edge is to help redirect water from the fascia and into the gutters. What Is a Drip Edge?Ī drip edge is an angled piece of flashing that is installed over top of a fascia board. Learn more about what a drip edge can do for your house or structure below. If they do not extend far enough, driving rain can get under them and damage the roof deck.What Is Drip Edge and Why Is It Important?ĭoes the roof of your home have a drip edge? If not, it probably should.Īccording to one report released by the EPA, drip edges are among the top ways to control moisture during building design, construction, and maintenance. But what is the purpose of a drip edge, and why do you need one on your roof? Without a drip edge, this excess water can damage your roof, siding, porch, and even your basement. If the shingles are allowed to extend too far, then they can be caught by the wind and damaged. Once the drip edge is installed, the shingles should extend ½ inch to ¾ inch past the drip edge.

Overhang also applies to the shingles on the side of the home. The purpose of combining the drip edge and the overhang is to keep water directed to the gutter and off of the fascia. The overhang is the distance the first row of shingles extends past the drip edge. If there is no drip edge, then the shingles should extend one inch to an inch and a half past the roof decking. A drip edge will keep the shingles from bending over into the gutter and will provide edge protection on the rake or angled portion of your roof.

#Installing drip edge on roof code

That may meet building code in some areas, but it does not offer the best protection for the roof deck or the shingles.

#Installing drip edge on roof install

There are roofing companies that will install shingles without using a drip edge. It is sometimes used in re-roofing projects where the extra length is necessary when installing over an existing roof. Type F: Shaped like Type D, this drip edge has an extended leg that runs down the fascia.