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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
WHY DO YOU NEED DRIP EDGE ON YOUR ROOF?
WHAT IS DRIP EDGE?
Drip edge is arguably the most under rated component of the gutter system. Without it, your roofing eave and fascia board will be destroyed by water damage. Eventually the gutters will fall off of the home. It’s hard to believe that this little strip of vinyl or aluminum could be so important, but it’s true. We like to think of drip edge as a piece of flashing that prevents water from going under the shingles or behind the gutter. You will almost always see them in right angles like in the photo above. Basically, what it does is covers the gap between your shingles and the gutter. This makes sure no water goes under the shingles or behind the gutter which will wreak havoc on your home.
The Anatomy of a Drip Edge
A drip edge is an angled piece of metal that’s applied on your roof’s edge to redirect water away from your roofing system and into your gutters. It’s usually made from a non-corroding metal that doesn’t stain, like aluminum, galvanized steel, or copper. Ideally, drip edges should be installed between the sheathing and fascia board on the rakes, eaves, and gables of your roof. A reliable contractor will ensure they extend past the facia to provide a drainage gap to protect your roof from water damage.
Why Is a Drip Edge Important?
A drip edge serves many essential purposes. Here are a few:
Prevent Fascia and Soffit Damage
Drip edges direct water away from your soffit and fascia and into your gutters. Having drip edges installed on your home minimizes the risk of these vulnerable features eroding over time.
Deters Insects and Pests
Insects and other tiny pests love to access your attic through the space between your roof decking and fascia. Drip edges cover this area of your roof that is otherwise responsible for allowing pests to enter your home.
Guards Against Roof Damage
Drip edges guard your shingles and roofing system from potential water damage, but they also stabilize your roof during strong wind or rainstorms. Before installing drip edges, learn how to check if your gutters are leaking to protect your home from water damage during storms.
Protects Against Ice Dams
Ice dams form when snow, water, and ice freeze at the edge of your roof. They prevent water from draining correctly and can potentially cause water damage to your roof. Drip edges help to keep water flowing away from your home to avoid the formation of ice dams.
Keeps Your Basement and Porch Dry
Drip edges redirect water into your gutters and away from your home, so you don’t have to worry about excess rainwater dumping onto your porch or leaking through your basement windows.
What Types of Drip Edges Are Available?
There are multiple types of drip edges to choose from to ensure the best performance for your home. Here are the most common types of drip edges.
L-Style Drip Edge
L-style drip edges are bent in the center to create a 90-degree angle. One side rests under the roofing material, and the other on top of the fascia to protect it from water damage. L-style drip edges are commonly installed on low-incline roofs.
T-Style Drip Edge
T-style drip edges are more complex than the L-style, but they are more efficient at keeping water away from the roofing system. An extra piece of metal rests between the drip edge and house to deter water from the fascia boards.
C-Style Drip Edge
You’ll usually find C-style drip edges on homes that don’t have fascia boards. They are referred to as “gutter aprons” because they have a long edge and are curved at a 120-degree angle to direct rainwater directly into your gutters.
Can I Install Drip Edge on My Current Roof?
After reading about all the benefits of drip edges, you probably wish you had installed one on your roof years ago! Good news, it’s not too late to install a drip edge. Even though the ideal time to install drip edges is when your gutters and roof are installed, an experienced contractor can add them to your home now to prevent damage to your home in the future.
What Should I Know about Drip Edge Installation?
Installing drip edges is a tricky job. You have to navigate your shingles, fascia, and roof decking to correctly install drip edges, making these parts or your roof vulnerable to damage. Additionally, if you install your drip edges incorrectly, they can cause water to flow away from your gutters and cause costly damage, like:
Wood rot
Water damage
Fascia and soffit erosion
Structural damage
Needless to say, when you’re ready to add a drip edge to your home, it’s best to rely on professionals to complete your installation. They’ll install your drip edge correctly while making sure your roof, gutters, and fascia are in great shape too!
Rain Gutters and How It Works
Protecting the house from water damage is very pivotal for the proper maintenance and longevity of your house. Rain gutter aids in this process; its main purpose is that it filters the water off the roof and away from the house through troughs and downspouts. When excess water falls around the house, it can erode the soil around the house, compromising the foundation and causing permanent damages to the structure.
Additionally, a skimpy water clearance system on a rooftop will allow the water to potentially drip into your house, causing further damages and catastrophe if you have a basement. The rain gutter is a relatively inexpensive method of safeguarding your house from such disasters, and it ensures that the foundation of the house remains sound. Therefore, a proper gutter installation is crucial for home maintenance and care.
The gutter is installed right under the drip edge, which is tilted purposely. So, the rainwater flows into the gutter and out of it through downspouts attached along the wall and away from the house. The drip edge not only safeguards you from potential damages, but it also preserves the appearance of your roof. It protects the roofing shingles from potential water damages, which otherwise can cause corrosion. It also prolongs the life of the roof overall and shields the deck during harsh weather conditions.
Drip Edges and Its Importance
Drip edge is an essential part of the roof system. Its main purpose is to eliminate the water from going behind the gutter. When it rains, the water from the roof goes to the edge of the shingles, and when the water backflows, it hits the drip edge. The drip edge further diverts it into the gutter. During installation, the gutter is usually at the opposite end of the downspout, but it will go up behind the drip edge by the time you align the gutter and get to the other end where the downspout is situated. Hence, it is no longer behind the drip edge, but you should make sure that the drip edge is bent out far enough to divert the water into the gutter. The rain gutter is usually made of aluminum PVC and copper. Some are made of wood, but that’s a very rare possibility. The PVC rain gutters are the cheapest.
They come in a variety of colors to match your roof and house designs. Meanwhile, these rain gutters are not known for their longevity because they are short-lived. The aluminum gutters, on the other hand, are relatively expensive, but they offer great resistance in harsh conditions. They prove to be more superior and tougher than that of the PVC. Copper gutters are the most expensive of the three but offers far better quality and could prove to be pivotal against severe heat. Properly installed rain gutter lowers the maintenance cost in the future and shields the foundation of your house. Y ou should always choose a good company that can guide you in choosing the best gutter material that fills your home requirements.
Make sure the drip edge coming from the shingle is bending against the fascia board because when it rains, it’s going to come down the roof and stick to the drip edge. This will force the water into the gutter. If you don’t bend the drip edge out, the water will stick to that drip edge and fall behind the gutter. Eventually, it’s going to ride out your wood, so that’s something to think about while installing the new gutter. If the drip edge is flat against the fascia board, quickly bend that out, and it will divert the rainwater into the gutter.
There are two reasons for water getting behind the gutter. One of the reasons is that your shingles may be too short. Also, it may occur because you don’t have the drip edge. But, before you even get into that, you should make sure that your gutters are 100% clean, well-aligned, and up against the fascia board. If the problem still persists, make sure the roofing shingles are long enough. If that’s all good, then you need the drip edge which will divert rainwater into the gutter, and prevent the water from getting behind the gutter
Rain gutter installation can be a tricky job, and a lot of of complexities can ensue upon proper installation of the rain gutter.
A drip edge has to be resistant to possible erosion and should be 36 gauge or larger. It is best to install the drip on a warm day.
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004
Drip edge is arguably the most under rated component of the gutter system. Without it, your roofing eave and fascia board will be destroyed by water damage. Eventually the gutters will fall off of the home. It’s hard to believe that this little strip of vinyl or aluminum could be so important, but it’s true. We like to think of drip edge as a piece of flashing that prevents water from going under the shingles or behind the gutter. You will almost always see them in right angles like in the photo above. Basically, what it does is covers the gap between your shingles and the gutter. This makes sure no water goes under the shingles or behind the gutter which will wreak havoc on your home.