Drip Edge

What Is Drip Edge

Drip edge is an angled metal flashing strip installed along the eave and rake edges of a roof. Its primary function is to direct water runoff away from the fascia board and into the gutter. Without drip edge, water wicks back along the underside of the shingle overhang through capillary action and saturates the fascia, soffit, and roof deck edge. Drip edge typically extends 0.5 to 0.75 inches past the fascia face and is available in two main profiles: Type C (a simple L-shape) and Type D (a T-shaped profile with a lower kick-out flange). Standard sections are 10 feet long, made from 26-gauge galvanized steel or 0.019-inch aluminum, and overlapped by 2 inches at joints.

Drip Edge Installation Requirements

The IRC requires drip edge at both eaves and rakes on asphalt shingle roofs. The installation sequence matters. At the eave, drip edge goes directly on the roof deck, under the underlayment, so water running down the underlayment sheds over the drip edge and into the gutter. At the rake, drip edge goes over the underlayment so it catches any water that migrates sideways across the deck. Where ice and water shield is used at the eave, the membrane laps over the top of the drip edge. Drip edge should be fastened every 12 inches with roofing nails driven into the roof deck, not the fascia. At the corners where eave and rake drip edges meet, the rake piece should overlap the eave piece to ensure water flows downward.

Common Drip Edge Problems

The most common drip edge issue is that it is missing entirely. Many roofs installed before drip edge became a code requirement simply do not have it, and some roofers still omit it to save material cost. When drip edge is present, the next most common problem is insufficient overhang. If the metal does not extend far enough past the fascia, water still contacts the wood. Improper installation sequence (placing eave drip edge over the underlayment instead of under it) compromises the water shedding path. Physical damage from ladder placement is also common, resulting in dented or bent sections that create gaps where water pools.

Drip Edge and Insurance Claims

Drip edge is one of the most commonly supplemented items on roof replacement claims. When a full roof replacement is approved, the drip edge must be replaced and brought to current code, even if the original roof did not have it. Wind damage to drip edge is most frequent along the rake on gable-end roofs, where wind uplift forces are concentrated. Adjusters should inspect both eave and rake drip edge and document any displaced, missing, or bent sections with linear footage measurements. In Xactimate, drip edge is a separate line item from shingles and should be measured independently. Including drip edge in the initial estimate rather than as a supplement speeds up the claim process.