Roof Drip Edge Installation

A roof drip edge is a strip of metal flashing installed along the eaves and rake edges of a roof, bent so it directs rainwater away from the fascia and the edge of the roof decking and into the gutters. It is important because the edges of a roof are the most exposed to wind-driven rain, and the drip edge keeps that water from wicking back and rotting the wood beneath.

It works by giving water a clean path off the roof. The drip edge extends past the deck and over the fascia or into the gutter, so rain runs off the metal rather than curling back under the shingles and soaking the decking. By keeping that edge dry, it protects the underlayment, the decking, and the fascia from the rot that often starts at the roof’s perimeter.

Signs include rusted, bent, or missing edge metal, water stains or rot on the fascia, peeling paint along the eaves, water running behind the gutters, or shingles that overhang with no metal beneath them. If your roof predates current code or the existing drip edge is corroded, an upgrade or replacement is worth considering, often as part of a re-roof.

Both are edge flashings, but they do slightly different jobs. A standard drip edge directs water off the deck edge and over the fascia, while a gutter apron has a longer, lower leg that extends into the gutter to ensure water drops into the gutter rather than behind it. The wider gutter-apron style is recommended by roofing manufacturers in many situations. We help you select the right profile for your eaves and gutters based on your preferences and needs.

Drip edge is required by code in Florida. The Florida Building Code and the International Residential Code require drip edge at the eave and rake edges of the roof, so it is a standard, non-optional part of a code-compliant roof. We install it to those requirements with Florida Product Approved metal fasteners to resist wind uplift.

Drip edge is one of the more affordable roofing upgrades, and when installed as part of a roof replacement, the added cost is minimal. As a standalone project, the price depends on the length of the roof edges, the material, and any needed fascia repairs. Either way, we provide a clear, written quote after an inspection.

Drip edge is most commonly made of aluminum, which resists corrosion and suits Florida’s humidity and coastal salt air, and it is also available in galvanized steel and copper. We typically use durable, corrosion-resistant material in a color matched to your roof, in the correct profile for the eave and the rake.

It depends on the edge. At the eaves, the drip edge runs under the underlayment; at the rakes, it runs over the underlayment and on top of the shingle starter, with the shingles installed over it. Getting that sequence right is essential to keeping water out.

A quality metal drip edge lasts a long time, often the life of the roof, especially in corrosion-resistant aluminum. Florida’s salt air and intense sun can shorten the lifespan of lower-grade or improperly coated metal, which is why we use durable, corrosion-resistant materials that hold up to our climate.

Drip edge can be added to an existing roof, not only during new construction. It is most efficiently installed as part of a roof replacement before the new shingles are installed, but it can also be added or replaced on an existing roof when needed.