Short answer: drip edge belongs on every new shingle roof, and a replacement is the right time to decide whether the gutters are staying, going back up or being replaced. The two work together to get water off the roof and away from the house.
What drip edge does
Drip edge is bent metal along the eaves and the sloped gable edges. It holds the shingles out past the fascia so water drips clear, and it covers the edge of the roof deck so wind-driven rain cannot wick into the wood. Many older roofs around Hartford were installed without it, and the fascia boards show it.
At the eaves, the ice barrier goes over the drip edge so water cannot get behind it. At the gable edges, the drip edge goes over the underlayment.
Signs the roof edge needs attention
- Peeling paint, stains or soft wood on the fascia boards
- Water running behind the gutter instead of into it
- Gutters sagging, pulling away or leaking at the seams
- Long icicles and ice ridges along the same eaves each winter
- Wet soil or a damp basement wall under a downspout
Keep, rehang or replace the gutters?
| Gutter condition | What usually makes sense |
|---|---|
| Sound, properly pitched, no leaks | Take down and rehang after the roof |
| Dented, leaking seams or loose hangers | Replace at the same time as the roof |
| Rotted fascia behind them | Replace the fascia first, then hang new gutters |
Some roofers install gutters themselves; others leave it to a gutter company. Make sure the written contract says who removes, rehangs or replaces them.
Ice and the roof edge
Connecticut winters fill gutters with ice. Gutters do not cause ice dams, but a frozen, packed gutter makes the edge of the roof heavier and colder. The real protection is a full ice barrier from the edge of the roof to at least 24 inches inside the heated wall line, plus good attic airflow. See will a new roof stop ice dams and attic ventilation with a new roof.
Where the water goes next
Downspouts should carry water several feet from the foundation. Many older houses have downspouts draining right beside the wall or into old clay pipes. A new roof is a good time to check where every downspout ends.
For how the rest of the job runs, see what happens on roof replacement day.
Planning a new roof? Call to be connected with a roofer who works in your town.Mon–Fri 8:30 am–7 pm, Sat 9 am–4 pm (Eastern)
(844) 505-0987Related questions
- Is drip edge required on a new roof in Connecticut?
- The residential code used in Connecticut calls for drip edge at the eaves and gable edges of shingle roofs. Ask the roofer to include it and explain how it laps with the ice barrier.
- Do the gutters have to come down for a new roof?
- Often they do, so the crew can install drip edge and the ice barrier properly. Sound gutters can usually go back up afterward.
- Do gutter guards stop ice dams?
- No. Ice dams start with heat escaping from the house and melting roof snow. Guards keep leaves out but do not change that.