What does drip edge do on a home?
Short answer. On a home, drip edge is the metal strip installed along the eaves and rakes of the roof that steers runoff into the gutters and away from the fascia, soffit and the edge of the roof deck. It also supports the shingle overhang, blocks wind-driven rain at the edge, and closes gaps that pests use to get into the attic.
Its four jobs
- Water control: water clings to surfaces and can curl back under a shingle edge. The drip edge's kick breaks that path and drops water into the gutter.
- Edge support: it gives the shingle overhang a straight, rigid edge, so shingles do not sag and crack over the fascia.
- Wind protection: it helps keep wind-driven rain from blowing up under the first course and the underlayment.
- Pest barrier: it closes the gap between deck and fascia that squirrels, birds and wasps use.
What happens without it
On homes without drip edge, the deck edge and the top of the fascia stay wet after every rain. In Georgia's humid climate that wood rots quickly, gutters pull loose as their fascia softens, and water can overshoot or run behind the gutters. Repairs at that stage often mean replacing fascia, deck edges and sometimes soffit, all far more expensive than the metal.
What to ask during a replacement
- Will new drip edge go on at both eaves and rakes?
- What color, and will it match the fascia or gutters?
- How will soft fascia or deck edges found at tear-off be priced?
- Will the gutters be removed and rehung, or worked around?
Drip edge is a small line on an estimate, but it protects every edge of the house. More in drip edge explained, our gutter guide and what to expect on replacement day.