Should new gutters go on before or after a new roof?
Short answer. After, or as part of the same project. The roof edge, including the drip edge and first course of shingles, has to be finished before the gutters are hung, so the drip edge laps over the gutter's back and drains into it. Gutters installed first usually have to be worked around or taken down during the reroof, which risks dents and a poor fit.
How the edge goes together
- The old roof is torn off to the decking.
- New drip edge is fastened along the eaves.
- Underlayment and ice barrier go on, lapping over the drip edge at the eaves.
- Starter strip and shingles are installed.
- Gutters are hung so the drip edge drops inside the gutter's back.
If new gutters go up first, the drip edge cannot be properly lapped over them without lifting or removing them, and crews tearing off shingles can dent or bend the new gutters with falling debris and ladders.
What happens to existing gutters
- Left in place: sound gutters can stay up if the crew protects them and the new drip edge still reaches into them.
- Detached and reset: the gutters come down for the reroof and go back up afterward. Ask who is responsible if old gutters bend during handling.
- Replaced: the cleanest result when gutters are old, sectional, dented or undersized.
Why one team should own the edge
When a roofer and a separate gutter company each assume the other will handle the drip edge, the result is often water running behind the gutter. Coordinating both under one contract avoids that. Tear-off is also when rotted fascia shows up, and it should be fixed before any gutter is hung. If a storm claim covers both the roof and gutters, schedule them together. See what to expect on roof replacement day and drip edge explained.