Extending a Drip Edge During a Roof Replacement

Drip edge is a piece of metal flashing used to direct water away from a roof’s shingles and into the gutter system. It’s installed under the starter shingle row and should overhang the fascia by at least one inch.

A drip edge installed with a sufficient amount of overhang ensures that water will make it into the gutters, prevents water from seeping underneath the shingles, and blocks wind-blown water from getting into the roof.

Sometimes the standard drip edge installation isn’t sufficient. In these cases, you can install a piece of drip edge extension under the existing edge. This will take it even farther past the fascia to improve its water dispersion performance and prevent water from getting behind the gutters.

A roof replacement project is an ideal time to do this.

Supplies for the roof extension

• Aviation or Tin Snips
• Gloves
• Roofing Nails
• Drip Edge Extension, also referred to as Type F, F-Style, or Gutter Apron Drip Edge
• Roofing Nailer

Steps for the roof extension

1. Measure along the roof eaves and rakes to determine how much drip edge you need.
2. Begin installing the drip edge along the eaves. Install it onto the roof deck before installing the underlayment.
3. Place a piece of drip edge onto the roof with the roof edge section going at least 2 inches back onto the sheathing and the vertical leg positioned around ¼” to ½” away from the fascia. Make sure to leave a gap between the fascia and the drip edge. The end with the flared flange or kick-out should be pointing away from the roof and into the gutters.
4. Secure the drip edge with roofing nails. Nail it in place with the nails high up enough on the drip edge to eventually be covered by shingles. Nail around every 12 inches and at least every 16 inches.
5. Install the next drip edge piece to overlap the first one by around an inch and continue along the eave.
6. Once you get to a corner where an eave and a rake edge meet, you will need to cut the drip edge to get a proper fit. The drip edge at joints and corners should overlap by around 2 inches.
7. When you get to the end of an eave, mark where the drip edge starts to overhang and then mark another inch out. Place the drip edge on the rake edge and make the same two marks: one where it starts to overhang and another an inch away from that.
8. Cut the drip edge to overhang the roof by about an inch. Then cut out a triangular section from the top portion of the drip edge at the first mark. Bend the flap of the eaves drip edge into the corner.
9. Roll out and install the felt underlayment. The underlayment should be over the eaves drip edge but under where the rake drip edge will be installed.
10. Install drip edge along the rakes of the roof. Position it to fit at least 2 inches onto the roof with the vertical leg around ¼” to ½” away from the fascia. Secure it in place with nails placed around 12 inches apart.
11. At the corners where the rake drip edge meets the eave drip edge, install the rake drip edge on top of the eave drip edge flap that was bent into place.
12. Install drip edge along the eave right up to the roof’s ridge. Work from bottom up. At the ridge, hold the drip edge in place and mark where it starts to overhang the roof. Then cut through the bottom of the drip edge.
13. Fold the drip edge over the ridge. Mark the centerline of the ridge onto the drip edge. Cut the top part of the drip edge along this line.
14. Once both pieces of eave drip edge are installed, nail through the outside drip edge to hold everything in place.

A Few Tips Before You Get Started

• Drip edge flashing has two planes. The flatter plane is the roof leg while the plane with a flared end is the vertical leg. The roof leg must be secured on the roof, with the vertical leg hanging down. Make sure to align the vertical leg’s flange (or kick-out) over the gutter.
• The drip edge has to be cut to fit into and around the corners. When the instructions say to cut the top portion, this refers to the roof leg. Cutting a piece of the top roof leg out makes it easier to fold the drip edge into place.
• Aim to secure the drip edge with nails placed around 12 inches apart. Some state building codes specify how far apart nails should be.
• The nails should be driven in flush with the surface. Don’t drive the nails in too far, too shallow, or at an angle.
• A drip edge extension can be installed over existing shingles. In that case, it should be installed on top of the lowest edge of existing shingles. Use something to pry the shingles apart and install the drip edge.

Ask us for a drip edge extension during a roof installation

Looking into a roof replacement? Consider having the drip edge extended at the same time. A drip edge extension will bump up its weather performance and help keep water away from the roof’s structure.

Extension drip edge can also be installed over existing shingles. This is a great idea for roofs that are in relatively good shape but aren’t deflecting water correctly.