Direct Answer
Drip edge is the metal flashing installed at the edges of your roof — along the eaves and rakes — that directs water away from the fascia and into the gutters. It prevents water from soaking back under the shingles and rotting the decking and fascia board. A roof without drip edge is far more prone to edge rot and leaks.
Drip edge is a simple L-shaped piece of metal, but it does critical work at the roof's most vulnerable edges. Without it, water runs off the shingles and can wick back underneath, rotting the decking edge and the fascia.
What Drip Edge Does
- Directs water off the roof and into the gutters, not behind the fascia
- Protects the decking edge from water wicking back under the shingles
- Shields the fascia board from rot
- Helps seal the roof edge against wind-driven rain
Where It's Installed
- Eaves — the bottom horizontal roof edge (where gutters are)
- Rakes — the angled edges running up the gable
Signs & Symptoms
- Rotting fascia board at the roof edge
- Soft or rotten decking at the eaves
- Water staining behind the gutters
- No visible metal edge under the first row of shingles
Repair Options
- Install drip edge where missing (during repair or replacement)
- Replace corroded or damaged drip edge
- Repair rotted fascia or decking caused by missing drip edge
When to Call a Roofer
If your roof has no drip edge, or the fascia or decking edge is rotting, get it inspected. Adding drip edge prevents ongoing edge damage.
How Beyond the Ladder Handles It
We install drip edge on every replacement and add it during repairs where it's missing — protecting the roof edge from the rot that starts there.
Related Questions
Is drip edge required by code?
Most modern building codes require drip edge at the eaves and rakes. Even where not strictly required, it's best practice — a roof without it is far more prone to edge rot.
Can drip edge be added without replacing the roof?
In some cases yes, at the eaves, if the first row of shingles can be lifted cleanly. It's easiest and most effective to install during a full replacement.