"Even if the flashing looks decent, I'd personally lean toward replacing it when installing a new CertainTeed roof."
Yeah, totally agree on replacing flashing. Seen too many decent-looking flashings hiding nasty surprises underneath. Also, don't skimp on underlayment—quality synthetic stuff is worth it, especially with CertainTeed shingles.
Good points on flashing and underlayment, but I'm curious—has anyone had experience with reusing drip edges? I've heard mixed things. A buddy of mine reused his because they looked fine, but ended up regretting it when water started sneaking behind the gutters a year later. Seems like one of those small details that can bite you later... probably safer to budget for new ones, right?
Yeah, drip edges are one of those sneaky little things that seem fine at first glance but can bite you later. I've seen folks reuse them without issues, but honestly, it's a gamble. Let me break it down step-by-step from experience:
First thing, when you're tearing off the old roof, drip edges often get bent or warped—even slightly—without you realizing it. They might look okay visually, but tiny bends or warps can cause water to channel behind your gutters instead of into them.
Second, older drip edges might not match up perfectly with new shingles or underlayment thicknesses. Roofing materials and installation methods evolve over time, and these subtle differences can create gaps or misalignments that weren't there before.
Third, corrosion is a sneaky enemy. Even if they look good on the surface, drip edges can have hidden rust spots underneath or along the nail holes. Once you reinstall them, those weak points become entryways for moisture.
A quick anecdote: I had a customer who insisted on reusing his old drip edges because they looked "perfectly fine." We installed them carefully and sealed everything up tight. Sure enough, about eight months later he called me back complaining about water trickling behind his gutters during heavy rains. We ended up pulling the gutters off again (not fun) and installing new drip edges anyway.
Bottom line—drip edges aren't super expensive compared to the overall roofing project cost. If you're budgeting for a CertainTeed roof already, I'd strongly recommend just factoring in new ones from the start. It'll save you headaches down the road... trust me on this one.
Totally agree on drip edges—small cost, big peace of mind. Also, consider budgeting for quality underlayment. CertainTeed shingles are great, but pairing them with a solid underlayment really boosts durability and energy efficiency... worth the extra bucks in my experience.
- Good points, but I wouldn't overspend on premium underlayment unless you're in a harsh climate.
- Had a CertainTeed roof installed 6 yrs ago with standard synthetic underlayment—zero issues so far, even through some nasty storms.
- Energy savings from upgraded underlayment seems minimal at best... might be better off putting that cash into attic insulation or ventilation instead?
- Not knocking quality materials, just skeptical about noticeable benefits for the extra money.
