“Retrofitting is a pain, though. I tried patching in a section on my shed after the fact and ended up bending more metal than I care to admit.”
Couldn’t agree more with that—trying to add drip edge after the fact is just asking for frustration. I’ve had a few clients call me out to “just stick some on,” and unless you’re ready to pull up the bottom course of shingles, it’s never a clean job. Usually ends up looking rough, and you still might not get a good seal.
I get the argument for skipping it in dry places with big overhangs, but honestly, even then... it’s such a minor cost compared to what water damage can do. Seen plenty of fascia rot and even insect issues where water gets trapped behind the gutter line. Local code’s starting to require it almost everywhere now, so even if you don’t care about the protection, you’ll probably need it for resale or inspections.
If you’re already reroofing, just have it done right. Not worth saving fifty bucks and risking headaches later—especially if you’re dealing with ice or heavy rain like we get up north.
Couldn’t agree more about the headaches of retrofitting drip edge. I’ve seen folks try to sneak it in without lifting shingles and it just never seals right—water finds its way behind, and then you’re dealing with hidden rot or even carpenter ants. Honestly, for how cheap the material is, it’s not worth skipping, even if you think your climate’s forgiving. Plus, like you said, codes are catching up. If you’re already redoing shingles, adding drip edge saves a lot of hassle down the road.
That little metal strip seems like such a “meh” detail until you skip it and end up with a soggy fascia board or, worse, a squirrel condo in your attic. I used to think it was just another upsell from the roofers, but after seeing what a few years of rain can do to the edge of plywood, I’m not rolling those dice again.
I tried patching a section without drip edge once (because, you know, saving $20 is totally worth risking a $2,000 repair later... right?). Big mistake. Water snuck in, paint peeled, and the wood started looking like a science experiment.
Honestly, for how cheap and easy it is to add when you’re already tearing off shingles, it’s a no-brainer. Even if you’re in a dry spot, wind-driven rain or ice dams can still mess things up. Plus, inspectors are getting pickier—last thing I want is to fail an inspection over a strip of metal that costs less than a pizza.
right?).
I used to think the same thing—seemed like an easy spot to save a few bucks. My last house didn’t have drip edge on one side and I figured it wouldn’t matter much since we don’t get a ton of rain here. Fast forward a couple years and that fascia board was soft and starting to rot. Had to replace it and repaint, which cost way more than just putting in the metal strip in the first place. I get being skeptical about “extras,” but this one’s worth it.
I get being skeptical about “extras,” but this one’s worth it.
I had the same thought when I moved into my place last year—didn’t even notice the drip edge was missing until a neighbor pointed it out. Figured it couldn’t be that big a deal since our weather’s pretty mild, but after the first big rain, water started staining the fascia. Ended up patching and repainting too. If I could do it over, I’d just add the strip from the start. Sometimes those “extras” really aren’t so extra...
