Sometimes I wonder if it's worth pulling off a few rows to get it right, or just slapping on gutter flashing and hoping for the best...
I tried the “just add flashing” shortcut on my shed a couple years back—regretted it after the first big rain. Water still found its way under the shingles and the fascia started to swell. Ended up pulling off two rows anyway, which was a pain but honestly, it stopped the soggy mess. I get not wanting to mess with old shingles, but skipping the drip edge just seems to invite trouble, especially if you’ve got trees dumping debris up there.
Pulled the same move on my garage roof—skipped the drip edge, figured the shingles would be enough. Fast forward to a windy thunderstorm and I had water running down behind the fascia, rotting out the wood. Ended up costing more in repairs than if I’d just done it right the first time. That metal strip is a pain to install sometimes, but it really does keep water from sneaking in where it shouldn’t. Especially if you get heavy rain or snow melt.
That metal strip is a pain to install sometimes, but it really does keep water from sneaking in where it shouldn’t. Especially if you get heavy rain or snow melt.
I get what you’re saying, but I’ve seen plenty of older roofs around here without drip edge that are still holding up okay. Maybe it’s just luck or the way they were built? Like, yeah, skipping it can cause problems—especially with wild storms or snow—but I feel like if your overhang and shingle install are solid, sometimes you get away with it for a while. Still, after seeing a couple jobs where water trashed the fascia, I’m starting to think it’s not worth the risk... even if that metal strip is a pain to wrangle into place.
Funny thing, I used to think the same way—my uncle’s old ranch house never had drip edge and it looked fine for decades. But when we tore off the shingles last year, the plywood at the edges was rotted out way worse than we expected. Guess it just hid the damage until we got in there. Out of curiosity, what kind of climate are you in? Around here (lots of freeze/thaw), that little strip makes a big difference over time.
I get where you’re coming from—honestly, I’ve seen plenty of roofs without drip edge that seemed fine on the surface for years. Thing is, the damage underneath can sneak up on you, just like you found. In really dry climates, you might get away with skipping it, but anywhere with rain, snow, or big temp swings, that metal strip really does help. I’ve replaced enough rotten fascia boards to know it’s not just a code thing—it actually saves money in the long run. Still, I’ll admit, some older houses held up alright... but it’s a gamble.
