Honestly, I’ve wondered about this too. My dad’s old house didn’t have drip edge either—just shingles hanging past the plywood—and it made it almost 18 years before he had to replace any wood. But that was in a pretty dry area, not a ton of rain or snow. I think a lot of it does come down to where you live and how much water your roof deals with.
That said, I’ve seen some jobs where skipping the drip edge turned into a mess. Like, one place had the paint peeling off the fascia after just a few years because water kept sneaking behind the shingles. The wood started rotting out and they had to replace a bunch of it, which wasn’t cheap. I guess if your overhang is big enough and you don’t get much wind-driven rain, you might get away with it for a while... but it’s kind of rolling the dice.
I’ve heard some inspectors are starting to call out missing drip edge more often now, especially in areas with stricter codes or where ice dams are a thing. It’s not super expensive to add when you’re re-roofing, but retrofitting it can be a pain.
If your uncle’s place is still holding up after 15 years, that’s pretty good luck. But I’d probably still put drip edge on if I was doing a new roof, just for peace of mind. Seems like cheap insurance against water getting into places it shouldn’t. Plus, it gives the edge of the roof a cleaner look, which is kinda nice.
Curious if anyone’s had issues with critters getting up under the shingles without drip edge? Saw a squirrel nest tucked up there once and that was wild...
Curious if anyone’s had issues with critters getting up under the shingles without drip edge? Saw a squirrel nest tucked up there once and that was wild...
Yeah, I’ve actually had birds try to squeeze under the shingles where there wasn’t any drip edge. Didn’t cause major damage, but it was annoying cleaning out the mess. I agree with you—drip edge is cheap insurance. Even in drier spots, it just keeps things tidier and saves headaches down the line. Plus, like you said, it looks way better finished.
- Seen this a lot, especially on older buildings. Once had raccoons get in through a gap where the drip edge was missing—total mess, not worth the hassle.
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Couldn’t agree more. It’s not just about critters, either. Water can sneak in and rot the fascia over time.“drip edge is cheap insurance”
- Some folks skip it to save a few bucks, but honestly, it’s way more expensive to fix the problems later.
- Even if you’re in a dry area, wind-driven rain can still cause issues. Drip edge just keeps things cleaner and saves you from weird surprises down the road.
“drip edge is cheap insurance”
That line really nails it. I skipped drip edge on a shed I built years ago, thinking it was just an extra step I could do without. Fast forward a couple seasons, and I was patching up rotted fascia and chasing down a squirrel that made itself way too comfortable up there. Lesson learned.
I get why some folks might think it’s overkill, especially if you’re in a spot that doesn’t see much rain. But honestly, wind can push water in places you’d never expect. Even here in Colorado where it’s usually dry, I’ve seen water sneak under the shingles during those sideways spring storms.
It’s one of those things that seems minor until you’re dealing with the aftermath. Not the most exciting part of roofing, but definitely worth the peace of mind. If you’re on the fence, I’d say just go for it—it’s a small detail that saves a lot of hassle down the line.
- Always wondered if skipping drip edge on my detached garage was a mistake—so far, no leaks, but it’s only been a couple of years.
- Did anyone actually price out the difference? I saw drip edge for less than $2 per 10-foot piece at my local place.
- Curious if there’s a big risk for roofs with low slopes vs. steeper ones... anyone notice more problems one way or the other?
