What Nails To Use On Drip Edge

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Guide to Baste Edges for Shingle Roofs

Drip edges are metal sheets, usually shaped like an "50," installed at the edge of the roof. Too called drip edge flashing or D-metal, they serve a vital function by directing h2o away from the fascia and into the gutter. Without a drip edge, h2o may finish up beneath the shingles and may crusade harm to various parts of the dwelling. Though your home may not have originally had a drip edge installed, baste edges are at present required past well-nigh building codes beyond North America to protect homes from damage.

drip edge ice & water protector

What'southward the Purpose of Roof Drip Edges?

Baste edges have two central purposes:

Direct water abroad from fascia: Due to cohesion, surface tension and other forces, water droplets tend to stick to one another and to the surfaces they are on, albeit slightly. A drip edge is designed to take advantage of those forces and, along with gravity, direct water into the gutter. If the abode has no gutter, the drip edge volition prevent the water from running down the fascia and onto or into the soffit crenel. However, without the drip edge, the h2o sticks to shingles, potentially working its fashion nether the shingles to cause a leak. For example, h2o may cling to the fascia, which may cause rot, or, in severe conditions, a leak into the abode.
Protect from wind-driven rain: When conditions are serious, the wind pushes h2o around on a roof. Shingles, along with underlayments and ice and water protector, go on wind-driven pelting from harming the roof's deck. However, on the edges, the drip edge must compete with the wind. Wind tin easily push the h2o upwards before gravity pulls the water down. The drip edge needs to hang significantly off the edge of the roof and has two to four inches of lower flange to combat this. And, of form, without whatever drip edge at all, air current‐driven pelting could compromise the roof.

labelled photo of eave/rake corner showing drainage gap in drip edges

drip edge and shingles at an eave

Drip Border Material Types

Baste edges are fabricated of various plastics and metals, which are both acceptable under most building codes and then long as the metals are corrosion-resistant or galvanized.

Aluminum: A common material for drip edges, aluminum isn't as strong equally steel. It doesn't corrode and is oftentimes sold in colors that match the rest of the home exactly.
Galvanized steel: Baste edges are designed to exist in contact with water; so, if they are fabricated of steel, they need to be galvanized to prevent rust. Minimum 24-judge steel is preferable then that the baste edge can withstand strong winds.
Copper: Copper is a sturdy metal that gives a roof a unique look. When used as a baste border, it should be a minimum of 0.69 mm or 20 ounces.

While plastic, vinyl and fiberglass drip edges may also be available in your area, these materials are all-time suited for utilize in nonroofing applications, such every bit above doors and windows.

Drip Edge Profile Types

There are three basic profiles of drip border flashing, just each goes by more than 1 proper noun, which can exist confusing.

Blazon C: This is the classic "L"-shaped drip edge, sometimes called "L style." This drip edge is bent to a 90-degree bending and has a lower flange at the bottom.
Type D: This profile of drip edge is shaped like a "T," with a lower flange at the bottom. Sometimes information technology is called drip metal, "D-metal" or "T style." The Cobblestone Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) prefers this drip border profile to Blazon C because it keeps the h2o farther away from the fascia. However, Blazon C is still adequate co-ordinate to about building codes.
Type F: This is an extended drip edge that has a longer leading edge, which is useful when installing new drip edges over existing shingles or on rake edges. This profile is frequently chosen "F manner" or "gutter apron."

installing edge flashing on a membrane roof

Type C: This is the classic "L"-shaped baste edge, sometimes called "50 manner."

Blazon D: This profile of baste edge is shaped like a "T," with a lower flange at the lesser.

Roof baste edges are mostly sold in 10.five-human foot lengths, simply they are occasionally sold in 8-foot lengths or smaller. The length of the overhang itself commonly ranges from two to 5 inches. You may find other styles and sizes of drip edges in the store, including "J-channel" drip edges, just these are intended for windows, doors and other applications. You may besides detect vented drip edges, simply the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) does not recommend using them on roofs.

How to Install a Drip Edge

Information technology's important to understand that drip edge installation is different for eaves and rakes. Subsequently your roof deck has been prepared, and before yous install underlayment, you demand to install drip edges at the eaves. You install baste edges on the rakes after you lot install the underlayment. Plus, this step-by-step guide to drip edge installation will also explain how to cut drip edges for corners and peaks.

Step One: If using a Type C drip border, yous can install a furring strip to increase its performance. A furring edge is a strip of one-past-2 forest you lot install on the vertical surface of the house just beneath the roof's border. When y'all install the baste edge over this strip, it keeps the lower flange farther from the home's siding, which helps to keep h2o further from the home.
Pace 2: Install drip edges on the eaves first. Place the drip edge downwards, aligning information technology so water volition baste into the gutters. The end with the flange or flare should signal downwardly and abroad from the roof.
Step Three: Utilise roofing nails to secure the baste edge. Nail high upwards on the drip border so that the shingles will cover the nails. Ideally, you'd nail well-nigh every 12 inches, and in no circumstances should you have 16 inches or more between nails. When you identify the next drip edge piece, it should overlap the offset by an inch.

nailing drip edge to roof edge

Step Two: Install drip edges on the eaves showtime.

using a tape measure to confirm nail location on a drip edge

Stride Iii: Use covering nails to secure the drip edge. Ideally, you'd nail about every 12 inches, and in no circumstances should you have 16 inches or more between nails.

Step Four: When you reach a corner where an eave and rake edge come across, you need to make a cut to ensure a proper fit. Commencement, place your drip edge on the rake edge. Mark where the baste border begins to overhang and one inch farther out from that overhang.
Step V: Cut the unabridged drip edge by your second mark, so that it only hangs past the border by an inch. Then, cut out the topmost portion of the drip edge by your first mark. Then, make a perpendicular cutting, so that yous can remove a foursquare of the drip border, as you lot meet in the paradigm below.
Step Six: Install the drip edge as normal. Then, bend in the flap of the drip edge to class a corner. You will complete this corner when you install the drip edges on the rakes.
Image provided past CASMA
Pace Seven: Once you've covered the eaves with a baste edge, it's time to install your underlayment. This way, the underlayment is over the baste edge on the eaves, simply nether the drip edge on the rakes.

diagram of drip edge installation

Step Half-dozen: Install the drip edge as normal.
Image provided by CASMA

drip edge installed on a new roof near a valley

Step Seven : Once you've covered the eaves with a baste border, it's fourth dimension to install your underlayment.

Step Eight: Then, install baste edges on the rakes. Use nails as earlier.
Pace Ix: When y'all go to a corner where the rake and eave edge come across, only install the rake'south drip edge on top of the flap you left when installing the eave'due south drip border.

close view of drip edge installed at rake and eave

Pace Nine:Install the rake's drip edge on top of the flap

graphic showing how to cut and fold a drip edge to fit over a ridge

Stride Eleven: Fold the drip edge to fit over the ridge.

Stride Ten: When yous accomplish the roof'due south ridge, you need to make yet another cut in your drip border. Concord the drip edge upward to the ridge and make a mark along where the drip edge exceeds the roof. Brand a straight cutting through the bottom of the drip edge with your tin snips.
Step Eleven: Fold the drip edge to fit over the ridge. Mark the plumb line, or centerline, every bit in the epitome beneath. Cut the topmost part of the drip edge along this line to create a finished wait. Place a unmarried nail in the outside piece to agree the baste edge in place.

You should always check with your local edifice code to encounter if there are whatsoever extra rules you are required to follow during drip edge installation.

How to Replace a Drip Edge on an Existing Roof

What if you need to replace the drip edge on an existing roof or install a drip edge on an existing roof for the first fourth dimension? It can exist done; here'southward how:

Step One : Gently elevator up the shingles on the edge of the roof and locate the nails holding the existing drip edge onto the roof.
Footstep Two : Utilize a flat pry bar and hammer to pry the nails out of the drip edge gently.
Step 3 : Once free, slide the drip border out and discard.
Step Four : Install the new drip edge every bit described above, with cement and nails. Y'all'll demand to ask another roofing professional to concur up the shingles while you do so.

But as with installing drip edges on new roofs, you should check with your local building codes to see if there are special rules you take to follow about drip border replacement.

In years by, many building codes did not require baste edges; simply the covering community realized that these relatively inexpensive products make a big difference in the performance of the roof. By installing baste edges properly, you'll be giving your customers a improve roofing system.

If you lot've discovered your roof is missing a drip edge, or has a damaged drip border, you can go far touch with a roofing contractor through our Covering Contractor Locator to get professional communication.

The video below provides additional information on baste edge installation on shingle roofs:

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