Water runs off the shingles, over the drip edge and into the gutter, never behind it onto the fascia.
Understand your roof
Perimeter defense: drip edge and starter strip
Ask your roofer
- Is new drip edge included, and how big is it: 1″ or 1½″?
- Will you use a real starter strip or cut-up shingles for the first row?
- Does ice & water shield run along every eave?
Ask them to put the answer in writing.
Why it matters
Wind and water hit the edge of a roof first. Without new drip edge and a real starter strip, the first row of shingles lifts and water runs behind the gutter and rots the fascia.
How it should be built
- New metal drip edge along every eave and rake edge, not the old pieces reused.
- A wider drip edge (1½″ instead of 1″) reaches farther over the gutter and covers more of the fascia.
- A real starter strip with a sealant line under the first row, not cut-up shingles.
- Ice & water shield along every eave, tied in with the drip edge.