How to Install a Drip Edge on an Existing Roof

Tap to Read ➤ Marlene Alphonse

Installing a drip edge will ensure your walls are dry during the wet season. Things you need? Instructions, materials, and a lot of hard work.

Every rainy season, the walls of your home become a breeding ground for moss and mold. This is because water from the roof directly drips onto the walls, making them damp. This, in turn, attracts fungal growth. To prevent this, you need proper roofing, which can prevent this damage.

Installing a drip edge can help you get rid of this problem. A Drip edge is an L-shaped, galvanized strip of metal, fixed to the roof, to allow free flow of water from the ceiling into the drainage system on the ground.

This is an excellent drainage solution as it avoids the accumulation of water on the roof.

It can be installed on any kind of roofing―fiberglass, metal, etc. It prevents the fascia and the roof edges from damage due to accumulation of water. It is truly an essential addition to every house.

Instructions

The roof must be prepared in advance; it must have an underlayment of organic felt paper. ▸ Purchase the required paraphernalia from any hardware store. Since a drip edge is available in a number of colors and sizes, choose one that suits the exterior of your home. Pick up the size that will cover your roof sheeting completely.

▸ Begin the installation from one corner of the roof and complete it moving around the house. With the help of iron nails, fix the edging to the sheeting of the roof firmly. Secure nails after every 18 to 20 inches to hold the drip edge in place. Once a sheet has been fixed, overlap the second sheet and follow the same method.

▸ Place the second sheet on the first and hammer the nail at the point of intersection. After joining the two sections, secure the sheet in the same way, leaving a gap of 18 inches between every nail. The succeeding sheets should be fixed in the same manner till the entire perimeter of the roof is covered.

▸ If you are fixing drip edges on roofing shingles or gabble roofs, make sure you install a water and ice shield, so that it may protect from leakage. The drip edge should be installed from the bottom, moving upward. The gables should be overlapped properly to avoid gaps between them.

▸ In case you have rain gutters on the roof, install the drip edge's face lower than the upper tip of the wood gutter. This position of the drip edge makes sure that the water drips into the gutter, is carried to the ground, and does not damage the walls.

Once the installation is complete, make sure that there are no gaps or misalignments. You can also paint the drip edge to match the exterior paint of your house.

You can also install drip edges on the roof of your shed or garage by following these instructions. Drip edges are a value addition to any home; get them done ASAP.