How To Install Drip Edge

The need to have a roof over head is what the struggle is all about. But what if the very same roof is not playing the perfect roof you always wanted it to play. What if the same roof is now ruining the appearance of your lovely house that you worked so hard upon to build, brick by brick? What went wrong? Let’s go through the checklist again, shall we? Rock solid foundation? “Check!” Bricks? “Check!” Good quality cement? “Check!” Roof tiles? “Check!” Drip Edge? “What’s that now, you ask?” It’s a metal flashing or other overhanging component with an outward projecting lower edge intended to control the direction of dripping water that helps protect the underlying building components. Damn, uncheck! “Is it really that important?” Well, do you want the walls of your house to appear dripping wet and grow fungus and mold and what not? “No!” Then it is important. It’s a properly installed drip edge that ensures that the rain water falling on the roof goes to where it actually belongs - the gutter; instead of leaking and giving you wet nightmares. It’s best to install the drip edges when the roof is being constructed; before the roof shingles have been put up. But, if, by mistake, you have forgotten or were oblivious to their existence; you can also install them afterwards, but the edges of the roof may have to be redone and consequently, it’ll cost a little more. You can either choose to do it yourself (it’s not that difficult) or can seek help from a person who has some experience in installing the drip edges. Continue reading further to know about what you need to do.

Installing Drip Edge

The first and the most obvious step is to buy the drip edges. You can either measure the area yourself and order or have the dealer come along with his measuring tape, have a measure, and then supply you with the exact quantity of drip edges. You can also ask the dealer to supply you with drip edges cut to appropriate length or you can cut them yourself. You’ll also need 1 ¼ inches galvanized roofing nails, metal snip, hammer, and a ladder.
The next step is to thoroughly clean the area where the drip edges need to be installed. Remove all the debris that has collected itself over the period of time. Have it sparkling clean or the crap under the drip edge can leave a room for water to sneak inside it and grow all kinds of green stuff. Moreover, it would lead to uneven installation of the edges. Look out for the room between the last row of the roof shingles and the area where edges need to be installed. You may have to remove the last row of the shingles if it feels difficult for the whole process to go smoothly.
If you want to cut the drip edges yourself, you’ll need a metal snip to make perfect incisions into the edges. Cut with accurate measurements. If need be, cut one piece first and cut rest of the pieces by placing the first piece on top of drip edges and by making incisions along the border of the piece on top. Get all the pieces ready to be used for installation.
Now, place one piece on the front lower edge of the roof and nail it perfectly to the level by using 1 ¼ inches galvanized nails, as they prevent the roofing material from getting corroded. Create a butt joint by overlapping the ends of the edges and forcing them together. Continue the pattern and move from one corner to the other, until both front and back portions of your home are done.
For a more successful roofing solution, the sloping and outer edges of the roof should not be left unattended. The drip edges installed on the rake need to go over the end of the drip edge on the front edge to prevent the water from dripping behind it and they need to be installed in the same way as above: by creating butt joints and covering every little empty space in between.

Installing drip edge will call for some effort to be put in. But the sight of no more leakages ruining the appearances of your home will be worth all the pain.

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