Gutter Guard and Drip Edge in Hempstead, NY

What does drip edge do that a gutter cannot?

It carries the water from the shingle edge into the gutter and keeps it from running back under the shingles and onto the fascia. A gutter catches the water, but the drip edge directs it.

Water that runs off the shingles at the eave can run back under the edge if there is no drip edge to guide it. The drip edge projects past the fascia and bends the water down into the gutter. Without it, the water can soak the fascia and the top of the wall, and it can get under the first course of shingles.

The drip edge is also a protective edge for the shingles at the rake, where wind can drive water sideways under the covering.

Why do gutter guards help in a nor'easter?

Because the storm brings leaves, seeds and debris into the gutter, and a blocked gutter overflows. A guard keeps the gutter clear, so the water reaches the downspout.

A gutter that fills with leaves and granules slows the flow, and in a heavy storm the water overflows the front edge. The overflow runs down the fascia and the wall, and it can reach the foundation. A guard keeps the gutter open to the water while blocking the debris.

A guard does not stop the gutter needing cleaning. It reduces the cleaning, and the roofer checks the gutter for sag and for a clear run to the downspout at each visit.

Does a drip edge need to be fitted under or over the underlayment?

At the eave, the drip edge sits under the underlayment so the water runs over it. At the rake, the drip edge sits over the underlayment so the water is shed clear of the edge.

The position of the drip edge matters. At the eave, the edge is fitted under the underlayment, so the water that runs down the underlayment is carried into the gutter. At the rake, the edge is fitted over the underlayment, so the wind-driven water is shed off the edge rather than under it.

The roofer fits the drip edge in the right position at each edge, and the note records the detail for the next roofer.

Is drip edge fitted during a repair?

Often yes, when the edge is being repaired or the fascia is being fixed. Fitting it at the same time avoids disturbing the edge twice.

When the shingle edge or the fascia is repaired, the drip edge is checked and fitted if it is missing. Doing it at the same visit means the edge is not disturbed again, and the work is recorded in the note.

The roofer explains whether drip edge is part of the repair, and the scope sets out the edge work so the homeowner knows what is included.

What should a homeowner check after fitting?

The gutter after heavy rain, the fascia for stains and the eave for water running under the shingles. Those checks show whether the edge work is holding.

After the next heavy rain, look at the gutter from the ground for overflow and check the fascia for new stains. Look at the eave for water running under the shingles, and at the downspout for a clear flow.

Report any change to the roofer with the date and place. The note lists the edge work and the next check date.

• Look for overflow at the gutter after heavy rain
• Check the fascia for new stains
• Look at the eave for water running under the shingles
• Confirm the downspout carries the water away

Which gutter guard suits a roof with many leaves?

A guard with a fine mesh or a solid cover suits a roof with many leaves and seed, while a simple screen suits a roof with fewer. The choice depends on the trees and the debris the house receives.

A gutter guard is chosen for the debris it will meet. A roof under trees, with leaves and seed, needs a finer mesh or a solid cover, so that the seed does not get through and block the gutter. A roof with fewer leaves can take a simpler screen, which is easier to clear.

The guard is fitted so that the water runs into the gutter and not around it, and the roofer checks the fit at the front edge and the ends. The note records the guard type and the next cleaning check.