How to Install Drip Edge on Shed Roof

When you build a shed, you want the inside to be completely waterproof; but what about the outside? Your shed should be built to withstand the elements. That means repelling water in the most efficient way possible. Installing drip edge around the perimeter of the shed is the best way to keep water out and away from your shed. But how to install drip edge on a shed roof?

Drip edge installation is a straightforward process following these steps:

• Install eave drip edge by nailing it to the sheathing.
• Extend drip edge an inch at each end.
• Install roofing felt.
• Install rake drip edge over the felt.
• Nail every 12” or less. Make sure rake edge overlaps.
• Rake drip edge overlaps the eave drip edge. 
• Bend eave drip edge corners under rake edge.

In this article, we’ll investigate the different types and installation procedures for drip edge. As well, we’ll detail how to install drip edge on a slant-style shed roof accurately. 

Is a Drip Edge Necessary on a Shed

What is drip edge and how does it work? Drip edge is typically a ten-foot piece of steel, aluminum, or vinyl that is bent in an L-shape. The lip of one side of the L angles outward. This edge goes against the shed roof flashing, with the jut facing outward. 

Since the other end is nailed to the OSB underneath the roof felt, water that beads off the shingles drips onto the drip edge. The small jut allows the water to drip off the shed without hitting the structure. This keeps the fascia board, roof, and foundation dry. 

Shed roof drip edge is essential in keeping your structure watertight. However, there are tons of ways to mess up a drip edge installation.

For instance, nailing drip edge too close to your shed will still allow drips down the fascia board. Driving rain will then be able to enter the eaves of the shed, causing drips and run-off in the interior wall area.

Putting drip edge over or under the roofing felt in the wrong spots can cause the OSB sheathing to swell with moisture. When the sheathing swells, this causes cracks and fractures in the roofing felt and shingles.

Cracked shingles result in extensive leaks throughout the interior of the shed. Thus, proper placement of drip edge is critical.

Drip Edge Material Type for Shed

While drip edge might seem like a simple piece of construction material, it comes in many different varieties. The type of drip edge you purchase depends on your roofing material and the shape of the roof. Your shed will also require drip edge above your door and windows, depending on their design.

Galvanized Steel

The cheapest and most durable material for drip edge is galvanized steel which offers suitable protection for a shed. Galvanized means that the steel has a coating of zinc that makes your hardware less susceptible to rust.

Down the road, you may see your galvanized drip edge begin to rust. However, if it isn’t getting scratched up by tree branches or ladders regularly, it will last for a long time.

Aluminum

When installing drip edge on a home, most professionals choose aluminum. This metal comes in colors to fit the siding on your house, doesn’t rust, and is still economical. The knock against aluminum is that it isn’t as strong as steel, and using non-aluminum nails for installation may result in corrosion. 

Vinyl

By far the cheapest option, vinyl drip edge is also the most likely to falter. Vinyl is not metal, but it does offer easy handling and installation.

If you have vinyl siding on your shed, you can purchase a drip edge from the same manufacturer to match the siding. Vinyl is often used in tandem with vinyl gutters, or as a drip edge retrofit of an existing shed roof.

Copper

Copper is the least common, and most expensive, type of drip edge. Typically, the only time you would use copper would be to match an existing copper gutter or roofing system. While copper is durable and easy to bend, the cost makes it impractical for use on a shed.

Roof Edge Flashing Profile Types

Shapes of drip edge vary, and the names can be confusing. As you’ll see below, some types are the same but go by different letters. We’ll outline the most common examples and why they might be the right choice for your shed project.

Type C

Also known as type “L”, this is one of the most common profile types for drip edge. It features an L-shaped profile. The side that sits against the fascia board has a small flange at the end to direct water away from the fascia and into the gutter. 

Type D

Widely known as type “T”, this drip edge is identical to C-type, except that the top of the profile juts out, away from the roof. This allows water to fall further away from the fascia board and into the gutter. Many roofers use this type for eaves and type C for rake edges.

Type F

Type F is also known as gutter apron and is useful when replacing an existing drip edge or adding a drip edge to an existing roof structure. This profile is similar to type C, except that the fascia-facing part angles away from the structure.

The angle provides extra clearance for moisture to reach the gutter. A good alternative when type D drip edge is too long for existing shingles on a shed roof.

How to Install Drip Edge on Shed Roof: A Step by Step Guide

Installing drip edge on a shed, regardless of profile or material, is a task that even a DIY novice can undertake. A drip edge is the first part of finishing your roof before you throw on the roofing felt or shingles. However, the drip edge goes on in stages, so you will not be installing it all at once. 

Below is a guide for installing drip edge on a shed with a slant-style roof that will have your shed sheltered in no time.

Tools and Materials

• 1 ¼” galvanized roofing nails
• Drip edge – 10’ lengths
• Tin Snips
• Hammer

Step 1: The eave end of your roof, which is the end running along the bottom where you place your gutter, is where you’ll begin. Eave drip edge goes on before your roofing felt or shingles. The felt and shingles will go over the top lip of the drip edge.

First, measure the length of your eave. If you have a 12’ eave, then you’ll need one entire piece of drip edge, plus another 2’ and a few inches.

Step 2: Next, install the drip edge starting from a corner. Line the eave drip edge so that 1” of the drip edge extends beyond the fascia board edge. Begin nailing your edge, every 12” or so, into the roof sheathing.

Step 3: When installing a new piece of drip edge, overlap at least an inch over the previous section. Use tin snips to cut a small diagonal notch out of the bottom of the piece you just installed.

This will help you slide the new piece over it, creating a nice, unbroken line. Extend the edge an inch beyond the edge of the fascia board, just as you did on the other side.

Step 4: Install your roofing felt.

Step 5: Now it’s time to put a drip edge along the rake edges. Remember, your rake drip edge goes over the roofing felt.

Step 6: Measure from the top pitch of your shed roof to the eave. This is the exact length of drip edge you’ll need.* Starting at the bottom, cut your drip edge at a diagonal, so it is flush with the outer edge of the fascia board.

Step 7: Nail no more than 12” apart. If you have to overlap, then be sure to overlap is at least an inch. Repeat on the other side. Never start at the top of your roof with drip edge. Water needs a smooth, unbroken plane to travel down.

Step 8: Finally, you need to bend both ends of the eave drip edge up and under the rake drip edge. Use snips to cut off the top part of the eave drip edge that extends beyond the fascia board.

You should be left with only the part that is flush with the fascia board. Bend it back, and under, the rake drip edge to make a nice, smooth corner.

Step 9: Go over your work. Make sure all pieces of drip edge overlap, in the right direction. 

If you have a standard gable shed roof, not a lean-to type, then you’ll make a cut at the bottom of the piece of drip edge that goes over the point of the gable. Bend the piece in the middle of the cut, slowly, so that it fits over the top point of your gable and is flush to the rake fascia on both sides. 

You may need to adjust your cut depending on the pitch of your roof. Make sure the drip edge overlaps each other at the top gable, so fascia is not exposed.

Be sure to work from one side of the shed rake to the other. Before you nail this top piece of drip edge down, you’ll have to install the drip edge on the other side, first. This ensures your drip edge overlaps properly on both sides.

Installing Drip Edge On Existing Roof

What if your shed doesn’t have drip edge? It might not be a problem. Go into your shed and look up at the edges. If you see watermarks or black stains around the rafters, sheathing, or wall framing, then drip edge is probably necessary.

Existing roof installation can be tricky. Retrofitting drip edge on an existing roof follows the same general procedure as a new install. Start with the eaves, and then install the rake drip edge. Here are some helpful tips when installing a new drip edge on an existing roof:

• Use a couple of large plastic or wood shims to lift the first layer of shingles and roofing felt on the eaves. Usually, you can get enough lift to put some small galvanized nails through the drip edge. If not, then use a no-nail drip edge retrofit product like this. The weight of the roof will hold the drip edge in place.
• If you have an ice guard, do not attempt to lift it. It will lose its adhesion power. Instead, put a new strip of ice guard above the newly installed drip edge – it will stick to the older strip.
• Nailing drip edge into fascia is not a good idea. But if you live in a high-wind area and can’t affix it to the sheathing, then you have no choice. Use a heavy-duty exterior caulk to cover the nail or screw holes.
• The rake edges will require you to pry up the edges of the shingles. However, after the drip edge is installed, you can nail them back down. Make sure you start at the bottom of the rake and work up, and that your rake drip edge is over the roofing felt.

Final Thoughts

Installing a drip edge on a shed roof is a great way to ensure the interior of your shed stays dry. Drip edge is low cost, adds a nice profile to the fascia, and protects the wood structure beneath the shingles and fascia.

Hopefully, this article helps you install drip edge on your next shed project or aids in adding it to an existing shed roof. Share this article if you’ve found it helpful and, as always, add any comments you might have about the subject, below.