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Category Archives: roofing

How to Get Insurance to Pay for Roof Replacement

Are you staring down a roofing problem, worried about how much it’s going to cost to fix it? Minor leaks and missing asphalt shingles are usually no big deal, but what about something like hail damage or a hole in your roof? Who is going to pay for that? If you’re wondering whether your insurance company covers a large repair or how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement, then you’re in the right place! Let’s explore what normally must happen for insurance to cover repairs and what you can do to speed the claims approval process along.

Sure, everyone’s first priority with a damaged roof is safety. You always want to be safe under any roof. It doesn’t matter if it’s the office you work in, a retail store you own, or your house. You want to feel safe.

When a tree falls into your roof or some other major issue comes along, roof replacement is often the best course of action. When that’s the only option, people naturally wonder how much things will cost.

Frequently, emergency roof repairs or roof replacement are unplanned expenses. Especially when a storm causes damage, people don’t have time to plan for what is potentially a project that will cost thousands of dollars.

Thankfully, most people and businesses have homeowner’s insurance that, ideally, comes through when it matters most. What we are here to discuss today is how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement.

Read on to find out how to know when insurance covers your roof repairs and what else you need to know.

Choosing the Right Roofing Company

Working with an experienced roofing company is one of the best ways to move quickly through the insurance process.

Your roof is a critical part of your property. Replacing it or managing repairs often represents a significant investment of time and money. Having the right crew there to manage through your hole patching or a roof replacement is a must.

The most important thing with any roof repair is getting it done right. You want quality over speed and cost. Ideally, you’ll find an experienced roofing company with a good mix of quality, speed, and price to get your roof back online fast at an affordable cost.

Here are some ways to find a good local roofing company near you:

Read Online Reviews – Online reviews aren’t the only indicator you should use, but they are a good place to start. Pay more attention to a pattern of bad reviews than a long list of good ones. Avoid any company with a string of customers complaining about bad faith pricing or poor overall experiences. Find a handful of companies with good track records and start making calls.
Get Estimates – Good roofing companies will be happy to give you a pricing range over the phone based on the size of your roof and the damage you describe. They’ll be quick to tell you, however, that it may differ from what they see in person. They will send a roofer to your house or commercial property to take a look and quote you on roof replacement.
How to Get Insurance to Pay for Roof Replacement – Ask them about whether they can help you with your insurance provider. Some companies may not offer roof insurance claims help. If it’s a priority, then hire a company willing to help with the process.

Talking to Your Insurance Company

A lot of homeowners are surprised when the roofing company brings up the insurance option. We pay for insurance policies year after year. At a certain point, it’s automatic and viewed as simply being part of our mortgage payment.

However, your homeowner’s insurance is there for a reason, and you should call upon your policy when the conditions are right.

Talking to your insurance company after you discover the damage and before repairs begin is the way to go. Here’s what you should discuss:

The extent and cause of the damage
How much coverage do you have?
The claims process
Documentation you need
How to manage repairs with a local roofing company
If the repairs will affect future premiums

The last item is the most important in many cases. Property owners must weigh whether increased premiums are worth using your insurance.

In some instances, there is no other choice. You have to repair your roof. If, however, you have the money on hand to pay out of pocket, then you should take a look at how much using your insurance will increase your premiums, if at all.

How to Get Insurance to Pay for Roof Replacement – The Basics

As we’ve already touched on, once you’ve found out how your roof got damaged, you can start looking at the small print in your insurance policy. Make sure the specific type of damage source is covered, and especially make sure the roof is included as part of your building insurance.

Before you make any calls, it’s probably a good idea to break out your policy documents or find them online. There, you’ll find a list of the things your homeowner’s insurance policy covers and what it doesn’t cover.

Things like regular wear and tear on your roof may not be eligible for coverage. There are generally accepted life expectancies for roofs. If your roof is as old or older than the lifespan range listed, then you may have to pay for roof replacement out of pocket.

However, insurance companies cover roof replacement in many instances, including:

Storm Damage
Hail Damage
Falling Trees
Lightning Strikes
Fires
& More

Insurance providers won’t cover things like water damage or wind damage. This is usually specific to where you live, and if you want coverage, you’ll typically pay more for it beforehand. It’s not something you can go back and say you want after the fact.

Assessing the Damage

Getting to the root cause of the damage is a must. How do you know how a massive hole appeared in your roof when you couldn’t see it from the street? Unfortunately, these things happen all of the time.

Here are some ways you can assess the damage:

Talk to a roofing company over the phone about what’s going on
Schedule a professional roof inspection
Call your insurance provider and describe what’s happening
Try to get a visual yourself

A professional inspection is probably the way to go because they can best tell you what caused the damage.

Once you know what caused the damage, then you can go to your insurance provider and let them know what happened. If it’s covered in your policy, then you can get the claims process started.

How to Get Insurance to Cover Roof Replacement – Filing Your Claim

File your claim before paying for any repairs.

If you repair your roof first and then call your insurance provider asking for coverage, there may be a problem.

You need approval from your provider first if you want them to cover roof replacement. They may also have roof companies they partner with that are in the area. Your policy could stipulate that you work with them if you want insurance to cover the repairs.

Here’s how the claims process typically works:

The Call -Depending on the situation, your first call will be to either your insurance company or local roofing service. If, for example, you discover a massive leak in your roof, your first step should be to schedule emergency repairs. Then you can call your provider.
The Inspection – After the call, roofers will inspect your roof. They’ll examine the extent of the damage and assess the cause. If your roof is relatively new or damaged by circumstances out of your control, then you’re likely eligible for coverage.
Filing Your Claim – Your insurance provider will require documentation and a declarations page before paying for repairs. This is sometimes a frustrating process that can take longer than you expect. A good roofing company will know what insurance providers need and how to speed up the process.
Approval – You may have to go back and forth a few times before approval. Once that happens, repairs can proceed, and your provider will typically work directly with your roofing company on payment.

This is a general overview of the insurance claims process. Your experience may vary based on where you live, your policy, the damage to your roof, and the insurance provider.

The Payment Process

Some insurance companies will give you the freedom to choose who repairs your roof. Others will require you to solicit multiple quotes, and they will then choose which company can handle the roof replacement.

In either case, you should get multiple quotes and communicate closely with your provider to guarantee you’re following the right steps. Whether you end up handing the check from the insurance company to your roofing service or your provider pays them directly, your policy should handle the total cost of the repairs or replacement when eligible.

Preparing for Resistance from Your Insurance Company

Remember, insurance companies exist to make profits. They aren’t here to help you. Yes, they provide a service, but they don’t make money if they pay every claim that comes their way.

Expect to go through what can be a rigorous process. When speaking to adjusters and customer service representatives, expect some pushback. They’ll question you and may even deny your claim the first time you file.

This is normal. Don’t lose heart. Persistence is how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement. You may go through several rounds of documentation before repairs proceed.

Keep at it and demand the service that you deserve.

When Should You Pay a Roofer – A Few Recommendations

So when should you pay a roofer? Are you getting some roof work done soon? Perhaps you need some minor repairs or a completely new roof laid down. Either way, you’ll probably be weighing up your options with regards to different roofing companies.

You might already have a few different quotes from competitive firms. Choosing the right roofer is an important decision, and one you should take carefully. There’s a big difference between a good roofer and a great one.

When Should You Pay a Roofer?

One factor that might play a role in your decision is payment. Alongside the overall cost, some roofers might ask for part or even all of the payment upfront. Is this something you should accept? In this article we’re going to have a look at the subject of prepayments in more detail. Is this something you should ever do, and what are the circumstances and issues surrounding paying upfront? Keep reading to find out. Let’s have a look at when to pay a roofer…

Never pay the entire amount upfront

Some roofers might ask for complete payment upfront, but this is normally a complete no-no unless there are very specific reasons and you know the roofer very well. Roofers might offer you a discount for upfront payment, but this is still something you should avoid unless you are absolutely desperate to save money and have protections in place.

Good roofers shouldn’t normally ask for complete payment, before any of the work has taken place, it’s not standard practice. If they do, you have to wonder why. Not only do you risk them disappearing (especially if they aren’t a well-known firm), but even if they don’t—you aren’t properly incentivizing them finishing the job quickly and efficiently.

While complete prepayments should be avoided, it is normal for roofers to ask for a deposit or partial payments as the work progresses. Just like you wouldn’t want to pay all the money before work has started, they don’t really want to do all the work before anything has been paid. So working together on a payment structure where both parties are happy is normally a good idea.

Find a reputable roofer

If you’re looking for someone you want to be able to pay partial payments upfront in good confidence, then it’s even more important that that you find a reputable roofer. If you do your research effectively, you should never really come across someone who asks for all the money upfront, but you may be able to find someone you’re happy agreeing to partial payments and deposits with.

To find a good roofer, start by asking friends and family in the local area if they’ve had any work done and would recommend someone—or tell you someone to avoid so that you can cross them off your list. Nothing really beats personal recommendations from people you know, but failing that you can try some online review sites.

Make sure you read the actual reviews rather than just go by overall scores as you might find information that’s relevant to your situation rather than just an arbitrary rating. Pay close attention to comments about how and when payment was handled, and if this went smoothly—both when reading online reviews and when talking to people you know who might be recommending a roofer.

When you have a couple of potential roofers, speak with them and ask for competitive quotes. See how long they think the job will take, how much it should cost and what they expect with regards to payment. Don’t just go for the cheapest quote, go with the best roofer that mixes value with professionalism.

Check to see their portfolio of completed work, and be wary if they don’t have one. If you can, visit actual completed jobs and speak with homeowners to ask their real opinions.

To have more faith paying some money upfront, stick with a roofer that’s been established in your area for a long time. Some roofers pop up and disappear within months, and these are the sorts of firms you’ll want to avoid.

Deposits can be acceptable with a reputable roofer

Once you’ve found a good, established roofer that you trust—you shouldn’t be put off by paying a deposit. While roofers shouldn’t ask for the whole amount up front, a deposit is acceptable. Make sure you’ve agreed the terms of the deposit and that they will start work immediately. A deposit could be around 20% of the full quote, but don’t pay too much more.

Look at payment insurance

You might be able to take out separate insurance to cover incomplete or faulty jobs that you’ve already paid for. You might want to look into this if you want additional peace of mind.

Don’t pay with cash

Many roofers will offer discounts if you pay with cash as they want to avoid paying tax. While that’s their business, you won’t have much comeback if something goes wrong. Make sure there are receipts and documentation just in case.

Consider credit card payments

Cred cards companies might cover some of your payments in certain circumstances, so this might be the right way to pay if the roofer offers it (not all of them can accept credit card payments).

Consider paying in installments

While a deposit is ok, you shouldn’t pay it all upfront as we’ve already discussed. However, you should discuss a steady payment stream in installments, like paying an amount after every milestone of the job is complete.

Hold some payment back until the job is finished

If you do agree to pay in installments, make sure there’s a sizable amount that’s always held back until after the job is complete. You want to keep an incentive for the job being finished in good time and to a good standard, rather than completing payments when there’s still a bit of work left to do.

Hopefully, you now know a bit more about when to make payments with your roofer so that you can get the job done without worrying about having paid too much upfront.

Mobile Home Roof Coating – How to Apply and What to Know

If you own a mobile home, or are looking to buy one soon—you might want to know a bit more about roofing. Unlike standard homes, the issues surrounding a mobile home’s roof are completely different.

While some roofing contractors might double up and do both, they often require a different set of skills and experience. Most of the info out there for roofs is about standard asphalt or shingle roofs that you might get on regular homes. So where does that leave you if you’ve got a mobile home?

If you want to know a bit more about mobile home roofing and some of the issues that come with it, then you’re in the right place. if you think your mobile home roof might need repairing sometime soon, then read this article for the answers to a number of your questions.

While mobile home roofs can share some similarities with other types of roofing, they aren’t always the same. One key distinction is the roof coating, and that’s what most of this article is going to be about.

if you want to know a bit more about the specifics of mobile home roof coating, as well as how much it might cost and even how to install or apply it yourself, then let’s have a look:

What is mobile home roof coating?

There are a number of different issues associated with mobile home roofs. That means they need their own type of roof coating to deal with them. While some of these coating materials might be the same as or similar to those on traditional roofs, there are a number of key differences between mobile home roofs and standard homes.

Firstly, mobile home roofs tend to have a lower pitch, if any at all. These flatter roofs are therefore not as good in extreme weather conditions, or even heavy rain. This is a problem associated with flat industrial roofs as well.

When a roof is flat, there isn’t anywhere for the water to run off and this can create water pooling issues and lead to dampness or leaks. That’s why most standard homes have pitched roofs.

Mobile homes tend not to be made of the same material as well. You don’t tend to get slate or shingle roofs on mobile homes. Many of them tend to be single fiber-glass constructions rather than a system of joists with layers of different roofing materials or constructions on top.

Because of these issues, mobile homes can be much more likely to leak as they age. Replacing a mobile home roof can be difficult, especially on some types of constructions. One of the main causes of a leaking older mobile home roof is degraded roof coating, along with other things like low-quality ceiling material.

While an overall roof repair or replacement might be difficult on a mobile home, it isn’t that difficult to replace or apply some more roof coating. Wind and tree branches can also cause problems with roof coating and require it to be replaced much sooner.

In a minute, we’ll look at how to install some more mobile home roof coating yourself, there are a few precautions you can take to make repairs less likely to be needed. Make sure you clean your roof regularly, especially if there have been heavy winds and branches have blown on top.

If there are puddles of water, remove these as often as possible. Consider extra paneling or guttering to help water run off the sides.

If you want to apply some roof coating to your mobile home, what options are there?

What mobile home roof coating options are there?

One of the cheaper coating materials that could make your mobile home roof last longer is aluminum coating. Aluminum coating is made of a mix of asphalt and petroleum along with aluminum fibers.

It’s a great in hot climates as it’s a good reflective surface and will help keep your mobile home cool.

Aluminum coating is durable and cost-effective and will secure your home around 24 hours after application.
Other types of coatings include silicone. This is a good adhesive and can be used to fill gaps or dents in your roof quite well. It can stop leaks and is easy to apply.
Acrylic roof coatings are also an option. These are good in hot areas and provide extra protection. They can also help your roof expand and contract as the weather changes.

How to install mobile home roof coating yourself

Don’t consider applying roof coating yourself if you think it’s going to rain soon. Check the forecasts. Minimal wind is good too. Remember, it’ll also need a few hours of drying time after as well.

Start by inspecting the roof and removing any dirt or blockages. It should be completely clean. You can use a broom and make sure all the seals are completely clean. You can then remove your old coating with sandpaper.

While some coatings can be used on top of original layers of coating, not all of them can. Check the instructions with your specific coatings or ask an expert.

You might need to do some minor repairs to your roof like fixing screws. Make sure the roof is still watertight and secure before applying the new layer or coating. If you have mildew and other similar growth, you can use diluted bleach to remove it carefully.

After this, you need to apply the metal primer with a brush over the entire surface of the roof. You will need to follow the specific instructions that come with both the primer and coating and allow the primer to dry.

After the primer has dried, you can start applying the coating you chose. Make sure the roof is completely clean when doing so. You may need to prepare the coating or stir it beforehand. Start with the roof seams and flashing before coating the main part of your roof.

You might need a coating gun or other similar piece of equipment, but some coatings can be applied with a brush. After you’ve finished, let the roof coat dry for a few hours and then you’re done!

How to Work on a Steep Roof. Safety Tips For Steep Roof Repairs

If you’ve got a particularly steep roof and need to get onto it to either clean or repair, you might be wondering where to start. if you haven’t done this sort of work before, it’s important that you follow safety guidelines and never rush your work.

While all roof work can be dangerous, it can be especially hard to work on a steeper pitched roof. If you want to know how, then you’re in the right place.

In this article, we’re going to look at how to work on a steep roof and some of the issues around a steeper roof as well as some tips on how to safely work on one.

There’s a reason why homes have pitched roofs, and why some roofs are steeper than others—and it might be important to find out a bit more about these reasons before you start working on them.

As with all roof work, safety is your number one concern. We’re going to look at the sort of equipment you’ll need as well as some more tips to help you get the job done effectively. Never take short cuts or compromise on safety.

How to work on a steep roof – The benefits of pitched roofs

If every roof was flat, there’d be a lot more leaks and water damage. Pitched roofs are there for a reason, they help the flow of rainwater and even snow to move away from the roof. otherwise it would settle in a puddle. Over time these puddles can cause rot, mildew and other issues. They also create issues with leaks. While some industrial buildings have flat roofs, these don’t have people living in them.

Some home builders have started installing flat roofs to homes. This can be ok in areas that don’t get much rain or snow, or if special guttering and other drainage is put in place. Otherwise, for most standard homes in normal areas, you need a pitched roof.

Why some homes have steeper roofs

While pitched roofs are important, you might have noticed some roofs are much steeper than others. This is for a few reasons. Firstly, local building codes might require a specific pitch amount. Some homes will have higher pitched roofs because they like the aesthetic, while others might have a larger room underneath the roof if it’s in a roof conversion.

An even steeper pitched roof might also be beneficial to homes as it helps water run off much faster. This is especially useful in areas that get a lot of rain where a standard pitch might not do the job well enough.

A steeper pitch can also reduce the risk of ice damage in the winter. Another benefit of a steeper pitch is that you can get more UV to your roof if you’ve got solar panels. You’ll also have more choice of roofing materials on a steeper roof.

While there are clearly some benefits to steeper roofing, it doesn’t make them easier to work on. If you want to know how to work on a steep roof, let’s have a look:

How to work on a steep roof

As we touched on earlier, safety should always be your number one priority with all roofs, especially steep ones. If you haven’t carried out this sort of work before or aren’t sure if you can do a safe job, then hire a team of experts instead.

Get the right equipment

If you do decide to carry out the work yourself, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right safety equipment. Let’s have a look at what you need…

Scaffolding

You probably need to know what you’re doing here, but scaffolding can help you get up to the side of your roof more safely without actually standing on the roof itself. If this works for the type of roof job you’re going to be doing, then it could be a good option.

Scaffolding can be good for roof inspections and other similar jobs where you don’t necessarily have to stand on the roof itself, although it can be an expensive and time-consuming option just for this.

Roof harness

If your roof is really steep, it might not be possible to even use scaffolding. If you know what you’re doing, you can use a roof harness to help you. Harnesses generally come with a rope, anchor and harness, along with an adjustable lanyard.

Anchor the harness in-place carefully using lag bolts into the rafters of the roof. This keeps you extra secure. Adjust the tension in the rope with the lanyard as you move across the roof.

Harnesses are a good option, but remember that you’ll need to re-anchor it if you need to move too far away. You’ll need to be extremely careful when anchoring the harness as you won’t have any support at that point. You should never try and carry out any work or move across the roof quickly before anchoring the harness.

Roof jacks

These are also sometimes known as brackets and can be purchased from many DIY stores. Fix the brackets in place and then nail a wooden board to them. These can help you walk across sections of your roof carefully as long as they are secured in place properly. Each jack is made to fit to the underside of the top layer of shingles.

Ladders

The standard piece of equipment for most roof work is a set of ladders. Make sure you’ve got someone to hold the bottom and only work steadily and carefully. Never use ladders if they aren’t in a secure and safe place. Ladders can be acceptable to get to the bottom side of a roof but you might need other equipment to do more advanced work on a steep roof.

2. Check the conditions

Never do roof work when it’s raining or windy. Make sure you’ve checked the forecast and only attempt roof work, especially on steep roofs, when the conditions are acceptable.

3. Work safely and methodically

Don’t rush your roof job. Always work safely, slowly and securely, Make sure you’re in full control at all times.

4. Get supervision

If you need help, ask an expert to supervise you. You could even hire a roofing firm to do the whole job if necessary.

How to Install Architectural Shingles Over 3 Tab Shingles

Are you looking to remodel or spruce up the exterior of your home sometime soon? You might have heard someone talk about architectural shingles. If you’ve seen of heard of these but aren’t really sure what they are, then you’re in the right place.

The main aim of architectural shingles is to give the look of heavy-duty roofing materials like slate or cedar, but at a fraction of the cost. They’re also much cheaper and can be easier to install. In this article, we’re going to look at a few issues surrounding architectural shingles, along with whether they’re right for you and a few other issues if you’re looking to get the job done. Keep reading for all the info you need on architectural shingles, including how to install them yourself if you want to give that a go.

What are architectural shingles?

Architectural shingles are primarily decoration for your home, and can give it a much more expensive look or attractive finish (but without costing as much as you might think). However, that’s not all they’re good for. Architectural shingles can also be quite heavy-duty and provide an extra layer of protection to your home with the increased durability they bring.

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If you’ve got an old home and want to upgrade the appearance of your exterior, especially the roof itself, then architectural singles can be a great option. They’re also good for adding an extra layer of protection.

Architectural shingles are slightly similar to regular asphalt shingles in that they do have an asphalt base. However, they differ in that they’re much thicker and are coated in fiberglass and laminated. They will generally overlap regular shingles when placed on top.

These shingles are reasonably heavy, and can weight twice as much as regular asphalt shingles (or sometimes even more). That brings their weight in at around 100 lbs per shingle. That’s why you’ll need to be sure your roof can support the additional weight. Re-inforcing your roofing joints might be necessary. While you can install architectural shingles yourself, you should be careful especially if your roof isn’t strong enough to support them. It might be a good idea to consult an expert or hire a roofing contractor at least to check your existing roof.

What are the main features and benefits of architectural roof shingles?

Architectural shingles are much more durable than regular shingles and will increase the lifespan of your roof considerably. While they can be a bit more expensive to buy and install, you won’t have to think about replacing them for years and they will provide a fair bit of protection to your roof.

Architectural shingles can also increase the value of your home, so this could offset some of the cost. They’re also considered more energy efficient than many roofing alternatives.

Overlaying vs tearing-off

Many homes will have standard 3-tab shingles. These shingles are lighter and cheaper, and look like 3 separate pieces but are really only one. They won’t last as long and aren’t as long-lasting as architectural shingles.

If you’ve already got 3-tab shingles, you might be able to overlay with architectural ones while leaving them in place. This will cost less, as you won’t have to tear off and start again. However, if there are any issues with the 3-tab layer, repairs could be much more expensive and the duration of the roof could be shortened. You can also only overlay once. That’s why tearing off and laying a new original layer is recommended by many roofers.

How to install architectural shingles

If you aren’t sure how to do this yourself, either consult an expert for advice or hire an external roofing company to do the job for you. Never take on something you aren’t sure how to do. Always work safely and use the right safety equipment. Roof work can be dangerous, so you need to be careful. If you’re sure you want to install the shingles yourself, then here’s how:

Start by nailing down a row of start shingles on the bottom edge of the roof. Lay more shingles on the sides of the roof, so that they overlap the start shingles. The first row of shingles should overhang the drip edge of the roof. Around an inch should do. each shingle will require around 4 nails (underneath the tar line and about half an inch under where the next shingle will overlap).

Do both sides first and then install ridge cap shingles over the top. Work from left to right, or in a methodical way. Overlap each shingle so it covers the nail underneath and then nail it down on top. Do this all the way across your roof. Nails should be sealed with roofing tar to make it water-resistant.

How much do architectural shingles cost?

To buy architectural shingles you might be looking at around $25 per square foot. This is clearly more expensive than standard shingles, but you get what you pay for. They should last much longer and even save on energy costs by providing better insulation. When you also consider how much they could increase the value of your home, they might be much more affordable than you might think.

How to find the right contractor to install architectural shingles

While you can do a good job when installing architectural shingles yourself if you’ve got the right skills and equipment, it’s not the job for everyone. If you’d rather let an expert take care of things, then here are a few tips to help you find the right one for you.

You can start your search online, but a good place check is by asking neighbors who did their roofs. They might be able to recommend or steer you away from someone. Ask for competitive quotes from different roofers and check examples of their work.

Hopefully this article has helped if you’ve been looking to get architectural shingles installed. Now you know a bit more about their benefits and the process so you can make a more informed decision.

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How to Install Drip Edge – Useful Guide For Home Owners

If you’ve got a shingle or potentially some other type of similar roof, you might be wondering whether you need to install a drip edge. If that’s the case, then you’re in the right place. We’re going to look a bit more closely at the topic of drip edges and work out if you really need one, and what the benefits are.

Not only that, but we’re going to show you how to install drip edge yourself. So if you want to know more about drip edges for your roof, then keep reading.

How to Install Drip Edge – Intro

Not everyone decides to install a drip edge, and not every roofer will recommend it. That being said, it could be worth it for your roof. But before we look more closely into why you might want a drip edge and what they’re good for, you might simply want to know what they actually are. So let’s have a look:

What are drip edges on roofs?

Drip edges tend to be L shaped and are metal sheets which are installed on the edge of a roof. This type of edge is normally installed on shingle roofs, but not always. It can also be known as drip edge flashing and is designed to direct water away from the roof and house and into a gutter.

Some consider drip edges crucial, but others don’t. This can often depend on how much rainfall might be expected as well as what level of water-roofing the roof itself has.

If you don’t have a drip edge, the water might get under the roof and end up beneath the shingles. This can cause damage to parts of the roof or even the home, especially in the form of leaks. Fixing a leak can be time-consuming, expensive and sometimes difficult, so it might be worth taking the preventative measure of installing drip edges instead.

Drip edges weren’t always installed when the roof is originally put in place, but as building codes have evolved they are now required in many different locations for new builds.

How can drip edges help?

As we’ve already touched on, drip edges are mainly for directing water away from the home and preventing it getting into the roof and causing further damage. But let’s have a look at this in a bit more detail:

Water droplets can stick to each other and the surfaces they land on due to cohesion and surface tension. A drip edge will work with these forces to direct the water into the gutter. Gravity helps a bit, too.

Even if you haven’t got a gutter on your roof, a drip edge can still help by directing water away from the house and stop it running down the fascia into cavities.

If you haven’t got a drip edge, water can stick to shingles and slowly work itself down into the roof. This can cause a leak or other issues, including rot. It’s therefore much easier to simply install a drip edge rather than having to carry out more expensive repairs later on.

While we’ve already looked at the main benefit of drip edges, that’s not all they’re good for. They can also help protect your roof from wind-driven rain. When the weather is serious, especially the win, water can be pushed around a lot on a roof.

Your roof tiles and shingles are designed to help stop such driving rain from affecting your roof, but the edges can be less protected. That means your drip edges need to hang a fair amount to stop wind pushing rain upwards into and underneath the roof.

You might need up to four inches edge coverage for this, depending on how much wind and rain you get in your area. Without these drip edges, extreme winds could damage your roof and require expensive repairs.

How to install drip edge

So now you’ve seen why you might need a drip edge on your roof, you probably want to know how to install one. Let’s have a look:

If you’re good at DIY you might decide this is a job you can do yourself. While lots of roof work will require a professional roofer, this isn’t necessarily one of them. If you want the extra peace of mind of going with a qualified roofer, then you can, but you could also use a handyman. For those who want to do the job yourself, here’s how:

Firstly, you need to remember that installing a drip edge isn’t the same as other roof work like eaves. For certain types of drip edges (type C particularly), you might want to install a furring edge around the roof, which is a strip of wood on the vertical surface of the house, just under the edge of the roof.

This will help keep the flange of the drip edge further from the house which will help keep water away from your home.

You’ll want to install drip edges on the eaves first. Place the edge down and fix it so that water will drip off it at the correct angle into the gutter. The flange should point downwards and away from the rest of the roof.

Use roofing nails to fasten the drip edges, starting high up on the drip edges so that shingles hang over the nailed areas. Nail every foot or so. Make sure no nails are more than 16 inches apart. Overlap each drip edge piece on the next one by around an inch.

Make cuts at the corners where the rake edges meet to make sure things fit properly. Make sure your corners overlap and are fully protected. Once your entire roof has drop edges all around it, you can install the underlayment.

Hopefully, these tips are enough to get you at least somewhat acquainted with the idea of installing and making the most of your own drip edges. If you aren’t sure about anything, consult a professional.

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