NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
I get where you’re coming from about drip edge, but I’ll be honest—I’ve done two roofs now (my own and my brother’s) and skipped the drip edge both times. We used architectural shingles with a good overhang and made sure the underlayment wrapped right over the edge. Five years later, no water stains, no rot, nothing weird on the fascia. Maybe we just got lucky with our climate? We’re in a pretty dry area most of the year.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend skipping it for everyone. If you’re somewhere with heavy rain or snow melt, yeah, probably not worth taking that risk. But sometimes these “must-have” details get pushed hard by contractors because it’s easier to do everything by the book than to assess what actually matters for each house. Not saying drip edge is useless—it’s just not always as critical as people make it out to be.
If you do decide to skip it (not saying you should!), at least make sure your shingles hang over enough and your underlayment is solidly installed. And check your gutters—if they’re clogged or pulling away from the fascia, water will find a way in no matter what you do up top.
Anyway, just wanted to throw in a different perspective. Sometimes following every single step isn’t necessary if you know your local conditions and keep an eye on things after the fact.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
sometimes these “must-have” details get pushed hard by contractors because it’s easier to do everything by the book than to assess what actually matters for each house
- Totally get this. Sometimes, “by the book” just means “covering all bases,” but not every base is in play, you know?
- I’ve skipped drip edge on a shed before—dry climate, barely any rain—no problems after 8 years. But on my main house? Wouldn’t risk it. Murphy’s Law loves a roof.
- If you’re rolling the dice, at least double-check your shingle overhang and keep those gutters in check. Water’s sneaky.
- Honestly, half the battle is just keeping an eye out for weird spots or leaks after storms... roofs are like toddlers: turn your back and they’ll find trouble.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
I get the urge to skip some “extras,” but honestly, cutting corners on a roof can come back to haunt you—especially if you ever plan to sell. Inspectors love to flag missing drip edges or improper flashing, even if you’ve never had a leak. I’ve seen folks lose serious resale value over stuff that seemed minor at install time. If you’re already investing in a new roof, might as well do it right and not have to think about it again for decades. Peace of mind’s worth a lot, at least for me.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
- You’re spot on about not skipping the “little” stuff. Drip edge, ice & water shield, proper flashing—those aren’t just upsells, they’re what keep you from dealing with headaches later.
- I’ve tried to save a few bucks in the past by skipping underlayment on a shed roof. Regretted it after the first big rain.
- If you’re already tearing off the old roof, it’s worth doing it right. You’ll sleep better knowing you won’t have to mess with it again for ages.
- Even if you don’t plan to sell soon, a solid roof just makes life easier. No one likes surprise leaks in the middle of winter...
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
- I get wanting to do every single upgrade, but sometimes budgets just don’t stretch that far. If you have to pick, focus on what actually protects the interior—ice & water shield near eaves and valleys is non-negotiable, but I’ve seen people go overboard with extras that don’t add much.
- Not every home absolutely needs the most expensive underlayment or all the bells and whistles. Depends on your climate and how your attic’s vented.
- If you’re planning any ceiling or lighting updates inside, coordinate now—last thing you want is to patch up drywall after a new roof install. Learned that one the hard way...
