Add Drip Edge to an Existing Roof — Retrofit at Eaves and Rakes
Water drips behind the gutter instead of into it, the fascia is going soft, and the roofer who put the shingles on never installed drip edge.
You can add drip edge to an existing roof without a tear-off when the shingles are still flexible. JMB Builders lifts the first course at the eaves and the edge shingles at the rakes, slides metal drip edge under them, fastens it, reseals the shingles, and repairs any fascia that rotted from water running behind the gutter, across the Twin Cities metro. Priced per linear foot, quoted from photos within one business day.
- Priced per linear foot of roof edge
- No tear-off when shingles are flexible
- Rotted fascia repaired in the same visit
- Quote from photos in 1 business day
Drip edge is the bent metal along the edge of a roof that throws water off the shingles and into the gutter. Plenty of older roofs in the Twin Cities were shingled without it. Water curls back under the shingle edge, runs down the fascia behind the gutter, and rots the fascia, the sub-fascia and sometimes the roof deck edge.
When the roof still has years left, drip edge can be added without replacing it. The nails in the bottom course are released, the drip edge slides up under the shingles and over the fascia, it is fastened, and the shingles are nailed and sealed back down. At the rakes the edge shingles are lifted the same way. Where the fascia is already soft, the gutter comes down and the rot is cut out and replaced first.
It is done in mild weather, when the shingles bend without cracking. On a roof near the end of its life, drip edge goes on with the new roof instead.
What you supply
- Photos of the roof edge from the ground along each side of the house
- A close-up of the shingle edge and the fascia behind the gutter
- The age of the roof if you know it
- Your preferred drip edge color, usually matched to the gutter or fascia
What JMB supplies
- Metal drip edge in a stock color, sized for the roof edge
- Shingle edges lifted, drip edge slid under and fastened, shingles resealed
- Gutters taken down and rehung where the fascia needs repair or the gutter blocks the edge
- Rotted fascia and sub-fascia sections cut out and replaced
- Roofing sealant and fasteners, and replacement shingles for any that crack
- Photos of the finished edge in your job folder
How it is priced: per linear foot
Quoted in writing from your photos within one business day. What moves the number:
- Total length of eaves and rakes getting drip edge
- Shingle age and how flexible the bottom courses are
- Rotted fascia or roof deck edge found once the gutter is off
- Gutters that have to come down and be rehung
- Roof height and pitch, and ladder or staging access
- Eaves only vs. eaves and rakes
A close-up of the shingle edge tells whether the shingles are still flexible enough to lift without cracking.
How long it takes
Eaves and rakes on a typical house: one day. Add a day when the gutters come down for fascia repair.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized quote within one business day. We only come out to measure first when the job needs a tape measure — no pressure, no games.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Eaves only
Drip edge along the gutter side where water runs behind the gutter. The most common retrofit, since that is where fascia rot starts.
Eaves and rakes
Drip edge on the gable edges too, which covers the exposed shingle edge and the top of the rake board. Keeps wind-driven rain off the rake trim.
Drip edge with fascia repair
When the fascia is already soft, the gutter comes down, rotted fascia and sub-fascia are replaced, drip edge goes in, and the gutter goes back up with the pitch checked.
Add Drip Edge to an Existing Roof — Retrofit at Eaves and Rakes: questions, answered
Can you add drip edge to an existing roof?
Yes, when the shingles are still flexible. The bottom course at the eaves and the edge shingles at the rakes are lifted, the drip edge slides under them, and the shingles are fastened and resealed. On an old roof with brittle shingles, drip edge is better added when the roof is replaced.
Does a roof need drip edge?
Drip edge keeps water from curling back under the shingles and running down the fascia behind the gutter. Without it, fascia and the roof deck edge rot over time. Newer building codes call for it on shingle roofs, and most shingle makers list it in their installation instructions.
Why is my fascia rotting behind the gutter?
On a roof without drip edge, water runs off the shingle edge, sticks to the underside and runs down the face of the fascia behind the gutter. The wood stays wet and rots. Adding drip edge and replacing the rotted fascia fixes both the damage and the cause.
What time of year can drip edge be retrofitted?
Mild weather, when the shingles are warm enough to bend without cracking and the sealant strips will stick again. In Minnesota that is roughly late spring through early fall. Cold, brittle shingles crack when lifted.
Does drip edge go over or under the gutter?
The drip edge sits under the shingles and over the fascia, with its lower lip hanging into the gutter or just over the back of it. That way water leaving the roof lands in the gutter, not behind it. If the gutter is set too low or too far out, it is rehung.
Is adding drip edge worth it if the roof will be replaced in a few years?
If the roof has only a few years left and the fascia is sound, it may make more sense to wait and get drip edge with the new roof. If the fascia is already rotting, fixing it now stops more damage. The quote lays out both options from your photos.
What is a gutter apron and does it stop water running behind the gutter?
A gutter apron is a bent metal flashing that slips under the first course of shingles and hangs down into the back of the gutter, so water off the roof edge lands in the gutter instead of running down behind it onto the fascia. It does the same job as drip edge at the eave and is often used where the gutter is already hung. We slide it under the existing shingles without tearing off the roof.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and for the builders and dealers we sub for. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough. You hear back within one business day. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
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Read morePage reviewed September 26, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All roofing pages
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