How close should gutters be to drip edge?

Author: Dr. Gerardo Harris  |  Last update: Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Ensure Proper Gutter Placement: The gutter needs to sit behind the drip edge to stop water from flowing through the gap and into your home's siding.

How far should a gutter be from a drip edge?

What's the common drip edge size to allow the gutter underneath it? I would recommend 2 inch or more on the part that goes down the fascia. You are welcome.

Should drip edge touch gutter?

Drip edge should be installed at least a 1/4'' away from the fascia. The purpose of drip edge is to catch run behind from the shingle and it 'drips' into the gutter. If the drip edge is against the home that water will run down the fascia or behind the gutter. Gutters should always be installed BEHIND the drip edge.

How close should gutter be to roof edge?

The gutter should be installed as close to the shingles as possible. The back of the gutter should rest behind the drip edge; the drip edge goes over the gutter. The back of the gutter should rest on a drip edge. Failing to install gutters properly can lead to costly problems.

How much space should be between fascia and drip edge?

Be sure that the edge extends beyond the fascia to promote water flow away from your roof. Silva recommends installing the drip edge so the edge of the roof is 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inches away from your fascia board. This way, water can drop freely instead of seeping back into the fascia.

Gutter apron and drip edge are not created equal. Know the difference and where to use them!

Should there be a gap between fascia and drip edge?

Ideally, there should be a small gap between the drip edge and fascia to allow for proper water drainage and ventilation. However, this gap should be minimal to prevent water from infiltrating behind the fascia board, leading to water damage and rot.

How to fix gap between drip edge and gutter?

You can use a sealant designed specifically for this purpose or you can use roofing cement. Apply the sealant to the underside of the drip edge and press it down firmly against the gutter.

Should a gutter extend past the roof edge?

3. Proper Placement for Your Gutter Installation. Your gutters should extend beyond your roof shingles, not align with them.

Should gutters be flush with the roof?

Gutters Should Extend Slightly Beyond the Edge of Your Roof Shingles: Three-fourths of the gutter's width should extend past your roof's shingles to catch water and redirect it through the downspouts.

What is the rule for gutters?

Your new gutters should be installed at a certain angle to ensure rainwater is diverted to the drains. As a rule of thumb, gutters should have a slope of 1/4 inch for every 10 feet.

Do you have to remove gutters to install drip edge near?

Furthermore, the roofing contractor can install a drip edge without the gutters. This helps control the direction of dripping water, ensuring it goes into the gutters and not behind them.

Can you caulk between gutter and fascia?

How do I fix the gap between my fascia and gutters? The best way to fix a gap between fascia and gutters is to use caulk.

How do you tell if gutters are installed correctly?

How to tell if gutters are installed correctly? Properly installed gutters should consistently handle rainwater without any leaks, pooling, or overflowing. You also shouldn't see any gaps between the gutters and fascia board, and the gutter should be level.

How far back onto the roof should the drip edge extend?

Once the drip edge is installed, the shingles should extend ½ inch to ¾ inch past the drip edge. If the shingles are allowed to extend too far, then they can be caught by the wind and damaged. If they do not extend far enough, driving rain can get under them and damage the roof deck.

What is the proper placement of rain gutters?

While homeowners may believe that gutters must abut the roofline, this assumption is incorrect. Ideally, gutters should be placed a few inches below the roofline. They need to extend beyond the roof shingles, not align with them.

Do you need flashing with gutters?

Without the flashing, water will get between the gutter and the fascia. At a minimum, the moisture will rot the fascia boards prematurely. At worst, you'll get water penetrating into the interior walls. Stormy, wet climates, like the Delaware Valley, need gutter flashing for peak protection.

Is it OK to walk on roof to clean gutters?

Handyman advises against walking on the roof unless completely necessary. From the roof, leaning downhill to reach the gutter increases your risk of falling. Accessing the roof and gutters while using an extension ladder is the safest. We also recommend waiting until midday when the roof is dry.

Should you do gutters or windows first?

However, it's easy to understand the number one goal in home improvement: to minimize damages during construction. For that reason, most contractors recommend replacing the roof, windows, siding, and gutters—in that order.

How much overhang is needed for gutters?

The general rule of thumb is for metal roofing to overhang the gutters by no more than 50mm (approximately 2 inches). Any further will change the look of your home, curb appeal and how the excess water flows from the roof to the gutters during a storm.

How close should a gutter be to the roof?

If the gap between the roof and the gutter is too big, chances are that the water running off your roof is going to miss the gutter entirely. Stick to a fall of 3mm per meter and you'll not go wrong with your gutter installation. When installing your outlet piece, it should be no lower than 50mm (2inch) from the roof.

Does gutter apron go over drip edge?

Gutter aprons are installed by tucking the top edge of the apron underneath the roofing material and extending the bottom edge to the gutter, filling the gap between the gutter and roof. Drip edges are installed along the roof's trim and usually hang past gutters.

What do you put between roof and gutters?

Sealing the gap between the roof and the gutter using silicone caulk and installing a gutter guard will reduce the risk of water damage due to leaks. The caulk will bridge the gap while the gutter guard keeps the channels clear and clog-free. The guard will help the gutters do their job more efficiently.

Should there be a gap between fascia and gutter?

Your home's gutters are hung on the fascia board when it is being built. When the roof decking is not level with the fascia, a “builder's gap” results. This gap is meant to improve attic ventilation, but, as you can see here, it may let water and pests into your home and result in other types of damage.

Do you overlap drip edge?

Nail high up on the drip edge so that the shingles will cover the nails. Ideally, you'd nail about every 12 inches, and in no circumstances should you have 16 inches or more between nails. When you place the next drip edge piece, it should overlap the first by an inch.

Should fascia go over or under drip edge?

The correct placement of a roof drip edge is on top of the roof's exterior cover directly between the sheathing and the fascia board, which forms a drainage gap between the drip edge and the fascia board. As a result, the drainage improves water flow and protects the roof from potential water damage.

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