Roofing & Attics
Missing Step Flashing at a Roof–Wall Intersection
Status Plan for Correction
Where a roof meets a wall, missing or failed step flashing can let water slip behind the wall covering and into the framing.
View case fileTHE HOUSE FILES · Roofing & Attics
Missing or Damaged Drip Edge at Roof Eaves
Without drip edge, water can wick into fascia and underlayment edges instead of shedding cleanly off the roof.
Direct Answer
Drip edge (or an equivalent edge metal detail where required) helps roof runoff clear the fascia and protects underlayment edges. Missing, bent, or improperly installed drip edge at eaves and rakes can allow water to wet fascia, soffit, and edge materials and should usually be corrected during roof repair or reroofing.
PLAN FOR CORRECTION
This should be corrected.
Have a qualified roofing contractor evaluate eave and rake edges and install proper drip edge integrated with the roof covering. Repair any soft fascia or edge materials at the same time.
How to Identify It
- No metal edge visible under the first course of shingles at the eave
- Bent, loose, rusted, or incomplete drip edge segments
- Stains, peeling paint, or soft wood on fascia boards at the eave line
- Underside of the roof edge looking frayed, swollen, or water-marked
- Gutter leaks or overflow wetting the fascia behind the gutter board
- Rake edges without continuous edge metal where the roof covering ends
Why Further Evaluation Is Needed
Edge metal helps keep water from curling under the roof covering and underlayment at the perimeter. When drip edge is missing or failing, fascia and edge materials can stay damp longer after storms, which encourages decay and finish failure.
Modern roofing practice commonly includes drip edge at eaves (and often rakes), installed in a sequence with underlayment that matches manufacturer instructions. Exact requirements vary by product, local code, and whether a re-cover or full tear-off is underway.
An edge detail problem does not automatically mean the whole roof covering has failed, but it is a real water-management gap at a vulnerable line of the building.
What a Proper Correction Should Accomplish
- Install or replace drip edge (or approved equivalent) along eaves and rakes as required
- Integrate edge metal with underlayment and shingles per manufacturer instructions
- Repair or replace decayed fascia, soffit, or edge sheathing discovered during the work
- Confirm gutters and downspouts are not trapping water against the fascia
- Avoid leaving raw underlayment or sheathing edges unprotected at the eave
Example From an Inspection
In a real inspection, the roof installation lacked proper drip edge at the roof deck edge. The report recommended installing drip edge to protect the edge of the roofing deck and related materials.
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Bath Fan Duct Terminating in the Attic
Status Plan for Correction
A bathroom exhaust fan that dumps moist air into the attic instead of outdoors can wet insulation and framing.
View case fileElectrical
Open Ground Outlet: What It Means and Why It Matters
Status Plan for Correction
A three-prong outlet that tests as having no equipment ground—common in older homes with two-wire wiring. Here’s what it means, why it matters, and how it’s corrected.
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