The Roof Eaves Roof Overhangs are lower edge of your roof is susceptible to several problems and some types of damage that may not be issues for other roof areas. It can be easy for wind to blow rain back underneath this area, and it’s also one of the more vulnerable spots in a windstorm.
Here are some common issues that can occur with your roof eaves and overhang that may require roof repairs or maintenance work.
Missing Drip Edge Flashing
If your roof doesn’t have drip edge flashing along the eaves, it’s left open to several types of damage. The first type of damage the drip edge flashing protects against is water damage from seepage and wind-blown rain. It can also protect against pest intrusion and ice dam formation.
The problem is that some roofing jobs don’t include drip edge flashing. This is sometimes because the work is DIY or done by a handyman who’s not well-versed in all the types of flashing a roof needs. Sometimes, though, a roofing contractor will tell a homeowner this type of flashing is optional.
What the homeowner may not know is just how much damage can occur to the fascia board, the roof deck, and even the inside of the house if water intrusion or pest incursions aren’t repelled by drip edge flashing. Fortunately, if you have no drip edge flashing, a competent roofer can add it for you.
Inadequate Drip Edge Flashing
Like other types of flashing, drip edge flashing has to be chosen, handled, overlapped, and fastened correctly in order to do its job. Some potential problems with drip edge flashing installation include:
- Installing the drip edge directly against the fascia
- Not overlapping the drip edge flashing correctly with the underlayment and gutters
- Reusing the same drip edge flashing with a new roof
When you choose a roofing contractor for a new roof, check whether their estimated price includes buying all-new flashings. This includes drip flashing, chimney flashing, and vent flashings.
Lack of Ice & Water Shield
Building codes may have changed and your home may no longer be up to code, check local building codes to find out if your local codes have changed.
Too Much Overhang
Roof overhangs are important since they protect your walls from rain. But if you live in a windy area, a bigger roof overhang can be quite a hazard. That’s because the extra inches of overhang can provide extra wind uplift, which allows the wind to get a grip on your roof and more easily damage it or tear it off.
If your roof deck has a lot of overhang, talk to your roofing contractor about whether it could become a liability in the event of a hurricane, tornado, or other wind event. You may be able to have the overhang altered or braced so that it’s less likely to present a perfect target for wind.
Misaligned Gutter and Eaves
If the overhang doesn’t quite reach your gutters, a light rain will cause drips to fall straight down or perhaps even blow back at your siding rather than being carried away to the downspout. Or if the overhang reaches a little too far out, a heavy rain could cause water to cascade out past the gutter and start to pool at your foundation wall.
If your eaves don’t line up with your gutter correctly, it may be due to incorrect gutter installation. Or it could be that the drip edge wasn’t lined up with existing gutters correctly when your roof was replaced. Either way, a good roofing contractor should be able to help you get the gutters and the drip edge to line up.
These common issues can damage your roof and your home by aiding moisture intrusion and other issues such as pest infestations. If you suspect something is wrong with your roof, eaves, your drip edge flashing, or the amount of overhang at the lower edge of your roof, get in touch with Golden Spike Roofing today for your free inspection or estimate.