What does a 2-inch drip edge mean?
The parts of a drip edge
- Roof flange: lies on the deck and is nailed down, covered by underlayment at eaves.
- Face: the vertical leg that hangs over the deck edge and fascia.
- Drip lip or kick: the bent bottom edge that throws water away from the fascia.
What the code says
For shingle roofs, the residential code calls for drip edge at eaves and rakes that extends at least 2 inches back onto the deck and at least 1/4 inch below the deck edge, with joints lapped at least 2 inches and fasteners no more than 12 inches apart. Underlayment goes over the drip edge at eaves and under it at rakes. Georgia adopts the code with state amendments, so local inspectors have the final word.
How sizes are labeled
Products are often described by two numbers, the roof flange and the face height. A 2-inch flange meets the minimum. Wider flanges give more nailing surface and a better lap under the underlayment, and taller faces cover thicker fascia or a gap between deck and fascia.
When to go bigger
- Older homes with uneven deck edges or a gap above the fascia.
- Fascia that has been wrapped or replaced with thicker material.
- Gutters hung so the drip lip needs to reach farther out to land water in them.
The right size is the one that covers the deck edge fully and drops water into the gutter. See drip edge explained and our gutter guide.