There is some water dripping behind the gutter, and I am thinking of installing a drip edge. From what I read a drip edge is installed under the ice water shield at the eaves. The ice water shield sticks to the surface. Should I be attempting to lift up the ice water shield to install the drip edge underneath? Is the ice water shield likely to rip when pulling it up? Or is it unlikely to stick back after? Any other issue with what I am proposing?
Adding an eaves drip edge to an existing roof installation
fasciaguttersroofshingles
Related Solutions
Carefully raise the lowest shingles on the roof line. Slip an additional shingle in under those shingles - install them oriented so the normally top edge of the shingle is the bottom edge (but make sure they stay face up).
Nail in place as high up as you can close to the layer of shingles above, leaving a 1" over hang over the gutter to create a new drip edge. Install using proper roofing nails.
Run a 3/8" bead of roofing caulk (black tar like substance) along the top edge of that new layer of shingles, then lay the old layer of shingles back down on top of the new drip edge.
This is a common mistake, which will lead to premature roof wear. What the installer should have done, was to install an A to B transition elbow, and continued down the roof with a section of down spout. Then used an A elbow to have the water dump directly into the lower gutter.
It should end up similar to this
Allowing the high volume of water to flow over the roof, will damage the shingles and cause them to wear prematurely. Even if you turn the spout adjacent to the slope, it will still cause damage to the roofing. Spreading the flow over the roof in this way, will not alleviate the damage that is caused. In either case, you're allowing all the water shed from the upper roof, to flow over a small section of the lower roof. It's a terrible idea, and should be avoided.
I'm not sure exactly when builders decided to try and save the $10, by not installing the downspout along the roof. But it makes me so sick every time I see it, I just want to climb up there and fix it myself.
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Best Answer
It is possible that your ice & water shield will peel up cleanly depending on age, climate, current temperature, sun exposure, etc. Try that first, otherwise...
Installing drip edge under the two layers of shingle that should be present will take care of 99% of the water flow. The small amount that may come down during ice dam conditions may run under the edge. You'll need to decide whether that's a concern in your case.
You could also install your edge, then seal it with a narrow strip of ice & water shield. It'll bond with the existing layer over time and seal against nearly all leaks.
The bottom line is that anything is likely to improve your current situation.