Drip edge

Abstract

A structurally robust roof drip edge system including a tail and an outer section contiguous with the tail. The tail includes a locally thin section nailable to a roof substrate. The outer section includes a bridging member connecting an inner footing and an outer footing. The outer footing includes a drip edge profile for directing the flow of water off of a roof. The inner footing is spaced from the outer footing by a suitable distance and configured to be placed against an eave as a positioning aid such that the drip edge can easily and reliably be installed with sufficient spacing for the installation of a fascia board behind the drip edge profile. The drip edge may be bendable to a user-selectable angle between the tail and the outer section to accommodate a range of roof pitches.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drip edge configured to be installed to a substantially planar roof substrate comprising an upper surface and a side-facing surface, the drip edge comprising:
 a tail extending along the length of the drip edge, the tail comprising a lower end and an upper end thinner than the lower end, wherein the drip edge is coupleable to the upper surface of the roof substrate by driving one or more mechanical fasteners through the upper end of the tail such that the tail lies adjacent to the upper surface of the roof substrate; and   an outer section contiguous with the tail at a lengthwise joint defining a roof angle corresponding to a roof pitch of the roof substrate, the outer section extending along the length of the drip edge and comprising an inner footing disposed proximal to the tail section, an outer footing disposed distal from the tail section, and a bridging member disposed between the inner footing and the outer footing such that the inner footing and the outer footing extend perpendicularly from a bottom side of the bridging member to form downward-facing c-shaped channel, wherein the joint comprises a bendably thin region disposed proximate the inner footing and the tail such that the roof angle is selectable by bending the tail relative to the bridging member along the bendably thin region, and wherein an inner surface of the inner footing lies adjacent to the side-facing surface of the roof substrate,   wherein the c-shaped channel is sized and shaped to accommodate installation of a fascia board having a substantially rectangular cross-section disposed at least partially within the c-shaped channel and fastened to the side-facing surface of the roof substrate, and   wherein the tail is configured to accommodate installation of a roofing material coupled to the upper surface of the roof substrate wherein at least a portion of the roofing material lies adjacent to the upper surface and at least a portion of the roofing material lies adjacent to the tail of the drip edge such that at least a portion of the tail of the drip edge is disposed between the upper surface of the roof substrate and an underside of the roofing material.   
     
     
         2 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the outer footing of the drip edge comprises a top end contiguous with the bridging member and a bottom end opposite the top end, the bottom end comprising a lip extending outwardly at an angle of between 15 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the outer footing such that a liquid flowing downward along the outer footing is directed away from the fascia board. 
     
     
         3 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the drip edge comprises a plurality of adjacent discrete drip edge sections having substantially identical cross sections, the drip edge sections disposed adjacently to form a drip edge extending along substantially the entire length of roof substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the c-shaped channel has a width of between 0.75 inch and 1 inch. 
     
     
         5 . A universal drip edge comprising:
 a tail extending along the length of the drip edge, the tail comprising a lower end and an upper end thinner than the lower end; and   an outer section contiguous with the tail at a lengthwise joint defining a roof angle, the outer section extending along the length of the drip edge and comprising:
 an inner footing disposed proximal to the tail section; 
 an outer footing disposed distal from the tail section; and 
 a bridging member disposed between the inner footing and the outer footing such that the inner footing and the outer footing extend perpendicularly from a bottom side of the bridging member; 
   wherein the joint comprises a bendably thin region disposed proximate the inner footing and the tail, wherein the roof angle is selectable by bending the tail relative to the bridging member along the bendably thin region;   wherein the inner footing comprises an inner surface proximate the tail, the inner surface configured to be placed against an end surface of a roof substrate to define a drip edge installation position; and   wherein the bridging member, the inner footing, and the outer footing define a downward-facing channel configured to receive and partially surround a fascia board.   
     
     
         6 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the bridging member is oriented at an angle between 5 degrees and 30 degrees relative to the tail section. 
     
     
         7 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the bendably thin region comprises a lengthwise divot in a bottom surface of the joint. 
     
     
         8 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the tail is configured to receive one or more mechanical fasteners for securing the drip edge to a roof substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the outer footing comprises a top end contiguous with the bridging member and a bottom end opposite the top end, the bottom end comprising a lip disposed at an angle relative to the outer footing. 
     
     
         10 . The drip edge of  claim 9 , wherein the lip is disposed at an angle between 15 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the outer footing. 
     
     
         11 . The drip edge of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom end terminates in a fillet, wherein an outer portion of the fillet has a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of an inner portion of the fillet. 
     
     
         12 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the outer section and the tail comprise aluminum. 
     
     
         13 . The drip edge of  claim 12 , wherein the outer section and the tail are manufactured by extruding to form an integral drip edge system. 
     
     
         14 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the outer footing is configured to accommodate and direct a flow of water received from a roof 
     
     
         15 . The drip edge of  claim 1 , wherein the inner footing, the outer footing, the bridging member, and the lower section of the tail have a thickness between 1/32 inch and ⅛ inch. 
     
     
         16 . A method of installing a drip edge on a roof substrate, the method comprising:
 providing a drip edge comprising a tail and an outer section having an inner footing, an outer footing, and a channel disposed between the inner footing and the outer footing;   placing the drip edge against the roof substrate such that a bottom surface of the tail is adjacent and substantially parallel to an upper surface of the roof substrate and an inward-facing surface of the inner footing abuts a side-facing surface of the roof substrate;   attaching the tail to the roof substrate by placing one or more mechanical fasteners through the tail and a portion of the roof substrate; and   installing a fascia board within the channel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tail and the outer section of the drip edge are contiguous at a joint having an angle adjustable by bending. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising determining a pitch of the roof substrate, and adjusting the angle of the joint based on the measured pitch before placing the drip edge against the roof substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the roof substrate comprises a roof sheathing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein attaching the tail to the roof substrate comprises driving one or more nails through the tail and a portion of the roof substrate.