Help · Diagnostic

Water dripping behind my gutter onto the wall — causes

Water dripping behind the gutter onto the wall almost always means missing or improperly installed drip edge flashing. The roof shingles need a metal drip edge that extends OVER the back of the gutter. Without it, water wicks under the shingles and runs behind the gutter, eventually rotting the fascia.

Diagnose the cause

Three possible causes:

  1. Missing drip edge flashing (most common). KC homes roofed before 2000 often lack drip edge. Water trickling down the roof slides UNDER the shingle edge and runs behind the gutter.
  2. Gutter back too low. The back lip of the gutter should tuck UNDER the drip edge. If it sits in front of the drip edge instead, water bypasses the gutter.
  3. Gutter sloped backward. Rare but possible — gutter installed with the back lip lower than the front, so water sloshes over the back.

Confirm with a hose test

On a dry day, get on the roof (or have someone do it) and run a hose at the roof surface above the affected gutter section. Watch the gutter from below. Water should fall INTO the gutter front. If you see water emerging from BEHIND the gutter or staining the fascia, you've confirmed the diagnosis.

The fix

Adding drip edge requires removing the bottom row of shingles, sliding the metal flashing in (extending over the back of the gutter), then re-securing the shingles. Cost: $4-$8 per linear foot. Best done during a re-roof.

If the gutter back lip is just positioned wrong (in front of an existing drip edge instead of behind), the gutter needs to be removed, repositioned, and rehung. About $5-$8 per linear foot.

What it's costing you if you don't fix it

Sustained water behind the gutter rots the fascia within 2-5 years. Once fascia rot starts, it spreads. You'll go from a $400-$800 drip-edge install to a $2,500+ gutter + fascia replacement. Fix it sooner rather than later.

Frequently asked

Can I caulk along the top of the gutter to seal it?

No — that creates a different problem (water dams on top of the gutter). The right fix is drip edge.

Is drip edge required by code?

Required by the 2015 IRC and later for new roofs. Older roofs are grandfathered but should be retrofitted.

Does my insurance cover this?

No — this is a maintenance/construction issue, not storm damage.

Need a pro to handle it?

Premier Gutters KC handles all of these problems across the Kansas City metro. Free 24-48 hour inspection. Written quote with no pressure. Call (816) 469-9563 or request a quote online.

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