Q&A - Will overhanging shingles bend over time?

A South Dakota trailer house owner wanted to know if the overhang of newly installed shingles would bend over time without the installation of gutters.

Todd, a homeowner from South Dakota, wanted to know whether the new shingles on their trailer house would bend over time. They asked: 

Just had the roof reshingled on my trailer house. Drip edge was installed the length of the trailer on both sides to where shingles extend past 0.5 to 0.75 inches for gutters. I wasn't planning on putting gutters on. Is the overhang of the shingles going to be an issue, especially any bending over time?

Roofing expert John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group had this to say in response:

Todd, the 0.5-inch to 0.75-inch overhang you mentioned is right in the recommended range — even without gutters. That slight extension helps water drip clear of the fascia, protecting your siding and structure. As long as the shingles were properly nailed (not too high) and the drip edge is correctly installed, you shouldn’t have issues with sagging or curling over time.

Shingles are designed to handle a bit of overhang. Problems usually arise when the overhang exceeds one inch, or if poor ventilation and lower-grade materials are in play. If you ever notice water pooling near the home or erosion along the edge, you might want to explore gutters.

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