The Roof Edge
Two of the cheapest items on a roofing quote are also two of the most commonly left off, and both of them protect the edge where Toronto roofs take the most abuse.
Short answer
Drip edge is metal along the eave and the rake that directs water off the roof and away from the fascia. Starter strip is a proper first course with its adhesive at the eave edge. Without them, water runs behind the fascia and the first shingle course lifts in wind — both avoidable for very little money.
Drip edge
A metal profile along the eave and up the rake, under the underlayment at the rake and over it at the eave.
Directs water off the roof edge and into the eavestrough rather than letting it run back under the shingle and behind the fascia.
Stiffens the roof edge, which matters where the sheathing ends and where wind lifts.
Keeps water off the fascia, which is what rots when it is absent.
Helps at the eave where ice forms, by giving the water a defined path off.
And is cheap. It is a metre-rate item and it is omitted to shave a quote rather than for any technical reason.
What its absence looks like
Rotted fascia and soffit along the eave. Staining down the fascia. Eavestrough pulling away because its fasteners are in soft wood. Water getting behind the eavestrough instead of into it. All of that on a roof that is otherwise fine, and all of it from a missing strip of metal.
Starter strip
A purpose-made first course, or shingles cut and reversed so the adhesive strip is at the eave edge.
Its job is to seal the bottom edge of the first visible course so wind cannot get under it.
Without it, the first course has its adhesive in the wrong place and the tabs lift.
The same applies up the rake on an exposed property, where a rake starter is worth having.
It also closes the joints of the first course, which otherwise line up with the course above.
And it is a bundle-rate item, so again it is omitted to shave a price.
The rest of the edge details
Ice and water shield at the eave, under the drip edge and the starter.
The eavestrough position relative to the drip edge, which decides whether water goes in or behind.
Fascia condition, which should be checked and replaced during a reroof rather than covered over.
Soffit venting, which is at the same edge and is the single most important vent in the roof.
The rake edge, which on a semi-detached or a narrow Toronto lot takes wind from the side.
And asking for all of it explicitly in the quote, because these items are the difference between two prices that look like the same job.
Common questions
What does drip edge do?
Directs water off the roof edge into the eavestrough instead of behind the fascia.
What happens without a starter strip?
The first course has its adhesive in the wrong place and lifts in wind.
Why are they left off quotes?
To shave the price. There is no technical reason.