Drip Felt (Eaves Protection)

Drip felt — more properly known as the eaves protector strip or underlay support tray — is a small but critical component fitted at the very bottom edge (the eaves) of a pitched roof, where the roof meets the gutter. Its job is simple but vital: to catch any wind-driven rain or snow that gets underneath the bottom row of tiles or slates and channel it safely into the gutter, rather than letting it run behind the fascia board and into the roof space or wall below.

In practice, we fit a heavy-duty bitumen or SBS-modified strip, roughly a metre wide, at the eaves before the main underlay goes on. It overlaps the gutter edge to create a continuous drip line so water runs off the end and drops straight into the gutter — never touching the timber or masonry behind. The main roof underlay then laps over the drip felt by at least 150mm, so gravity keeps water flowing over the joint and never under it. It also stops wind getting under the first course of tiles, a common cause of roof failure in the Midlands' blustery conditions.

All of our eaves detailing is carried out in line with BS 5534, the British Standard Code of Practice for slating and tiling. Clause 7.4.1 specifically requires an eaves protector strip on every tiled or slated pitched roof — it is a requirement of the standard and expected under Building Regulations (Approved Document C), not an optional extra. We fit the correct underlay for your roof, maintain the specified laps and drape, and ensure proper ventilation, so your roof is protected at its most vulnerable point and fully compliant.