A starter strip is a continuous row of roofing material installed flat along the downslope edge of a roof before the first actual course of shingles goes down. It provides a backing to seal the cutouts and joints of the first shingle course, preventing wind uplift and stopping water from leaking through to the roof deck.
Make sure the starter strip overhangs the drip edge by a quarter inch before you nail it off.
Rookies often forget the starter strip, which guarantees the first row of shingles will blow off in a strong storm.
Also heard as
- starter course
Related terms
Drip edge
A metal flashing installed at roof perimeters to direct water away from the fascia and underlying wood.
Course
A single continuous horizontal layer of bricks, blocks, or stone in a wall.
Asphalt shingle
A waterproof roofing element made of a fiberglass or felt mat coated with bitumen and topped with mineral granules.