@sdello - thanks for the comments. I spoke to my builder about the drip edge last week & he said he would look into 'fabricating' something to guide the water away more from the fascia. In my brief research on it, seems to indicate that a drip edge has to go under the roof shingles. Which makes me think the builder doesn't want to go through having to talk to the roofing contractor about retrofitting a drip edge under the roof. I could be mistaken here - but I think lifting the front edges of the shingles & nailing in a drip edge is doable. Here is a link that might be useful: Drip Edge Examples

I understand what he's saying there. I guess that is correct---a drip edge is to protect the roof and not really to protect the fascia board. But the roof is supposed to overhang the gutter in order to direct water into the gutter. So for him to say his only job was to protect the roof, well, I disagree. I don't think it's standard to bend the drip edge, at least, for a pro. He's just going to put it on there because of the warranty issues involved for him if he makes any modifications. If you were doing it, well, you'd do whatever it took to satisfy your needs. This is just my opinion and means nothing--but it seems that today's gutters are thinner than what they used to be. So you get gaps in the back of them against the fascia board. That's why I screwed down the back of mine, because there was a lot of gapping. Since WHEN is it normal for water to run down a fascia board???? Seems like another "french wave" statement to me. If that were the case, everyone's siding would be streaked in black stains. And before the days of pressure treated or aluminum fascias, everyone would be replacing gutter board every few years. That is such a crazy statement. It seems before you hire ANYONE to do ANYTHING you now have to sit down with them and tell them exactly what you want and expect in every little,tiny area. In my opinion roofers are not very good at seeing small problem areas and finding good solutions to them. I was just on a newer roof last year after a friend had water coming in over a couple dormers. That cavity between the roof of the house and the roof of the dormer was exposed. Only because the roofer took no care in that little problem area. ACK--it's no wonder some of us try to do most work ourselves!!!!

When a poster asks about interior or exterior finishes it's always a help to know and understand all of the other finish choices, since they all have to be harmonious with each other. We still don't know what your exterior wall material and finish will be, and that will have a major effect on the color of gutters and downspouts. If your exterior siding and finish will be some sort of "natural" color, then I think the suggestion above to paint both gutters and downspouts a copper color is a good solution. Ron's suggestion of one color for the gutter, matching the natural stain finish, and a second color for the downspouts, matching the siding finish, is also a good possibility. Good luck on your project.

Here's another photo