Ridge tile repair

Ridge tile repair deals with the highest line of a pitched roof, where two slopes meet and take more movement and weather exposure than almost any other part of the roof. On most roofs built more than a decade or two ago the ridge tiles were bedded in mortar, which cracks as the roof structure naturally expands and contracts with temperature. Once that mortar cracks, ridge tiles can lift or shift in high wind, and water can track in underneath.

Why mortar bedded ridges fail

Mortar is rigid and the roof structure is not, timber moves seasonally and mortar simply cannot move with it, so hairline cracks appear within a handful of years and widen over time. Once cracked, wind can get underneath a ridge tile and lift it, sometimes dislodging it completely in a storm.

A dislodged ridge tile is not just a leak risk, it is a genuine falling hazard at height, over a public pavement, a driveway or a neighbouring garden, which is another reason cracked ridge mortar is worth acting on rather than leaving until it fails completely.

Dry ridge systems

A dry ridge system replaces mortar bedding with a mechanically fixed union and clip system, using a flexible seal that moves with the roof rather than cracking against it. It is the modern standard for exactly this reason, it does not fail the way mortar does, and it is what we fit as standard on any new ridge work or full re-roof.

• No mortar to crack, shrink or fall away over time
• Ridge tiles mechanically fixed, so they cannot lift or blow off in wind
• Ventilation can be built into the system where the roof needs it
• Longer service life than a mortar bedded ridge

Repair or full ridge replacement

A small section of cracked mortar or a single loose ridge tile can often be repaired or re-bedded. Where the mortar has failed along most or all of the ridge line, replacing the whole run with a dry ridge system is the more durable fix, and usually the more cost effective one over time since it stops the same repair recurring every few years.

What you get

Ridge work carries our 10 year written workmanship guarantee. If the underlying chimney or leadwork nearby is also showing signs of wear, see our chimney repairs and leadwork page, since these jobs are often done together when scaffolding is already up.

We also check the hip lines at the same time where the roof has them, since hip tiles fail in the same way as ridge tiles and for the same reason, and it is far more efficient to fix both while access is already in place.

Once fitted, a dry ridge system is checked for correct clip engagement along its full length before we consider the job complete, a ridge tile that looks secure but is not properly clipped in will still move in the next strong wind.

Ventilated ridge systems

A dry ridge system can include a ventilation strip built into the union, allowing roof space air to escape along the ridge line, which is useful on roofs where loft ventilation is otherwise limited. We can advise whether this applies to your roof as part of the same job. See our wider slate and tiled roofing page if other parts of the roof need attention at the same time.

Areas we cover

Ridge tile repair across Wisbech, Norwich, Ely, Huntingdon and the rest of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, west Suffolk and south Lincolnshire.