For most of our ridge jobs now, we use a fairly new method of fixing ridges tiles down and securing them together. This newer method is called ‘dry ridge roofing’; you may have noticed this new method yourself if you’ve looked closely at the ridge of any new roofs.
The so-called ‘traditional’ way of affixing ridge tiles has been the go-to choice for many roofers, using mortar to bond tiles together and to fix clay tiles to the very apex of the house. Mortar and cement have been a great option for many, many years, and are still the choice for some roofers (though European Standards now stipulate that dry ridge roofing is more secure for extreme weather conditions). We may still occasionally use mortar and cement on certain listed buildings, as these tiles are often part of the original features of the house.
P.S. The mortar-bonded ridge tiling system is not actually called a ‘wet ridge’ system!
The dry ridge system is a newer way of bonding tiles together, using what might look like tiny little plastic clips.
Although there are a few different ways within dry fix itself, ridge roll ventilation is by far the most widely used method. With this technique, a ridge ventilation roll is wrapped around the roof batten and fastened to the tile or slate. The ridge tiles are next laid across the apex of the roof using plastic unions, clips, clamps, screws, and washers to secure them in place over the ventilation cover.
While the clamps are positioned in between the tiles and fastened to the ridge board or batten, the unions hold the tiles together while allowing for a tiny expansion gap. This offers a windproof fixing that will guarantee that throughout time, despite natural roof movements such as expansion and contraction, no tiles will fall away. It doesn’t matter what the weather is doing when installing a dry repair system.
When everything is finished, the roof’s top will resemble mortar-bonded construction from a distance. In contrast to mortar-bonded ridge tiles, a dry ridge system shouldn’t necessitate frequent (and frequently hazardous) climbs up to the roof to inspect and fix missing or loose ridge tiles.
Because of this, dry fix methods are a cheaper, less obtrusive, and safer solution. Even though mortar has a lower initial investment than a dry ridge kit, most people will find dry ridge to be more cost-effective because they won’t have to worry about poor mortar quality or environmental movement.
Any good dry ridge systems will only utilise material that has been tested to ensure that it is entirely UV resistant.
Get in touch with us to find out about the roofing methods we use, and how we are implementing the dry ridge system.