Advice
Dry ridge systems: what they are and when they make sense
A dry ridge system fixes the ridge tiles along the top of a roof mechanically, with clips, screws and a roll of weatherproof material, instead of relying only on bedding mortar. Here is how it works and when it is worth considering.
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Mortar-bedded ridges versus dry ridge
Traditionally, ridge tiles sit on a bed of sand and cement mortar. Over years of frost, rain and wind that mortar cracks and washes out, the tiles loosen, and in a gale they can lift.
A dry ridge system replaces the mortar with a mechanical fixing. Each ridge tile is clipped or screwed to a timber batten running along the ridge, and a flexible roll seals the gap underneath while still letting the roof space ventilate.
Why it suits exposed roofs
Because the tiles are held mechanically rather than by mortar alone, there is less to break down in freeze–thaw weather. On exposed coastal and Highland roofs, where ridges take the worst of the wind, that is a practical advantage.
The ventilation through the ridge can also help reduce condensation in the loft.
When re-bedding is the better repair
Dry ridge is not right for every roof. Some older or listed properties are better suited to traditional re-bedding in mortar to match what is already there, and on some slate roofs a different ridge detail is used.
If only a few ridge tiles are loose, a targeted repair may be all that is needed. We look at the ridge as a whole and explain the options before recommending either approach.
Signs your ridge needs attention
Look for cracked or missing mortar along the ridge, tiles that look out of line, pieces of mortar in the gutters or on the ground, and damp near the top of walls inside.
RWS Roofing repairs and replaces ridges across Morayshire, the Highlands and Islands, with free, no-obligation quotations.
Talk it through with a roofer
If this sounds like your roof, we can take a proper look. Related service: Ridges & Roofline. Quotations are free and without obligation.
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