Dry Ridge Roofing in Worcester

Why Ridge Tiles Come Loose

Mortar bedding on ridges and verges cracks and washes out, which is why loose ridge tiles are such a common call-out in Worcester. A dry ridge or dry verge system fixes each tile mechanically, so there is no mortar left to fail.

For decades ridge and hip tiles were laid on a bed of sand and cement. The trouble is that mortar cannot flex, while a roof moves with heat and wind, so over the years the bedding cracks, frost opens the cracks wider and pieces wash into the gutter. Eventually a ridge tile rocks or lifts in a storm. Since the 2014 revision of BS 5534, the British Standard for slating and tiling, mortar on its own no longer counts as an adequate fixing for ridge and hip tiles.

A dry ridge system replaces the mortar with fixings. A timber ridge batten is set on adjustable brackets, a breathable roll is dressed over the top courses of tiles, and each ridge tile is screwed down and clipped to the next with a sealed union. Hips are done the same way, finished with a hip iron at the bottom, and verges get interlocking caps instead of a mortar fillet.