Roof Repairs & Emergencies
Ridge and hip tiles secured properly
The ridge is the most wind-exposed line on the roof and the first detail to fail. Rebedding in mortar buys years; a dry fixed system buys decades.
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Ridge Tile Repairs: the short answer
Ridge tile repair addresses loose, cracked or displaced ridge and hip tiles and the mortar bedding that holds them. On exposed properties, replacing failed mortar bedding with a mechanically fixed dry ridge system is usually the more durable answer.
Who this is for
- Owners of properties with visibly cracked or open ridge mortar
- Anyone who has lost a ridge tile in high wind
- Buyers whose survey has flagged ridge condition
- Landlords needing to remove a falling hazard above a footpath or parking
Signs you need this work
Mortar cracked, crumbling or missing
Visible dark lines along the ridge line, or mortar debris in the gutter.
Ridge tiles that rock
Movement under hand pressure means the bedding has already let go.
Damp along the ridge internally
Wind-driven rain entering an open ridge joint appears at the top of the loft space.
Your options
Rebedding in mortar
Appropriate for sheltered sites and conservation contexts where the traditional appearance is required.
Dry ridge conversion
Mechanically fixed, ventilated and free of mortar — the better option on exposed elevations.
Individual tile replacement
Where one or two units are cracked and the rest of the run is sound.
How it works
Our process, step by step
Inspect the full ridge line
Including hips and the junction with verges, because failures rarely stay isolated.
Recommend bedding or dry fixing
Based on exposure, roof pitch, property age and any conservation constraints.
Strip and prepare
Old mortar removed cleanly and the ridge line checked for underlying damage.
Install and finish
New units set true to line, with ventilation maintained.
Why it matters
What you get from doing it properly
Removes a falling hazard
A loose ridge tile above a pavement or driveway is a liability as well as a leak.
Straightens the roofline
A rebedded ridge visibly improves how the whole roof reads from the street.
Option to upgrade
You can convert to dry fixing at the same visit for a modest additional cost.
Common questions
Related
Work that often goes with this
Dry Ridge Systems
A dry ridge system fixes ridge and hip tiles mechanically with screws, clamps and a ventilated union strip instead of bedding them in sand-cement mortar. It does not crack, shrink or lose adhesion, it ventilates the roof apex, and it is the current standard under BS 5534 for new and re-roofed work.
Roof Repairs
Planned roof repair fixes an identified defect — slipped slates, cracked tiles, failed flashings, valley or ridge problems — before it becomes water ingress. Repairs are appropriate where the covering and structure are otherwise sound and the fault is localised.
Storm Damage Roof Repairs
Storm damage repair covers making a wind- or water-damaged roof safe, documenting the damage for an insurance claim, and carrying out the permanent reinstatement. The critical first step is a make-safe visit and photographic evidence recorded before anything is disturbed.
Dry Verge Systems
A dry verge system caps the gable edge of a roof with interlocking mechanically fixed units instead of mortar. It resists wind uplift at the most exposed edge of the roof, prevents birds and rodents entering the roof space, and removes the recurring cost of repointing the verge.
Coverage
Ridge Tile Repairs across our patch
Carlisle and north Cumbria are our core area. We work regularly across the rest of Cumbria and southern Scotland, and take planned projects further afield.
Not sure what your roof needs?
Tell us what you are seeing and we will tell you honestly whether it is a repair, a maintenance job or something that needs replacing. Consultations and written quotations are free.