Roofline & Roof Edge Systems
Dry ridge: the end of cracked mortar at the apex
Mortar-bedded ridges fail because mortar shrinks, cracks and lets go — faster on the exposed elevations this region has plenty of. A dry ridge system removes the mortar from the equation entirely.
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Dry Ridge Systems: the short answer
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.
Who this is for
- Properties on exposed sites where mortar ridges keep failing
- Anyone re-roofing, where dry fixing is now the standard specification
- Owners who have lost ridge tiles in a storm
- Landlords wanting to remove a recurring maintenance item
Materials and specification
Ventilated union strip
Weatherproof roll or strip that seals the joint while allowing airflow.
Ridge battens and brackets
Treated timber and corrosion-resistant fixings.
Ridge and hip tiles
Existing tiles reused where sound, matched replacements where not.
How it works
Our process, step by step
Assess the existing ridge
Condition of tiles, bedding, battens and the ridge board beneath.
Strip the old bedding
Mortar removed cleanly and the ridge line inspected.
Fit the ridge batten and union strip
Set to the correct height and line, with ventilation maintained.
Mechanically fix the tiles
Each unit screwed and clamped to manufacturer specification.
Check and photograph
Line, alignment and fixing verified, and the work recorded.
Why it matters
What you get from doing it properly
Wind uplift resistance
Mechanical fixing holds where adhesion does not, which matters on this region's exposed elevations.
Ventilation at the ridge
The union strip ventilates the apex, helping control condensation in the roof space.
No maintenance cycle
Nothing to rebed in ten years' time.
Accommodates movement
The system flexes with thermal and structural movement rather than cracking.
Meets current standards
BS 5534 has required mechanical fixing of ridge and hip tiles on new work since 2014.
Common questions
Related
Work that often goes with this
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.
Ridge Tile Repairs
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.
New Roofs & Re-Roofing
A new roof means stripping the existing covering back to the rafters and rebuilding with new underlay, battens, covering, flashings and roofline details. It is the right decision when fixings have failed across the whole roof, when the covering has reached the end of its service life, or when repairs are recurring faster than they can be justified.
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.
Coverage
Dry Ridge Systems 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.