The condition of a ridge capping ultimately determines how waterproof this intersecting point on a roof remains. Cracked, broken or missing mortar can allow water to seep through into the roof cavity, resulting in water damage to ceilings and the structure of your home.

A ridge capping that is in poor condition also has a significant impact on the appearance of a roof. Cracked and missing mortar and misaligned ridge caps make a roof look old and poorly maintained.

Why your ridge capping needs rebedding and pointing

Tiled roofs are a durable, long lasting roof covering, but over time they are subjected to the constant extremes of the elements – wind, rain, baking sun and chilling cold. This eventually causes the mortar to break down to the point where it is reduced to a crumbling mass.

Movement of the roof also causes the mortar to eventually crack and break adhesion between the tiles and the ridge capping. A major cause of movement is the constant expansion and contraction of supporting timbers as they react to the changing extremes in temperature.

Weight and gravity also cause movement. Tiled roofs are heavy, which puts enormous pressure on supporting timbers. Over time, timbers can sag and even crack or break under the load. Gravity also creates a subtle but constant  force that  inherently tends to ‘drag’ the tiles slightly down the slope of the roof.

Left long enough, the entire ridge capping can become loose and unstable. The key to good roof maintenance is to repair the ridge capping long before the risk of water damage to your home is ever realised.

The process

Step 1. – Remove the ridge capping

Every ridge cap tile is individually removed and the old mortar is chipped away to create a clean surface.

Step 2. – Rebedding

At Utter Gutters, we use a bedding frame so that the ridge capping is perfectly aligned along its entire length. Adhesive cement is laid within the bedding frame and each ridge cap tile is re-seated perfectly into position.

Step 3. – Pointing

We then use a flexible compound to point the ridge capping, carefully filling all crevices to ensure that there is a bond between the ridge capping, new mortar and the roof tile. The pointing process also creates a neat professional finish that looks appealing from the ground.

Rebedding and pointing the ridge capping is also part of the process we use to prepare a roof for a complete Tiled Roof Restoration.

If you would like more information about repairing your ridge capping or a complete Tiled Roof Restoration, please call us on 08 8201 4999 to find out more, or contact us using the enquiry form.