Dry Ridge and Dry Verge in Birmingham
We replace cracked mortar on ridges and roof edges with mechanical fixings, so ridge tiles and edge tiles stay put in high winds.
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- 17 areas covered
Birmingham Roof Pros fits dry ridge and dry verge systems on pitched roofs across Birmingham. We work on the ridge, the line of tiles along the top of the roof, and the verge, the sloping edge at the gable end. Where they are held with mortar, we take it off and fix the tiles with screws, clips and purpose-made caps instead, with no wet mortar bed.
We also re-bed and mechanically fix ridges in mortar where that suits the roof better, such as on some older or listed houses.
Why mortar alone is no longer enough
NFRC, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, says in its guidance on roofing mortar that the ridge is the most vulnerable part of any slate or tile roof.
NFRC also says BS 5534, the code of practice for slating and tiling, recommends that all mortar-bedded parts fixed at the verge, ridge and hips are also mechanically fixed, to resist wind lifting them.
We treat hips, the sloping ridges where two roof slopes meet at a corner, the same way as the ridge.
Signs your ridge or verge needs work
Historic England's maintenance checklist says to check whether any ridge, hip or valley tiles are missing, lifted or slipped, and to look for open gaps between those tiles. It says to inspect a pitched roof twice a year and after storms or high winds.
It also says debris on the ground will give an indication of roof problems. When we find bits of mortar on the path or in the gutter below a gable, we check the verge first.
NFRC says cement-rich mortar shrinks a lot and copes badly with movement, which can lead to cracking.
What a dry ridge or dry verge job involves
For a ridge, we lift the ridge tiles, clear off the old mortar and fix a timber batten along the top of the roof. We lay a roll of breathable material along it, then screw each ridge tile down with a clip or union between the joints.
For a verge, we remove the loose mortar along the gable edge and fit interlocking plastic caps over the ends of each row of tiles. We screw or clip each cap in place.
We match the colour of the caps to your tiles as closely as the range allows. If you want the look of a mortar edge, we will talk you through the option of re-bedding with mechanical fixings instead.
Older roofs and Bournville
Historic England says to keep original clay or stone ridges, and to take them off carefully during work so they can be fixed back later. We set aside any original ridge tiles we lift and fix them back where they are sound.
Birmingham City Council's design guide for the Bournville Village Conservation Area says ornamental ridge tiles are quite common in parts of Bournville. It also says plastic vents and grilles that can be seen from the street are not acceptable there. If you live in Bournville, tell us first, because a dry verge with plastic caps may not suit.
Questions about dry ridge and dry verge in Birmingham
Is dry ridge better than mortar?
We fit dry ridge because it holds each tile with a mechanical fixing rather than relying on mortar. NFRC's guidance says mortar should no longer be relied on to provide the strength needed against wind.
Can you do just the verge and not the ridge?
Yes, we can. We look at both when we visit and tell you if the other one is close to needing work too.
Do small roofs over bays and porches need dry fixing?
NFRC says small ridge or hip tiles on low roof details up to 3m high, such as bay windows and porches, may be bedded in mortar alone, as long as their own weight is enough to resist the wind.
Will dry ridge let more air into my loft?
Some dry ridge systems we fit have a vented roll under the ridge tiles. We will tell you if your roof needs that.
Do I need building regulations approval for a new ridge?
The Planning Portal says roof repairs normally need no building control application if less than 25 per cent of the whole building envelope and less than 50 per cent of the roof is affected. We check where your job sits against those limits, including when it is part of a bigger roof replacement.
Can you fix a few loose ridge tiles without redoing the lot?
We can re-fix a few loose tiles. If most of the mortar has cracked, we will explain why redoing the whole ridge makes more sense than patching it.
Get a dry ridge or dry verge quote
Send us your postcode and a line about the roof. A photo of the ridge or gable from the ground helps. We will come and look, then send you a written quote.
Ready to talk about your roofing job?
Send the quote form with your postcode and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.