

In Australia, builders and roofers have used wet ridges for as long as any of us can remember. However, that doesn’t mean they are the best option for tradies, especially those who want to grow their roofing business.
Often, when something becomes the norm, it can be incredibly difficult to replace old techniques with new ones — even if the new solution is far superior. This is undoubtedly the case when it comes to the whole wet vs dry ridge debate in Australia.
Wet ridge systems are mortar and pointing bedded ridges that until now were the cheapest and easiest option to install and maintain. The downside is that they only last for a few years at best, and they require continuous maintenance.
As you know, the mortar or cement used tends to weaken and break away when it shrinks and expands, which means eventually the roofers or builders will have to come back and fix the damage.
While there certainly was a time when wet ridges would be quicker and cheaper than dry ridges, that time has passed. Today, wet ridges are slower to install, more expensive in the long run, and are less heat and energy-efficient. There are also health benefits that dry ridges offer to the occupants, too.
More importantly, for tradies, using wet ridges for 99% of projects means that they are missing out on the opportunity to grow their roofing business.
So How Can RapidRidge Grow Your Roofing Business?
Modern dry ridge technology presents tradies with several opportunities to cut costs and grow their roofing business.
First of all, dry ridges are 50% quicker to install than wet ridges and don’t require any special tools to install. They’re also easy to install in any weather conditions, as you aren’t using mortar or pointing.
Better yet, using dry ridges reduces your equipment, labour and travel expenses, and will allow you to double your billable workload.
Think about it, if your roofing team can complete 2 dry ridge projects in the time that it’d take to complete 1 wet ridge project, you can double your output and revenue.
Then there are the positioning benefits that come with being an innovator or early adopter of dry ridge technology. As you know, dry ridge technology is almost unheard of in Australia, which means any early adopters will have an advantage in the marketplace.
If you can offer your customers a solution that is faster to install, helps them reduce their energy bills, makes their house healthier, and saves them maintenance expenses in the future, they’ll listen.
When everyone else is using wet ridges, your roofing business can lead the charge and be one of the first to bring dry ridge technology into the mainstream. As with all industries, the early adopters are the ones who gain the most.
If you are one of the only companies offering dry ridges, customers who want them will have no choice but to do business with you. Even when the market adapts and dry ridges become the norm like in Europe, your roofing business will have the largest piece of the pie.
So How Does RapidRidge Work?
There are two types of RapidRidge available, the regular non-ventilated version, and the ventilated. Both are mechanically fixed systems, which is more reliable compared to traditional mortar fixing.
Both are mortar-free installations that are 50% faster than wet ridge installations and require no ongoing maintenance. They’re also both winners of HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards for being innovative, environmentally-friendly passive cooling solutions.
The basic, non-ventilated version is easy to install as it only has 3 parts. There’s a UV stabilized ridge flashing that is placed over the ridge and held in place with the butyl strips similar to Wakaflex. The mechanical fixings are then used to secure the ridge caps to the batten that is held up by the batten holder.
As you can see, the process is much faster, cleaner, and easier than the laborious, multi-day process required when installing wet ridges. There is also a range of other benefits too:
- Lower cost to install for roofers.
- 50% faster installation.
- Universal application for all roofs.
- Able to install in any weather conditions.
- There’s no maintenance, and it lasts as long as the roof.
The ventilated version of RapidRidge has all the same benefits of the unventilated version but adds some extra upgrades. By adding the ventilation, we can enhance the passive cooling performance and reduce moisture inside the roof to prevent mould and damage. This also allows homeowners to save up to 40% on cooling.
The installation process for the ventilated version is the same as the non-ventilated version. The only difference is that we include an eaves vent that sits on the eaves board under the last course of tiles. This allows air to continually circulate up and under the tiles, and into the roof.
Ready To Grow Your Roofing Business With RapidRidge?
RapidRidge is gaining a lot of publicity and hype in Australia, as the market is ready for a better solution to the current traditional wet one. For builders and roofers, this will create an opportunity to get in early and grow their roofing business by using RapidRidge as their unique selling point.
If you are considering becoming an early adopter, you can learn more about RapidRidge on our website.