Looking after your roof can be expensive. Extreme heat and weather damage can limit the lifespan of your roof and result in regular repairs. However, whilst you can’t change the weather, you can provide the strongest shield for your roof!
Applying ridge capping cement to the ridge of your roof will offer the best form of defence and keep your home watertight. But, how should ridge capping cement be applied?
Read in to discover the best way to apply ridge capping cement to your roof.
What Is Ridge Capping?
Ridge capping places roof capping tiles at the highest point of the roof. This is most noticeable where the points of your roof are viable and where the sides of the roof meet.
Roof capping tiles are fitted over this join to fully seal your roof and keep the rainwater out. Ridge cap mortar is embedded into the ridge to ensure there are no gaps or cracks that could let in rain.
Whichever material your roof is made of, the ridge caps need to be secured in place. You may have Terracotta roof tiles or concrete roof tiles, but the roof cap will still need to be cemented fully.
How Does Ridge Capping Help Your Home?
Ridge capping is the last feature to be added to your home, providing a finishing touch to your new roof. However, roof tile capping is more than just a finishing touch with an attractive aesthetic.
Roof tile capping seals your home fully, sealing the join of the sides of the roof to ensure a watertight roof. The shape of the roof capping tiles also encourages the rainwater to slide down each side of the roof, helping roof drainage.
How Does Roof Capping Work?
Roof capping works to protect your home, covering the join of the roof and fixing ridge caps to the ridge lines. Ridge caps and ridge capping mortar cement secure your roof to make sure it is weathertight.
Can You Repair Ridge Capping?
Roof repairs to roof capping tiles do not need to be a complicated task. When repairing the roof, bedding mortar into the ridge could be completed by roofing professionals. Or, you could repair the ridge tiles yourself!
Tiled roofs may look like a complicated structure, but they actually follow a simple plan and premise.
Whether you have a terracotta roof or a concrete tile roof, you will generally have sloping sides of a roof joined by the ridge at the top. Making sure that the ridge prevents water leaks into your roof cavity will gain longevity from the structure.
How Do I Apply Ridge Capping Cement?
If your ridge capping needs replacing or restoring, you will need ridge capping cement to secure the ridge caps in place. Follow these instructions to apply cement to the tile roof capping on top of your home.
1. Prepare Your Equipment
Install your roofing ladder in a secure place away from doorways and away from electrics. Make sure that your ladder is positioned at the end of the tiled roof which you will use as an exit. You should start your ridge capping repair at the opposite end to where the roof is located.
2. Remove the Ridge Caps
Gently remove each ridge cap from your roof. If you plan to re-use the ridge caps, make sure that none of the ridge caps are damaged in any way. Broken tiles and caps should be replaced immediately.
3. Clean Away Moss
Chances are, your ridge caps will be covered in substances like moss. At the highest point of your home, the ridge caps will suffer the harmful effects of extreme weather so moss is common. Clean away the moss and any other debris so your ridge caps look new.
4. Remove Existing Bedding
The existing bedding that secured the ridge caps will need to be removed to ensure your ridge capping cement task is a fantastic job. Much of the existing cement bedding will be crumbling and could jeopardise the success of the ridge capping cement repair.
5. Mix Your Cement
You will typically need to mix 3 parts of builders’ sand with 1-part cement to create the perfect mixture. The cement will need to be thicker than brick cement, although still smooth and pliable.
6. Apply the Cement
You will now begin bedding and pointing the ridge caps with an appropriate tool. Generously apply the mortar mix to the surrounding edges where the ridge cap is usually placed. Place the ridge cap in place and push down tightly. This is the bedding process as you are making a bed for the ridge cap to rest.
7. Pointing Process
Once you are ready to start pointing, mortar mix will be tidied up to create a finishing touch professionally. Using the tool, press the point into the wet cement around all edges of the ridge caps. Not only will pointing look great, but pointing ridge tiles reduces future cracking and creates an extremely professional finish.
Contact Evo Build for a Rapid Ridge Quote Today!
If your roof ridge capping is beyond repair, install a Rapid Ridge dry fixed roofing system now! The Rapid Ridge system provides ventilation and cooling airflow through your roof. The ventilation will cool your home so you need to use air conditioning less.
You could save up to 43% in cooling energy costs per year once a Rapid Ridge roof has been installed! Contact Evo Build today and ask about the Rapid Ridge dry fixed roofing system today!