Do you regularly inspect your roof for damage? Chances are, you will only realise there is damage to your roof when a leak appears inside your home. But why wait until you are invoiced for a huge repair bill?
Regular roof inspections can spot a small problem on your roof before it becomes a significant issue. In particular, inspecting the roof ridge is important as cement mortar can crumble over time. You can maintain your roof ridge by rebedding and pointing tiles, preventing a leaking roof.
Read on to learn the difference between rebedding and pointing tiles so you can keep your roof in great shape!
What Is a Roof Ridge?
The roof ridge is the highest point of your roof, usually where the sides of the roof join. This join is covered by ridge caps and secured in place by cement mortar, fully waterproofing your home.
The shape of the roof ridge caps will usually be curved or sloped to help rainwater run down the sides of your roof. However, the bedding and pointing of the roof ridge need to be maintained to protect and secure your roof.
What Is Bedding?
Before ridge caps are secured to the roof, they need to be bedded. This means that a fresh and generous layer of cement mortar is positioned where the ridge cap will be laid. In effect, you are creating a bed for your ridge caps to rest on!
If the cement begins to crumble, rain can get into the roof cavity of your home. Instead of considering a roof replacement, remove the existing bedding and rejuvenate ridge caps with bedding mortar.
What Is Pointing?
Pointing tiles involves applying another layer of cement to the joins of the ridge caps after they have been bedded. You will then push the cement mortar tightly into the joins surrounding the ridge capping, adding an extra layer of protection. Roof pointing requires a flexible pointing cement to be used.
Top Tips for Rebedding and Roof Pointing
Whether your home has terracotta roof tiles or a concrete tile roof, roof ridge capping may need to be maintained a few years after installation. Follow these tips for a simple roof repair!
1. Get Prepared!
As pointing roof tiles takes place on the roof, you need to be fully prepared to work at a height. Therefore, a suitable roofing ladder and a safety harness are required. You will also need suitable clothing and footwear.
There is no point trying to complete roof tile pointing in wet weather conditions, however. The cement will run and a poor job will be accomplished overall! Make sure the weather is dry and also not windy.
2. Remove Ridge Caps
You will need to take off each ridge cap carefully, making sure there are no broken tiles. Remove the existing roof bedding, which is the old cement mortar off when the ridge caps were last installed. You may find that the roof bedding comes away easily and crumbles!
Whilst the roof ridge caps are removed, you have a perfect opportunity to easily clean them! Remove any moss and get your ridge caps looking like new.
3. Ridge Bedding
Mix a thick cement mortar made from 3 parts builder’s sand and 1 part cement. To achieve a fantastic job, place generous amounts of your cement mortar where the ridge tiles have been sitting previously. Roofing professionals will then place the ridge cap on top of the cement bed and secure it in place.
Once you are happy with the position of your ridge cap, scrape away the excess cement. You are now ready for roof pointing!
4. Pointing Tiles
Once the bedding is complete on the tiled roof, the next stage of roof repairs is pointing ridge tiles. Pointing roof tiles are extra steps in your roof restoration that roof repairers complete to increase the protection of the roof.
You will need a flexible pointing compound when roof repointing, applying it to the joins around the edge of the ridge cap. Scrap away any excess and you can be extremely happy that your mortar mix has added a layer of protection. Pointing on roof tiles will reduce the chance of further damage and future cracking.
Is Tile Pointing Waterproof?
Pointing tiles on your roof will waterproof your roof and prevent water from seeping into any gaps. The ridge on top of your roof is the highest point and will suffer most from extreme weather. Therefore, it is more likely that loose tiles will occur along the ridge than on the whole roof.
Install a New Rapid ridge Roofing System Today!
If restoration work is not an option and you want a new roof for your home, ask Evo Build for a free quote today! The Rapid Ridge dry fixed roofing system creates a natural cooling pathway to ventilate your home naturally. Cool down your Aussie home now!
There are also minimal roof repairs and maintenance required with the Rapid Ridge roofing system, offering the perfect roof for modern homes! You can save up to 43% on the cooling energy you use each year once your Rapid Ridge has been installed.
Contact Evo Build today and ask about the Rapid Ridge dry fixed roofing system now! Zero roof repairs and maintenance are required with the Rapid Ridge roofing system, offering the perfect roof for modern homes! You can save up to 43% on the cooling energy you use each year once your Rapid Ridge has been installed.
Contact Evo Build today and ask about the Rapid Ridge dry fixed roofing system now