Choosing the proper ridge capping for your home is integral to a professional roof installation. Getting the right ridge cap for your roof can provide an aesthetically pleasing finishing touch to your roof that also protects your home.
But what exactly is a roof ridge cap, and how does it benefit your home?
Let’s dive in to explain why ridge capping is useful for your structure.
What is a roof ridge cap?
Roof ridge caps are pieces of material that are used to cover the peak of a gable roof, where the two sloping sides of the roof meet. Residential houses in the traditional style usually feature some kind of ridge capping.
In other words, unless your roofing is flat, there will be capping along the ridges wherever two slopes meet.
They are typically made of metal or shingles and are used to protect the roof cavity from water damage and to give it a finished, attractive appearance. Ridge caps are a critical element of a roofing system and are typically installed after the roof decking, underlayment, and flashing have been put in place. They are typically fastened to the roof using nails or screws, and may also be sealed with roofing cement or adhesive to ensure a watertight seal.
However, the sry fixed roofing system from RapidRidge offers a better alternative than these traditional methods.
Why is Ridge Capping Important?
There are several reasons why ridge caps are essential in a roofing system:
- Protection: Ridge capping covers the peak of the roof, protecting it from water damage by directing water away from the joint where the two sides of the roof meet. This is especially important in areas with heavy rain or even snowfall. A roofing leak can cause long-term damage to the roof itself but also to the structural integrity of the building. So, the proper capping is vital to ensure you don’t cut corners toward a long-lasting, durable roof.
- Aesthetics: Ridge caps give the roof a finished, polished appearance and can enhance the overall look of a building. There is usually a range of available colours to match the style of your home.
- Ventilation: Ridge caps can also help to ventilate the roof by allowing air to flow through the space between the roofing material and the roof deck. This can help to prevent moisture from accumulating on the roof and can extend the life of the roofing system.
- Structural support: Ridge caps can also provide structural support to the roof by helping to distribute the weight of the roofing material across the entire roof. In this way, they act like a stiffening rib. This can help to prevent the roof from sagging or collapsing under the weight of the roofing material.
Repairing Ridge Capping
As discussed, ridge capping is a key element in protecting your roof from water damage. The roof ridge itself is a vulnerable place for leaks, so you should ensure you maintain the specially-shaped tiles that make up the ridge capping.
If a crack appears in the capping or any tiles are broken, water can filter through to the ridge and the interior roofing space. Tough weather conditions can exasperate this damage and wear down the ridge roof capping even further.
A key benefit of an efficient roofing system is to protect you from ongoing maintenance costs. Inspect your ridge capping regularly for cracks or signs of wear and tear.
A stitch in time saves nine, and spotting a crack in the capping early will only need minimal maintenance before the potential of more severe damage to the roofing system.
Is Ridge Capping Energy-efficient?
Some types of ridge caps, such as those made of reflective material, can help to reflect sunlight and reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the roof. This can help to keep the building cooler and reduce energy costs.
Other capping, such as that used in the RapidRidge roofing system, improves your home’s ventilation system by allowing air to circulate. This transformative new system creates an open ridge at the high point of the roof – a cost-effective and energy-efficient way to reduce temperature and moisture build-up in the roof space.
Let’s explore the benefits of the RapidRidge roofing system.
Ridge Capping in the RapidRidge Roofing System
The dry-fixed roofing system called RapidRidge forms an open ridge at the peak of the roof. This creates a passive natural cooling system that operates throughout the entire roof space, reducing heat transfer from the roof and ceiling into the living area.
When dealing with the sweltering temperatures in Australia, you often need all the help you can get when it comes to keeping your home cool without spending a fortune on air conditioning units.
RapidRidge with Ventilation utilises four components to securely hold those all-important ridge caps in place while providing all-important ventilation for your roof space. These four components don’t use the traditional wet cement and mortar method, allowing for an open instead of a closed ridge.
The four components are the eaves vent, ridge flashing, clips, and the batten holder.
The eaves vent rests on the eaves board under the last course of tiles, allowing continuous air circulation up under the tiles. The UV-stabilised ridge flashing then sits on the ridge, while mechanical fixings securely attach the ridge tiles to the roof. These nifty clips render mortar unnecessary for bonding. Finally, the batten holder holds everything firmly in place.
This method leads to ridge capping with all the standard advantages plus the added ventilation benefits of a dry fixed roofing system.
In other words, you end up with a roofing system that’s easy to install and maintain, protects your home from the elements, and even saves you money in the long run with its energy efficiency.