Ridge and Hip Repair for Roofs in San Jose and the Hill Communities

Why does the ridge fail first in the wind?

The ridge is the highest part of the roof and the place where the wind lifts the covering most strongly. A ridge piece that is fixed with too little mortar or a fixing that has corroded will move under that load.

Wind pulls up on the edge of a ridge, and the piece that is not held firmly rocks on its bed. Each rock cracks the mortar a little more, and eventually the joint opens and water runs in.

The technician checks the bed and the fixing under each piece. A piece that rocks is re-set rather than sealed, since a sealant over a loose piece only hides the movement until the water finds a way in.

What holds a ridge piece on?

A ridge piece is held by a mortar bed, a mechanical fixing or both, depending on how the roof was built. The technician reads which one is present before re-setting it, so the new fixing matches the old design.

A mortar bed that has turned to sand cannot hold the piece, and the fixing beneath it may have rusted. Both are renewed where they have failed, and the new bed is laid so water falls away from the joint.

Where the roof has a mechanical fixing, the fixing is checked for corrosion and replaced if it has rusted through. The scope names the fixing used.

A ridge piece that has been re-bedded with a new mortar must cure before the wind and rain are allowed to test it. The technician notes the date of the work and advises the owner to call if a gust moves the piece before the cure is complete, so it can be re-set while the bed is still soft.

How do the hips and the ridge meet?

The hips run diagonally from the ridge to the eave, and the joint where a hip meets the ridge is a common place for water to enter. The joint is sealed and the hip is fixed back so its end is held.

A hip that lifts at the ridge lets water run down beneath it onto the covering below. The technician re-fixes the hip and seals the joint, and checks the hip's line from the ground.

A hip that lifts at the eave is checked for the fixing at the eave trim, since a loose eave can pull the hip up over time.

What should a hill owner check after a wind?

After a wind, the owner checks the ridge line from the ground for any shift, looks for a new gap, and checks the attic beneath the ridge for daylight or a new stain.

A ridge that has moved shows a change in its line when viewed from the side of the house. A photograph from the same spot each season shows whether the line has moved.

Daylight through a joint in the attic is the clearest sign that the ridge is open. The owner notes it and calls for a repair before the next storm.

How is a ridge repaired on a hill roof with limited access?

A hill roof with limited access is planned around the crew's ladder and materials, which are carried up in small loads. The ridge is worked from a ladder set at the eave and a platform where the slope allows, and each piece is handled one at a time.

Access on a hill lot is often by a single drive and a steep path, and the crew plans its materials before the first visit. A mortar bag, a fixing box and a set of pieces are carried in one trip, so the crew is not returning to the van on the roof.

The ridge is worked with the wind in mind. A gust can move a lifted piece, so the crew stops in a strong wind and secures each piece before moving to the next.

What should a homeowner do after a windy night?

After a windy night, the homeowner looks at the ridge line from the ground, checks the attic beneath it and notes any tile, shingle or vent that has moved. The notes are kept with the date and the wind direction.

The wind direction matters, because the windward end of the ridge takes the most force. A notice of damage at one end of the ridge is a sign of the wind's direction, and the crew checks the windward end first.

A lifted ridge vent or a torn cap is recorded with the date. The record shows the owner which part of the roof took the wind, so the repair can be planned for the right place.