Repairs & maintenance to your roof can be daunting enough without the additional confusion that comes along with the different roofing terms and what they actually mean for your roof! With storm season fast approaching many homes are beginning to carry out annual maintenance checks. One of the most common points of maintenance on tiled roofs is to do with re-pointing! In this blog post, James Kelly of Brisbane Roofing Solutions explains all things ridges and re-pointing.
What is ridge capping?
Ridge capping is the triangular-shaped tiles that sit at the highest point of the roof where two roof areas intersect. These are fixed onto the roof with bedding and pointing.
What is pointing & bedding?
Bedding is a composition of sand & cement/mortar that fixes the ridge capping on the ridges. Pointing is a flexible material used for the completion of joints between the ridges and the roof tiles. Brisbane Roofing Solutions use Flexipoint Ridge Security when re-pointing.
How do I know if my roof needs re-pointing or re-bedding?
Cracks or gaps in the pointing along your ridge capping are a clear indication that your roof needs re-pointing. Carrying out a visual inspection of your ridge capping from the ground should be enough for you to get an idea of what condition your pointing is in. Re-bedding is something that is a little trickier to identify yourself. If you think your bedding may be in need of repair it is best to ask a qualified roofer to carry out an inspection of the ridge capping.
What is the process involved in re-bedding or re-pointing?
Re-bedding requires the removal of the old existing bedding and pointing material. Following this, bedding mortar is mixed, made up of 3-part roofers’ loam to 1-part cement. This bedding mix is then applied by trowel to the roof tiles to be covered by ridge capping. A ridge rack keeps the ridges straight and the bedding applied in the right spot for the ridge caps to sit on. The bedding is then trowelled up to a neat up & down finish slightly inwards from the ridge. This provides a good solid surface for the flexible pointing to adhere to.
Once the bedding has dried the flexible pointing is then applied to the sides of the ridge at a thickness of 3 – 5mm and the collars where the ridges overlap are also pointed. The ridges are now fully secure from wind uplift and waterproof. The flexipoint also flexes in harmony with normal roof movement which stops future cracking of the ridge capping.
Hopefully this list has helped you to understand the ins and out’s of your ridge capping! If you think it’s time to book a quote for your roof, contact Brisbane Roofing Solutions today to receive a full roof report from a qualified roofer.
