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Dry ridge in Croydon, and dry verge to match
Is mortar dropping off your ridge or gable end, and you want a dry ridge in Croydon that stops the problem for good? Patrick shows you photos of the cracked bedding before anything is agreed.
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Expert Roofer VerifiedEvery check passed, see our profileMortar failing on your ridge or verge
Mortar bedding goes brittle with age, and the evidence lands at your feet.
Mortar on the path or patio
Chunks of sand and cement under the eaves or at the gable end come from the ridge or the verge. Every piece that falls leaves a gap for rain.
Ridge tiles rocking in wind
Once the bedding cracks, ridge tiles sit loose on the roof. A strong gust can lift one clean off and throw it into the garden or onto a car.
Open joints at the gable edge
The verge is the edge of the roof along a gable wall. When its mortar falls out, the tile ends and the undercloak are open to wind-driven rain.
Damp high on a bedroom wall
Water getting past a failed verge runs down the inside of the gable wall. It shows up as a stain high in one corner of the room.
Weeds growing from the ridge
Plants rooting in the ridge mortar push it apart and hold moisture against it, so it breaks up faster with every winter.
Swapping mortar for a dry-fix system
Patrick goes up and checks every ridge, hip and verge tile on the roof, then shows you photos of the cracks and the loose sections. You agree a price with him up front. His team lifts the old ridge tiles, knocks off the old mortar and cleans each tile, ready to go back on. Any cracked ridge tiles are replaced with matching ones, so the finished line looks as it did, only fixed properly this time.
A dry ridge runs a roll of breathable ridge seal along the top of the roof over a ridge batten. Each ridge tile is screwed down into that batten and joined to the next with a union clip, so nothing relies on mortar. On the gable edge, a dry verge system clips interlocking caps over the tile ends and fixes them to the battens. The finish looks neat, lets the roof breathe and stays put in a gale. The old mortar leaves with the team.
- No mortar to crack or wash out
- Ridge tiles screwed to a ridge batten
- Dry verge caps on every gable edge
- Breathable ridge roll ventilates the loft
- Old mortar cleared away
Ridges and verges on Croydon's gable-ended roofs
Plenty of Croydon's houses have gable ends, from the terraces of Thornton Heath and Selhurst to the post-war semis around New Addington and Forestdale. Their verges were bedded in mortar when they were built, and that mortar has taken decades of rain and frost. Hipped 1930s semis in Shirley and Sanderstead have long mortar hips that fail the same way. Wind coming over the North Downs hits the exposed roofs of Purley, Coulsdon and Kenley hard, and a loose ridge is the first thing it takes.
Mortar or a dry-fix system
Both refix a ridge. Only one stops the problem coming back.
Re-bed in mortar
The old way: fresh sand and cement under each ridge tile, with screws added to meet the current standard. It looks traditional and suits some period roofs, but the mortar will crack again with time and frost.
Best for: Period roofs where the look matters
Dry ridge system
Ridge tiles screwed to a batten over a breathable seal and linked with union clips. No mortar, no cracking, and the roof space gets extra ventilation along the full length of the ridge.
Best for: Most tiled roofs in Croydon
Dry verge system
Caps clipped over the end of each row of tiles at the gable and fixed to the battens. They shed water cleanly and keep the wind out of the tile edges for good.
Best for: Gable ends with failing mortar
Recent dry ridge and verge jobs
Ridge tiles back on, and customers happy
Ridge tile was blown off called apex roofing and guttering Ltd they came out right away and replaced the tile very satisfied with the job Patrick have done highly recommend
Apex roofing and guttering Ltd came and gave me a free quotation on a new roof once I match several quotes I decided to go ahead with Apex. They kept me updated throughout the process showing photos and explaining what’s happening the process was so easy for me highly recommend to anyone needing work done
Had a leak in my lead flashing around my chimney wanted to get it renewed Patrick came with he's team of men and carried out work involving all new code 4 lead flashing since then never seen a leak very happy with the work
Highly recomend apex roofing and guttering ltd patrick came gave me a quote to get repairs done couple weeks later once agreed we aranged a time showed up on time and carried out work as promised highly recomend
Had a problem with my flat roof patrick came and found the solution made it very easy along the way showing me photos and excepting payment on completion highly recomend apex roofing and guttering ltd
Had a problem with my guttering patrick came cleaned and sealed all my gutter for the price aggreed on the phone no extra or hidden fees highly recommend to anyone needing guttering repairs
What sets the price of dry ridge and verge
Dry ridge and verge work is priced on length, height and the state of the tiles. A short ridge on a bungalow is a different job from a long ridge and four hips on a detached house. Gable verges on a two-storey house need scaffold. Cracked ridge tiles need replacing with a match, and some older profiles take finding. Patrick measures it all on the survey and agrees one price, with nothing added later.
What sets the price
- Length of ridge and hips
- Number of gable verges
- Scaffold or roof ladder access
- Ridge tiles to replace
- Tile profile and dry-fix kit
- Height of the house
Dry ridge and verge questions
What is a dry verge?
A dry verge is a set of caps that clip over the ends of the tile rows on a gable, replacing the old mortar bedding. Each cap is fixed to the battens, so there is nothing to crack or fall out. It keeps wind-driven rain out of the tile edges and never needs repointing later.
Is dry ridge better than mortar?
Yes, on most tiled roofs a dry ridge outlasts a mortar ridge because there is no mortar to crack. Mortar goes brittle with frost and movement, and pieces start falling out within years. A dry ridge is screwed down and sealed with a breathable roll, which also ventilates the loft. Mortar still has a place on some period roofs where the look matters most.
Do ridge tiles have to be mechanically fixed?
Yes. Under BS 5534, the British Standard for slating and tiling, ridge and hip tiles have to be mechanically fixed, not held by mortar alone. Since the 2014 revision, a ridge bedded in mortar with no screws or clips falls short of the standard. A dry-fix system meets it by design, which is one reason Apex fit it.
Can a dry verge be fitted to any roof?
Dry verge fits most concrete interlocking tile roofs and many plain tile roofs, with kits made to suit each tile profile. It is the answer for gable ends where the old mortar has failed. On some slate or period roofs, a traditional mortar verge over an undercloak looks more at home. Patrick checks your tile and gable before recommending a kit.
How do I know if my ridge tiles are loose?
Look for mortar on the ground, gaps under the ridge tiles seen from the garden and tiles that sit out of line. After a storm, check the ridge from across the road with a pair of binoculars. Do not climb up to test them. If anything looks off, call Patrick and he will check them, photograph them and show you.
Ridge or verge dropping mortar?
"Ridge tile was blown off called apex roofing and guttering Ltd they came out right away and replaced the tile," says one Google review, so call before yours goes too.