There are several ways to finish the hips and the ridges when you have a new roof installed. The following are the most common choices that reputable roofers will use to finish these areas of your roof. Not one certain method is necessarily “correct” because every option has its place. For example, slate roofs can offer you something that a shingle roof cannot, this is an aged and sophisticated look. Slate roofs have been used for hundreds of years, as tar shingles have not been produced for nearly as long historically. Some of the most famous buildings in the world have slate roofs, all having a sophisticated and timeless look. The style and age of your home can influence the type and color of roofing material that will look best on your home as well. If you own a Victorian style home, roofing material that imitates wood shingles are a good choice. In contrast, many modern-style home builders are using various styles of metal roofing on their model homes. The goal of this article on ridge cap shingles for your roof is to help you make an informed decision and help you to select a product that matches your budget and your taste.
THREE TAB SHINGLES
The traditional way hip and ridge roof finishing method is to cut color matched, three tab shingles and into thirds and attach them in a row to the hip or ridge (watch video). This is the most cost effective way to finish these areas and is more than sufficient in most cases.
There are two main reasons that this installation method may not be the appropriate choice for your roof.
- The first is that these shingles do not carry the same level of warranty as the shingles used over the main area. Three tab shingles are typically rated for twenty-five years where as the shingles used over the roof’s surface area are considered a “lifetime” shingle.
- The other problem with using three tab shingles as ridge cap is that depending on the color, an exact color match isn’t always available. If a similar color is used, it can make the entire roof look unattractive.
RIDGE CAP SHINGLES
The most common hip and ridge capping method is to use a product that is pre-engineered by the shingle manufacturers. These look almost identical to the three tab hip and ridge products mentioned above but these come perforated so that they can be simply broken into thirds by hand. As opposed to three tab shingles, these ridge cap shingles do carry a warranty that matches the shingles used in the field of the roof. These products also ensure a guaranteed color match to the shingles used on the rest of the roof.
HIGH PROFILE RIDGE CAP
High profile hip and ridge shingles are identical to pre-engineered ridge cap but they have the added feature of being double layered and are generally larger. These produce a look that is more desirable by many individuals. They dress up the edges of the roof and it shows.
METAL ROLL RIDGE
One traditional way that the hips and ridges of a roof are encapsulated is by using decorative metal. Most commonly these products are custom bent to a specific profile and come in several popular colors. Traditionally in the late 1800’s and around the turn of the century, tinners would use red, grey unpainted galvanized metal or for the more luxurious homes, the installer would use copper (see image).
High Profile Ridge Cap Shingles
Copper Ridge Cap
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Cap City Restoration
1723 Old Leonard Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(614) 749-6005