How To Nail The Ridge Cap Shingles
At above left CertainTeed illustrates how to nail shingles at the ridge or hip. At above right our photo shows a ridge cap shingle being asked to serve beyond the call of duty. The home inspector’s arrow marked an exposed nail where he advised his client to seal exposed nails on the roof at the ridge. In fact the chances of leaks at a nail at the ridge, the highest point on this roof, are less than chances that the ridge cap shingle, bent over a change in roof height, is going to crack, break, and leak or blow off of the roof as it ages.
IMPORTANT: Use TWO nails to fasten each shingle. Fasteners must be minimum 1-3/4″ long. For the starter shingle, place fastener 1″ in from each side edge and about 2″ up from the starter shingles exposed butt edge, making sure fastener goes 3/4″ into the deck or all the way through the deck. .
For each full Cedar Crest shingle, place fasteners 8-5/8″ up from its exposed butt edge and 1″ in from each side edge .
Watch out: be sure that your shingles are laid in direction along each hip or ridge so that the exposed-end of the shingle tab is facing down-wind. This will reduce wind damage. And remember to set the final ridge or hip cap shingle in mastic or sealant to improve wind resistance.
The Malarkey Roofing hip and ridge shingle installation instructions include clear illustrations of these details.
Hip & Ridge Shingle Wind Rating
Actual hip & ridge shingles are meant for such elements. In contrast, some roofers will cut corners by taking typical 3-tab shingles, cutting them in thirds, and using them as hip and ridge shingles.
The problem is that 3-tab shingles are only rated for 60mph winds, whereas true hip and ridge shingles are rated for 130mph .
Hip & Ridge Cap Shingles: Installation Failure Causes Diagnosis Repair
Our page top photograph shows ridge cap shingles that have worn out and actually lost shingle portions that have washed off of the roof.
While this is an old, worn-out roof , it may be meaningful that at end of life the ridge cap shingles failed in the pattern seen there: bending stress over the ridge may have ultimately stressed the ridge cap shingles so that they broke at the ridge apex.
At left is a different and interesting ridge cap shingle failure that needed some thoughtful analysis.
Article Contents
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A Bolder Look: Doubled And High Profile Ridge Cap Shingles
You can accentuate the roof ridge cap and enhance the overall roof appearance with this simple ridge cap trick: double them up. In standard application, the ridge cap shingles are installed and lapped one at a time. But if you install them doubled up, with the top one about three quarter inches higher, it gives the appearance of a richer, thicker ridge cap or hip. The double look complements the double-layer thick structure of laminated shingles, thereby giving the whole roof a heftier, more robust appearance.
Many years ago, this desirable, thicker roof ridge cap look inspired the introduction of a new type of ridge cap shingle: IKO UltraHP®. These high profile ridge cap shingles are thicker and packaged prefolded. They are made with polymer-modified asphalt for added flexibility.
An impact-resistant option is also available. UltraHP®IR high profile ridge cap shingles are designed to be used with IKO Nordic shingles for a complete impact-resistant roof. IKO UltraHP IR hip and ridge shingles have a Class 4 impact-resistance rating tested against UL 2218, which IKO is pleased to present for the sole purpose of enabling homeowners using these shingles in conjunction with Class 4 impact-resistance-rated shingles to obtain a discount on their home insurance premiums, if available in their area. This rating is not to be construed as any type of express or implied warranty or guarantee of the impact performance of this shingle by the manufacturer, supplier or installer.
Ridge Cap Shingles Installation
Architectural shingles can be used to shingle the ridge cap. Cut the shingles lengthways between the middle adhesive strip and where the dimensional portion of the shingles attach. Many installers use the cut off tab strip to narrow the gap between the last course or row and the ridge, fastening it with capped roofing nails in the prescribed pattern. A string or chalk line helps lay the shingles in a straight line.
The ridge itself is already protected by one or two layers of roofing felt or membrane. Use the 6 to 7 cut off non-tab strip of the dimensional shingle as the first ridge layer. The 36 to 40-7/8 strip is a single layer and will bend over the ridge.
Remove the cellophane that covers the adhesive strips on the back of the strips prior to installation. Butt the strips end-to-end without overlap and fasten with capped roofing nails 1 in from the ends and up from the edges, and every 6 to 8. The strip should tightly wrap the ridge and overlap the last row of shingles to cover their nail heads.
Cut other non-tab strips into uniform 10 to 12 lengths for the second layer of ridge shingles. Remove the cellophane strip from the adhesive strip at the edge that wont be nailed. Apply roofing cement in a C pattern along the ends and over the adhesive strip.
Overlap successive shingles so the nail heads are covered and so that the exposed ridge shingle width is consistent along the ridge.
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Standard Ridge & Hip Cap Shingle Dimensions
The best option for shingling the ridge or hip is to use pre-cut ridge cap shingles provided by the same manufacturer, and in the same color and pattern as the shingles used on the main roof areas.
Pre-cut ridge cap shingles vary in length and width, but the typical size are:
- Length: 12 – 13″
- Width: 9 3/4″ – 13 1/8″
- Exposure 5 5/8″ to 9 1/4″”
At a lower-slope or wider ridge roof, the wider ridge cap shingles will be more-suitable.
Ridge / Hip Cap Shingle Exposure Guide
Read the instructions for the specific shingle product you are installing, noting the details specified for the ridge covering .
For example, the instructions for Elk Prestique Raised Profile shingles give two different ridge cap products, with different dimensions and exposures:
- Elk Z-Ridge 13 1/4″ x 9 21/32″ ridge cap / hip shingles are to be installed with a 5 5/8″ exposure 3 bundles cover 100 linear feet of ridge-line
- Elk Vented RidgeCrest 13″ x 13 1/4″ ridge cap / hip shingles are installed with a 9 1/4″ exposure again, 3 bundles will cover 100 linear feet of ridge or hip-line.
Field Cut Hip or Ridge Cap Shingles
Asphalt shingle roof installers may fabricate ridge or hip cap shingles, usually by cutting roof up standard roof shingles on the jobsite. In fact that’s what we did installing shingles in the 1970”s and 1980’s. And this is still standard practice for some asphalt shingle products such as GAF Royal Sovereign Ridge Cap Shingles.
From the ICC report given at the end of this page :
How To Repair Or Replace Ridge Cap Shingles
To replace a ridge cap shingle, gently pry the ridge cap shingle just above the damaged one using a flathead pry bar. Then remove nails from the damaged shingle using the same pry bar while holding the first shingle up and out of the way. Install the new shingle and lower the undamaged shingle.
When replacing the shingle, use roofing cement over all the nail heads you come in contact with as the shingles movement will cause nails to move, resulting in larger nail holes that could allow moisture in.
Repairing a ridge cap shingle requires you to pry the shingle above the damaged shingle up with a flat pry bar or long flathead screwdriver. Once you have space, either install a new nail or roofing cement as needed, then lower the first shingle, secure nails, use roofing cement, and you are done.
A ridge roofing shingle, particularly those that are made from standard 3-tab shingles, are already under stress from being bent in ways they werent meant to be. Therefore, you must handle these shingles carefully when fixing or replacing them, as they can crack very easily.
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Why Choose Hip And Ridge Shingles For Your Commercial Or Residential Roofing
These shingles can complete the look youve been striving for, whether youve had an architectural shingle roof or a strip shingle variety installed. Distinctive ridge caps allow you to accentuate your rooftops natural beauty while also providing protection through multiple layers. The hips and ridges tend to undergo the most stress out of all the roofs components, and the caps help to reinforce these areas.
Hip And Ridge Features
- Caps are designed with thickness that far exceeds levels provided with strip shingles. This creates a unique and distinctive look.
- Timbertex® caps are designed to complement your laminated shingles, regardless of the color required.
- Each piece is secured with Dura Grip Self-seal Adhesive, which ensures tightness in the installation and reduced chances of blow-off.
- With the StainGuard® Ltd. Warranty, youll be protected from the development of blue-green algae on your ridge cap shingles.
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Pay Attention To Hip And Ridge In Roofing Estimates
The most cost effective option is for the installer to cut and manipulate 3-tab shingles for the hip and ridge cap application. Bundles of 3-tab shingles are purchased and then cut into three separate pieces for installation. If you are installing a 25-year 3-tab roof system, the same shingle is manipulated for the hip and ridge cap application. If you are installing a 30-year lifetime composition shingle, most color options have a companion or complimentary 3-tab shingle to install, but some color offerings require a specific colored hip and ridge cap shingle to be installed.
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Low Profile Hip & Ridge Shingles
A new roof requires more than just shingles. Its a cohesive, coordinated system including: 1) shingles, 2) underlayment, 3) ice and water underlayment, 4) starter shingles, and 5) hip & ridge shingles.
The highest point on the roof is called the ridge, the others are called hips. These high points can experience greater damage from events like hail and debris. Hip and ridge shingles provide extra impact protection at these more vulnerable areas, as well as extra roof dimension for enhanced curb appeal.
RidgeFlex is our low profile hip & ridge shingle.
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Trust Hopewell Roofing & Restoration For Hip And Ridge Installations
Looking for peace of mind and a solid roof for your home? Let our team at Hopewell Roofing & Restoration show you the benefits of hip & ridge installations from the pros. We can connect you with the impressive lifetime ltd. warranty on installations of Lifetime Shingle rooftops! The TimberTex® distinctive ridge cap shingles we install are an important component of the GAF Lifetime Roof System, and our work crews can get the job done quickly and affordably. Plus, our company is certified as a GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor, so you can trust your project is in the right hands.
Our team of roofing specialists at Hopewell Roofing & Restoration has a strong reputation in the Atlanta GA area for workmanship of the highest quality, delivered with honesty and integrity for all of our residential and commercial customers. Whether its hip and ridge shingless or anything else to make your roof as functional and attractive as it can be, let us help you to get the most out of your rooftop. Connect with our team today to get your free consultation.
Types Of Ridge Cap Shingles
A ridge cap shingle is a square, or nearly square, piece of shingle that is the same material as the rest of your roofing. If you have asphalt shingles, then youll have asphalt ridge caps, and so on.
Other types of roofing materials beyond asphalt will have their own ridge caps of varying types, but in this article will be looking at asphalt shingles and asphalt ridge shingles.
Lets take a look at the different types of roof peak shingles available and the differences between each.
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Hip & Ridge Shingle Failures
How to Distinguish Among Ridge/Hip Cap Shingle Failure due to Cracking, Excessive Bending, Poor Nailing, Thermal Splitting, Wind Damage, or Other Wear
Glenn added about the premature ridge cap shingle failure photo shown above that a roofer suggested that this shingle failure at the ridge was due to cracks where the shingles were bent over the ridge, and more serious because the ridge cap shingles were laminates, thicker, more likely to crack when bent.
Certainly bending shingles, particularly cold shingles, over a steep slope ridge can stress and break the shingles. I was taught to leave my ridge cap shingles indoors on a radiator in cold weather, assuring thus that they would be warm and flexible enough to bend without cracking when brought outside to nail onto the ridge or hip of the roof.
But shingle cracking failure does not physically resemble the cupping and granule loss failure in the photo shown at page top. Cracking shingles show just that – cracks. Indeed once the shingle has cracked the shingle substrate absorbs increasing amounts of water and in a freezing climate the freeze-thaw cycle will accelerate wear of the shingle.
There are several types of shingle cracking that occur: defective product or thermal splitting, cracks due to cold or excessive bending at a hip or ridge, cracks due to excessive roof or structural movement, and cracking that appears as part of normal asphalt shingle wearing and age.
See details at CRACKS in FIBERGLASS SHINGLES
Hip & Ridge Shingle Impact Rating
First of all, a true hip and ridge shingle has a higher impact rating than 3-tab. To add more complexity to the equation, the shingles are not lain flat they are bent.
Why does this matter for impact? Imagine hammering a piece of thin metal on a flat surface. That hammer will probably just dent the metal.
WARNING: this next part might bring back some high school math and physics traumas, but bear with me.
Now take that same thin metal sheet, bend it over a curved surface, and strike it with a hammer.
The point you would be striking is called the tangent.
You are taking the same force of impact, and instead of dispersing it onto a surface the size of the hammers head, you are now focusing all that energy on a single point.
To put in lamen terms: imagine pushing your finger against a tabletop vs. a knife blade .
This strike along this smaller surface area results in SPLITTING the piece of thin metal. This split is a breach. This is what can happen to hip & ridges when impacted by hail.
Bring it Back
Lets bring it back to shingles. 3-tab shingles are not only less impact-resistant, but they are also not meant to be bent!
So as soon as you bend them, they can crack, which reduces their efficacy even more. So then, Im sure you know where Im going next.
Yes, true hip & ridge shingles are meant to be bent without creasing or cracking.
Dont rob yourself of knowledge! Here are some more helpful articles to improve your basic knowledge of your roof.
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Hip And Ridge Installation
Like installation of any type of shingles, it is highly significant to look for professionals to entrust your hip and ridge shingles installation. While there is a lifetime warranty for some shingles, there are also existing warranties for your hip and ridge depending on the roofing company of your choosing.
Hip and ridge installation companies often partner with shingles installation companies. This allows for a more reliable materials and services installation. There are always roofing companies which provide excellent roofing installation services in your area you just have to align their services with what you need.
What Are Ridge Cap Shingles
I was helping a relative shingle his shed roof last summer, but he wasnt sure how to use his shingles on the ridge of his shed. He didnt know that there are ridge cap shingles that are specifically used only for roofing a ridge.
Ridge cap shingles are shingles specially designed to fit over the ridge of a roof. They are often pre-bent and thicker than regular roof shingles. Ridge cap shingles resemble a single tab from a standard roof shingle and install by overlapping one another from one end of the ridge to the other.
Most shingle manufacturers make ridge cap shingles to go with their standard shingles. While these shingles are commonly found in asphalt roofing applications, they also exist for other types of roofing materials, such as metal, rubber, tile, and more.
In this article, well cover what ridge shingles do, where they go on a roof, and how they differ from standard shingles in terms of look and installation.
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Why You Should Choose Rooftop Designs
At Rooftop Designs, we are devoted to the needs of our customers. Because we offer a broad selection of products and services, we can customize your order and offer a solution to fit your individual needs. We have four locations nationwide and offer our services in , Illinois, Indiana, and New Jersey.
With New Laminated Hip And Ridge Cap Shingles Finishing A Roof Installation With A Ridge Cap Is A Much Simpler Process Than With The Old Three
In summary, to install the ridge cap shingles, you simply separate them where they are perforated, bend them over the peak, and nail them down. Of, course, theres a little bit more to the process than that. You need to understand the function of ridge cap shingles, learn how to choose them, and understand how to make your installation look orderly and attractive.
Three Tab Shingles Compared to Laminated Shingles
The process to install ridge cap shingles has changed because roofing market trends have favored a new type of shingle. Three-tab shingles are easy to cut into strips to create a ridge cap, but now roofers and homeowners largely prefer laminated shingles.
Rob Davidson, Vice-President of Residential Sales for IKO Canada, explains why: When I started with IKO over 20 years ago, three-tab shingles were the most common shingle installed. Since that time, laminated shingles have steadily grown in popularity and are now the dominant shingle style by far. Homeowners love their dimensional random appearance, and contractors like their ease of installation.
Though they have many advantages, laminated shingles arent suitable as roof cap shingles because the two different layers of the shingles wont bend in tandem. The solution? Roofing manufacturers introduced specific roof cap shingles made to work with laminated shingle installations that will look great and save you time.
What Size are Ridge Cap Shingles?
A Bolder Look: Doubled and High-Profile Ridge Cap Shingles
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