This is one of those questions where the answer really makes a difference in money, and where I regularly advise doing less than the customer expects. Or more, but then for a reason.
The question is not whether your ridge is due. You already answered that question if there is mortar in the gutter. The question is whether the roof slope underneath will outlive the new ridge.
When a separate ridge renovation makes sense
The tiles are not porous. After rain they are dry on the surface within an hour and do not break when you pick them up. See
porous roof tiles.
The roof boarding is dry. No damp rings in the attic other than at the ridge, and hard wood when tapped.
There are no other leaks. One problem in one place is a repair. Several problems in several places is a roof that has reached the end of its life.
“A new ridge on a roof that has to be opened in three years is the most expensive roofing work I know. You end up doing it twice.”
Fouad, owner of Astrodak Service
When to wait with the ridge
If the roof slope is going to be replaced or relaid within about five years anyway. With a roof replacement the ridge is automatically included, so a new ridge just before that is work you throw away. In that case the question is how to bridge the time in between.
That can be done with a targeted repair: securing or re-bedding the loose ridge tiles so that no heavy tile comes down and the opening is closed. That is a small job that solves the problem temporarily without you paying for the full ridge. See
loose ridge tiles.
Roof slope healthy
just the ridge
targeted job
Roof slope at the end of its life
whole roof
ridge included
Not sure about the right approach?
I would rather come and look at your roof with my colleagues first than come up with a solution from a distance. During the free inspection you hear what is really needed, even if that is less than you thought.
The middle category
There is a situation in which neither is the answer: the roof is not bad enough for a full replacement, but not good enough to rely on for another thirty years either. This is common with a roof of twenty-five to thirty years old.
Then the question is how long you will stay in the house and whether you still want to tackle the energy side. If you want to insulate within ten years, the roof will be opened then and the ridge will be done then. If you want to leave the roof as it is, a new ridge now is a sensible investment that protects the rest. See
repair or replace.
What the ridge does for the rest of the roof
More than people think. A ridge that no longer seals lets water onto the ridge beam and the top section of roof boarding, and that water runs down along the structure. So a poor ridge can damage the roof boarding over a considerable part of the roof slope.
That is why I do not like leaving a poor ridge for a few years on a roof that is otherwise fine. The ridge costs a fraction of what repairing roof boarding costs. See
replacing roof boarding.
How to make the decision
With half an hour on the roof and in the attic. I lift a few tiles, look at the battens and the membrane, and assess the tiles for porosity. In the attic I look at the roof boarding at the ridge and on the rest of the roof slope. After that the conclusion is usually clear.
What to do if you are not sure
There is an in-between solution that is often forgotten: secure the loose ridge tiles now and postpone the full ridge renovation until you know what you are doing with the roof. That is a small job that closes the openings and removes the risk of a falling ridge tile.
That buys you time without making the full investment, and that is exactly what you want if you are still thinking about insulating or about the whole roof. Ask about that instead of deciding straight away for or against a ridge renovation.
Frequently asked questions about ridge or roof replacement
