The ridge is the highest point of a pitched roof, along the line where two sloping roof surfaces meet. It is usually finished with ridge tiles or a ridge capping to seal the joint and keep water out.
Structurally, the rafters on each side of the roof normally meet at a ridge board, a non-structural timber that helps to align them, or at a structural ridge beam where the roof design needs one. Ridge tiles were traditionally bedded in mortar, but current British Standard guidance (BS 5534) requires ridge and hip tiles to be mechanically fixed, and many roofs now use dry ridge systems that need no mortar. For costing, points to note include:
- ridges are measured as a linear item, stating the type of tile or capping
- dry ridge systems avoid wet trades and reduce ongoing maintenance of mortar joints
- a ventilated ridge may be needed to meet roof space ventilation requirements
Related terms: rafters, hip, valley, eaves.
