Ridge and hip tiles sit along the highest and most exposed lines of a roof, which makes them one of the first things to suffer when high winds sweep across Hillfields. Traditionally bedded in mortar, these tiles rely on that bedding staying intact to keep them locked in place, and years of weathering combined with a single severe storm can be enough to crack the mortar and leave individual tiles rocking or loose.
A loose ridge or hip tile is not always obvious from the ground, particularly on a roof with a shallow pitch or where the ridge line is set back from the eaves, so many homeowners only become aware of the problem once they notice small pieces of mortar in the guttering below or, in more advanced cases, spot a tile that has visibly shifted out of alignment. Either sign is worth taking seriously, since a ridge or hip tile that has lost its bedding can be lifted further, and eventually dislodged entirely, by the next spell of strong wind. A pair of binoculars from the garden can sometimes give a useful first impression before a proper inspection is arranged.
Once a ridge tile does come loose or fall, the junction it was protecting is left open to the weather, and this is one of the more direct routes for water to get into a roof space, since the ridge sits at the very top of the structure where two roof slopes meet. Left unattended, a Hillfields roof with a compromised ridge line can develop a leak surprisingly quickly during the next period of sustained rain, particularly where wind is also driving rain up and under the disturbed section.
Repairs typically involve re-bedding the affected tiles in fresh mortar, or in some cases replacing sections of the ridge or hip with a modern dry-fix system that uses mechanical fixings rather than mortar alone, reducing the risk of the same problem recurring after future storms. Which approach makes sense depends on the age and condition of the existing ridge line and is best judged during an on-site inspection rather than guessed at from a description over the phone. Homeowners weighing up the two options often find the dry-fix route worthwhile precisely because it is less reliant on mortar surviving the next severe storm.
Because ridge and hip work sits at height and along an exposed edge of the roof, safe access is an important part of the job, and on some of Hillfields' older or taller properties this can mean a short period of scaffolding or tower access to carry out the repair properly rather than relying on a ladder alone.
If you have noticed loose ridge or hip tiles, or debris from mortar in your gutters after recent high winds, Brunel Roofing Bristol can inspect and re-secure the affected area for your Hillfields property, with all completed repairs covered by a 15-year guarantee.
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