Ridge tiles sit along the very top of a roof, bedded in mortar and directly exposed to whatever the wind throws at them, which makes them one of the more vulnerable features during a serious storm. In Westbury-on-Trym, where many roofs are older, the mortar holding ridge tiles in place has often had years to gradually weaken, leaving it less able to withstand a genuinely strong gust when the weather finally tests it properly. On some properties this weakening has been happening slowly for years without ever quite reaching the point of failure, until one particular storm finally tips the balance.
When wind gets underneath a ridge tile, it can rock it back and forth, cracking the mortar bed further with each movement until the tile eventually loosens, shifts out of alignment, or comes away from the roof entirely. From the ground, a slightly displaced ridge tile can be difficult to spot, which is why storm damage along the ridge line is sometimes only discovered once a leak has already appeared inside the property, well after the wind itself has settled. This gradual rocking action is part of why ridge damage can build up quietly over more than one storm, with each spell of wind adding a little more movement until the tile finally gives way.
Once a ridge tile has moved even a small amount, it creates a gap at one of the highest and most exposed points of the roof, allowing water to get in during subsequent rain even if the tile itself has not fully fallen off. This water then tends to track down inside the roof structure before showing up as a damp patch, which is not always directly beneath the affected ridge tile, making the source easy to misjudge without a proper look from above.
Repairing wind-damaged ridge tiles generally involves re-bedding loose tiles in fresh mortar, or replacing tiles that have cracked or gone missing entirely, along with a check of the neighbouring tiles that may have been loosened by the same storm without yet failing. Given the height and pitch involved, this is not a job for DIY, and safe access is essential to both inspect and repair the ridge line properly.
Left unattended, a compromised ridge line tends to get worse with each further spell of wind and rain rather than settling down, so prompt attention genuinely limits the extent of repair needed later. Brunel Roofing Bristol carries out ridge tile repairs regularly across Westbury-on-Trym and provides a 15-year guarantee on all completed work.
If a recent storm has left you wondering about the state of your ridge tiles, it is worth arranging an inspection rather than waiting for a leak to confirm it. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote. A short visit now is generally far less disruptive than dealing with a full leak once winter weather has had the chance to make the most of a weakened ridge line.
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