Checking and replacing ridge tiles
It's not just the standard tiles that are adversely affected by the inclement weather in the UK. In fact, one of the first parts of your roof to show signs of wear and tear will be the ridge tiles. The ridge tiles are the row of tiles that sit at the uppermost level of the roof and connect the point at which two sloping roof surfaces come together.
It's usually the mortar that goes first on your ridge tiles so, if this is crumbling, it's worth removing all the tiles and reseating them in place. If the mortar is degenerating, it's usually a simple task to pull the existing ridge tiles from the roof. If these are in a good enough condition they can be reused and whether they are clay or concrete ridge tiles, their re-usability is a fantastic selling point, both so that costs can be reduced by reusing the old tiles but also so that the environmental impact of your building work can be almost completely removed.
The ridge should be cleaned of the old mortar with a cold chisel if necessary so the new mortar will have a key to bond to when applied. The area should then be cleaned so it's free from dust and dirt. Particular care should be taken to remove the old mortar as there may have been additional reasons why the mortar degraded to such an extent. If the original builders used too much sand or incorrectly mixed the materials then there will be inherent degradation of the concrete and this source of potential weakness becomes the origin of a waterproofing failure.
So the new mortar doesn't dry out too quickly it's worth wetting the new ridge tiles and also the apex before laying a bed of new mortar on the roof at the point the tiles will touch the roof surface. When the mortar's in place, the ridge tiles can be fitted over the ridge and pointed so no rainwater will get through when the mortar is dry.
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