Dry ridge system installed on a pitched roof in Devon
Pitched & Slate/Tile Roofing

Dry Ridge Installation

Mortar alone is no longer considered adequate at the ridge. Sherford Roofing fits mechanically-fixed dry ridge systems to current BS 5534 standards.

The 2018 update to BS 5534, the British Standard for slating and tiling, withdrew reliance on mortar's tensile strength to resist wind uplift at ridges and verges. NHBC has identified mortar-only ridge fixing as the single largest cause of roof-related insurance claims. Dry ridge systems replace that mortar with mechanical clips, fixed in line with BS 8612, and simply don't have the same failure mode.

Sherford Roofing installs BS 8612-compliant dry ridge systems across Plymouth and Devon on new roofs and re-roofs, using brands like Klober, Manthorpe and Marley depending on the tile profile and roof pitch.

Our Process

Step 1

Assess Pitch & Profile

We confirm your roof's pitch and tile profile to select the correct BS 8612-compliant dry ridge system for the job.

Step 2

Fit the Ridge Batten

A ridge batten or union is fixed along the apex to provide a secure mechanical fixing point, replacing the old mortar bed.

Step 3

Clip & Fix Ridge Tiles

Ridge tiles are mechanically clipped and fixed in place, no mortar, no curing time, no ongoing repointing.

Step 4

Check Ventilation

Where roof space ventilation is needed, a ventilated dry ridge system is used to maintain airflow without compromising the fixing.

UK Standards & Best Practice

Dry ridge systems are fitted to BS 8612:2018, the fixing and ventilation standard referenced by BS 5534:2014+A2:2018, since 2019, this is effectively the required approach for ridge fixing on new roofs and re-roofs.

Got Questions?

Dry Ridge Installation FAQs

Under BS 5534 (which references BS 8612), reliance on mortar alone is no longer considered compliant for wind-uplift resistance, so dry-fix is the standard modern practice for both new roofs and re-roofing.

Most BS 8612-compliant systems are suitable from roughly 15° to 55°, depending on the specific product and tile profile, confirmed at survey.

Very little. Unlike mortar, which cracks with weathering and thermal movement and needs periodic repointing, a correctly fitted dry ridge system has no ongoing maintenance requirement.

Need Dry Ridge Installation?

Free estimates across Plymouth and Devon. Bauder certified, Checkatrade vetted, honest advice every time.

Or call our office: 01752 741888