Roof Ridge, Its Types And Purpose, As Well As Calculation And Installation Features

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

How to choose and install a roof ridge

Installing the ridge between the roof slopes is the finishing operation for installing the roof. It is designed to protect the joint and create conditions for the correct operation of the rafter system. A well-designed ridge provides ventilation in the under-roof space, increasing the service life of a wooden or metal roof frame.

Content

• 1 The ridge of the roofing system, its purpose and types

  • 1.1 Why do you need a roof ridge

    1.1.1 Photo gallery: the main types of ridge slats

• 2 Types of roof ridge with characteristic

  • 2.1 Skates for various roof coverings

    • 2.1.1 Ridge for metal, profiled sheets and composite shingles
    • 2.1.2 Slate roof ridge
    • 2.1.3 Ridge for ondulin and similar materials
    • 2.1.4 Skates for shingles
    • 2.1.5 Ridge on a seam roof
  • 2.2 Photo gallery: ridge planks when using specific roofing materials

• 3 Roof ridge dimensions

  • 3.1 Flat ridge strip (triangular)
  • 3.2 Rectangular ridge strip (curly U-shaped)
  • 3.3 Round ridge strip

• 4 Calculating the height of the roof ridge

  4.1 Calculating the height of the roof ridge

• 5 Installation of the roof ridge

  • 5.1 Fitting the straight ridge
  • 5.2 Round ridge strip
  • 5.3 Rectangular (U-shaped) ridge
  • 5.4 Video: Installation of the roof ridge

• 6 How to make a skate on the roof with your own hands

  • 6.1 DIY tools for making ridge slats
  • 6.2 Manufacturing process of the ridge bar
  • 6.3 Video: how to bend a sheet of metal at home

The ridge of the roofing system, its purpose and types

The roof of the house is the main device for protecting the home from external factors. In addition, it acts as one of the main elements of the exterior, site and home.

The vast majority of roofing systems have an element such as a ridge. It forms naturally at the intersection of the roof planes and is the most important element subject to stress and stress in all weather conditions. The ridge is formed at slope angles of more than 180 °.

The ridge is formed naturally at the intersection of the roof planes and is the most important element of the roof

Why do you need a roof ridge

On old roofs, the ridge served as a log, pressing the main roof covering - shingles, performing mainly an aesthetic function. In modern roofing systems, this is also taken into account, but the main purpose of the ridge device is functional, taking into account the organization of ventilation of the roofing cake and the under-roof space.

On old roofs, a log served as a ridge, pressing the main roofing

The functioning of a living space is associated with the release of a large amount of moisture in the form of steam from cooking, washing or wet cleaning. If you do not take these products out of the room, it will be damp and uncomfortable. In addition, in such conditions, various fungi and bacteria develop, actively affecting all structural elements in the form of mold and decay of wooden structures.

The second, no less important purpose of the roof ridge is to protect the place where the slopes pass from water and other precipitation, as well as wind, for which various seals are used.

Depending on the shape of the roof and the angle between the slopes, the skates are:

• conical;
• angular;
• embossed;
• curly.

The most common skates are made of metal. But on certain types of roofing material, ceramic ridge skates (for tiles) can be used. On reed and thatched roofs, the basic roofing material is used to form the ridge.

On slopes converging at an angle of less than 180 °, valleys are used to protect the roof. The peculiarity of their application is that they are located below the roof level and are brought out to the catchment system.

Photo gallery: the main types of ridge slats

Flat ridge securely connects opposite roof slopes

High strength roof slope transition form

Rectangular ridge suitable for most types of roofing

Thatched roof slopes are connected by the main material of the shelter

Types of roof ridge with characteristic

The ridge of the roof is a straight line formed by the intersection of the gable roof slopes. The formation of this line occurs during the installation of the rafter legs at a certain angle. Therefore, the decisive factor for obtaining a straight ridge is the correct installation of the rafter system. If this condition is met, it is impossible to spoil the skate with further actions.

Skates for various roofing surfaces

Most modern roof coverings are equipped with ridge elements designed for use with them. These are ridge strips of a special shape or ridge tiles. For the manufacture of ridge parts, the same material is used as for the main coating.

Ridge for metal, profiled sheets and composite shingles

The material for the manufacture of ridge parts is galvanized steel sheet with a thickness of 0.7 mm. Often, additional protection from polymeric materials is applied over it. The color of the ridge cover is matched to the main color of the roof. The range of colors corresponds to the RAL scale.

The ridge strip for the roof made of corrugated board is made of galvanized steel sheet 0.7 mm thick

The same ridge is used for composite roof tiles.

The skates are installed with special fasteners with elastic washers and seals. Fasteners are often included in the set of roofing material, and the color is selected according to the main color of the coating.

Slate roof ridge

Considering the properties of the material, the ridge is selected for it the same as for the above-mentioned coatings. If ordinary gray slate is used, an ordinary galvanized ridge is used. Fastening during installation is made with special slate nails with rubber gaskets.

Galvanized skates are most suitable for slate roofs

Currently, slate is available in various colors. In this case, the ridge is matched to the tone of the coating.

For colored slate covering, you can choose the appropriate color of the ridge strip

Skate for ondulin and similar materials

When using these materials, the ridge is supplied complete with the roof. The material of manufacture is the same as for the base coat. And also the fasteners are selected by color.

Skates for ondulin are made from the same material as the main cover

Skates for shingles

For such a roof covering, a special shaped ridge is produced, which is included in the delivery set.

The same products are used for the skates as for the curtain rod. By perforation, the shingle of the eaves inserts is divided into three parts, called ridge tiles. During preparation, remove the protective film from the bottom. During installation, the tile is bent in half and installed by bending along the ridge of the roof. Fastening is done with four roofing nails - two on each side.

The roof ridge made of bituminous tiles is installed with a bend and is fastened with nails

Ridge on a seam roof

The ridge is not specially produced for standing seam roofing. It is formed in the process of installing the roof, and it is called a ridge seam. The device of an even seam joint on the ridge of the roof is an indicator of the skill of the roofer.

On a seam roof, the transition between slopes is made in the form of a ridge seam

For other types of roofs, such as slate, reed or thatch, the ridge material is usually the main covering material.

Photo gallery: ridge strips when using specific roofing materials

For the ondulin ridge, the same material is used as for the main coating

A special ridge is produced for shinglas tiles.

Tiled roof skates are also made of ceramic

A wooden ridge is used on a tattered roof

Roof ridge dimensions

This element is of decisive importance for the quality insulation of the roof from precipitation and the creation of a ventilation system for the under-roof space and roofing cake. The modern building materials industry provides for the production of skates, specialized for each type of roofing.

Flat ridge strip (triangular)

The simplest device with one longitudinal fold. The standard part length is 2 meters and the bend angle is 90 °. This size can be easily changed depending on the angle of convergence of the ramps. The recommended overlap when installing on the roof is 10-15 centimeters. The thickness of the metal is 0.7 mm or more.

The flat ridge is practically universal for many types of surfaces

Ridge bar rectangular (curly U-shaped)

This ridge shape is used to increase the size of the ventilated space. It can be used to mount ridge skates on most types of roof topcoats. The width of the rectangular projection can vary between 20-40 millimeters. It is made by sequential execution of four folds. The standard length is 2 meters, the overlap is 10-15 centimeters.

The rectangular shape of the ridge provides better ventilation in the space below it

Round ridge bar

A plank of this shape is most often used with metal roofing. The standard length is 2 meters. It is made by stamping from sheet metal with a thickness of 0.45–1.0 mm. To give additional rigidity to the parts, transverse stiffening ribs are made. The overlap is determined by the location of the extreme edges, since they are aligned when joining. End caps are used for round ridge strips.

The round ridge strip is most often used with metal roofing

All types and sizes of ridge strips are equipped with seals, depending on the design of the roofing.

Calculation of the height of the roof ridge

The angle of inclination of the roof slope is of great importance for the successful operation of a country house. Too small an angle will contribute to excessive accumulation of snow and, as a result, the possibility of overloading the rafter system. A large angle will form a wide roof area that will carry significant wind loads. If strong winds prevail in the region, this factor can be decisive for determining the life of the entire structure. Obviously, there is a golden mean when both factors in interaction are taken into account. For central Russia, the slope angle of 40 ° plus or minus 5 ° is considered optimal.

To calculate the height of the ridge, it is enough to use basic knowledge from the field of geometry. Initial data:

• the length of the base of the transfer between the support points of the rafter legs;
• the angle of inclination between the rafter leg and the translation;
• table of values of trigonometric functions.

The ridge height is determined by the ratio: H = L: 2 x tg>, where: H - ridge height; L is the distance between the support points of the rafters, it is equal to five meters; tg> is the tangent of the angle, in our case it is 0.83 for an angle of 40 °. So, H = 5: 2 x 0.83 = 2.08 meters.

The height of the ridge is determined by the formula H = L: 2 x tg>, where H is the height of the ridge, L is the distance between the support points of the rafters, tg> is the tangent of the angle

Calculating the height of the roof ridge

If a decision has been made to arrange an attic room, the calculation procedure does not change. In this case, as a rule, a sloping roof is arranged, which makes it possible to increase the volume of the inner space of the attic and at the same time not significantly increase the height of the ridge, especially in case of strong winds in the construction region.

Thus, the height of the ridge is made up of two components - the distance to the horizontal lintel of the rectangular opening and the distance from it to the rafter convergence line. To obtain a larger area, the lower part of the rafter legs is set at a large angle at the base (55–80 °), and the upper one at a small angle (12–30 °).

The sloping (mansard) roof allows you to increase the volume of the roof space for the installation of a living space

The recommended and most commonly used bottom height is 2.3 meters. It remains to determine the distance from the horizontal lintel to the ridge. That is, it is necessary to calculate exactly according to the above algorithm and add 2.3 meters to the result obtained.

To determine the height of the ridge and other parameters of the rafter system, you can find special calculators on the Internet. It is very easy and convenient to use them.

Installation of the roof ridge

A prerequisite for installing a ridge is a solid crate in the space under the ridge of two or three boards, nailed without a gap. The beginning of the installation of the ridge is made from the side opposite to the prevailing direction of the wind in the given area. In this case, the overlap will be on the leeward side.

The installation of the ridge, like the entire roof, must be carried out in dry, calm weather. In this case, it is imperative to use safety devices. Before starting work, do not take strong drugs, and even more so take alcohol.

Installation of a straight ridge

The straight ridge is installed in the following order:

1. Part of the solid crate is covered with a waterproofing polyethylene film. Its minimum thickness must be at least 200 microns.
2. A seal with holes is laid over the waterproofing to ensure ventilation of the space under the ridge. The choice of material for this depends on the type of roofing.

3. Installation of the actual ridge strip is done with self-tapping screws or slate nails. In this case, in any case, it is necessary to use elastic pads. They need to be purchased when completing the material for the roof. The gaskets can be made by yourself using a conveyor belt and tubular notches. Its disadvantage is that it is black and does not always harmonize with the color of the main coating. And this is important for the exterior of the building.

   

   Installation of the ridge bar is done with self-tapping screws or slate nails.

Round ridge strip

The round ridge is most often used when installing metal roofing. When laying, the distance between the edges of two slopes should be no more than 200 millimeters, which will allow it to cover it reliably enough. Further:

1. An air-permeable seal is installed under the bar. It can be replaced with fiberglass or mineral wool, providing blowdowns. The ventilated space under the ridge is formed by a counter grill.
2. Fastening is done with self-tapping screws from the delivery set with elastic washers of the corresponding color.
3. The ends of the skates are closed with caps.

4. An option is possible using additional fixation of the roofing. In this case, a block of 50x100 millimeters is laid on the joint. A metal tape up to 0.5 millimeter thick is installed on top of it, which is attached simultaneously with the edges of the ridge with self-tapping screws.

   

   When installing a round ridge, the distance between the edges of two slopes should be no more than 200 millimeters, which will allow you to reliably overlap it

Rectangular (U-shaped) ridge

The rectangular ridge strip is mounted using a support bar that is installed along the line of the ridge along the line of intersection of the ramps. If the width of the rectangular protrusion is more than 50 millimeters, this part may bend as a result of prolonged operation of the roof. Any suitable material can serve as a seal; foam rubber is often used. Fastening is done with self-tapping screws of a suitable size.

The rectangular ridge is mounted using a support bar that is installed along the line of intersection of the slopes

Video: installation of the roof ridge

How to make a skate on the roof with your own hands

Usually this question does not arise, the construction market is sufficiently saturated with products of this kind. The only justification for the expediency of independent production of ridge strips is the presence in the household of illiquid sheet steel suitable for this purpose. In addition, you need to have at least the rudimentary skills of performing tin work. For the manufacture of ridge strips, you will need special devices and tools.

The material for these products is metal sheets made of steel, copper, aluminum. Their thickness, depending on the type, can be from 0.4 to 1.5 millimeters. Steel sheets can be galvanized, painted or have a polymer protective coating. The task is to bend the workpiece into the desired shape. Wherein:

• damage to the protective coating is not allowed, this is especially true for painted material;
• the folds must be strictly parallel to the axis of the product;
• dents on the surface from the impact of the tool are not allowed;
• all dimensions on individual ridge strips must be strictly the same.

When drawing a ridge, you need to ensure that all dimensions on individual ridge strips are strictly the same

DIY tools for making ridge slats

In order to make the simplest product yourself, you need to have at your disposal special equipment and a roofer tool:

• workbench with a steel corner surfacing with a shelf size of up to 50 millimeters. The shelf is installed on the edge of the workbench, its length should be at least 2000 millimeters by the size of the sheet. The purpose of this part is to form a straight fold;

  

  To make a ridge, you need a workbench with a steel corner surfacing with a shelf size of up to 50 millimeters

• scissors for cutting the sheet into blanks of the desired width. You can use ordinary locksmith scissors, the best option would be to use the appropriate power tool. It is not necessary to purchase it, you can rent it for a short time;

  

  Special power tools for metal cutting can be rented

• screw clamps for fixing the workpiece on the workbench;

  

  A screw clamp is needed to fix workpieces when cutting and bending sheet metal

• wooden mallet for making folds;

  

  Wooden mallet is used for bending metal sheets

• measuring tool and marker for marking;
• an axial fold angle template to control this important dimension can be made from cardboard.

In addition, you will need wooden spacers to prevent slaughter in the place of work with a mallet.

The process of making a ridge bar

To manufacture this part, you need to perform a number of sequential operations:

1. Cut out a workpiece with dimensions of 2000x430 millimeters from a steel sheet.
2. Apply the longitudinal axis of the product with a marker.
3. Fasten the workpiece to the workbench with clamps with an outlet for the edge, beat it by 20 millimeters.
4. Make an edge fold 15 mm long at an angle of 180 °.
5. Remove the workpiece, turn it 180 ° and re-clamp it with clamps with a 20 mm release.
6. Perform the second edge fold in the same way.
7. Reinstall the workpiece along the marking of the central axis, fix with clamps.
8. Bend to the desired angle, controlling it with a template.

The size of the blank depends on the format of the available sheet. Standard lengths of the ridge strip can be as follows: 100-1250-1500-2000 millimeters. The shorter this part, the more joints there will be during installation. The overlap is 10-15 centimeters.

Video: how to bend a sheet of metal at home

The design of the roof ridge is extremely simple, its installation does not require special knowledge and skills. This is also facilitated by the well thought-out design of the named roof element. Adhering to the safety rules and having one assistant, you can install the ridge within one day, thus completing the complex and responsible work of installing the roof.