A ridge cap is the row of bent shingles that covers the peak of your roof, where two slopes meet at the top. It keeps rain from running into the seam between them. You can spot it from the street as the line of thicker, overlapping pieces along the top.
The short version
- A ridge cap covers the highest seam of the roof. The same kind of cap covers the sloping seams on a hip roof.
- It is a shingle made to bend over the peak, and it goes on last, after the rest of the roof.
- It is nailed down and sealed, so lifted or cracked pieces are an easy way for wind and water to get in.
- Re-securing a loose ridge cap typically runs $350 to $700 in our area.
- A free roof inspection will tell you if the cap needs work or the roof only looks tired.
What does a ridge cap do?
A ridge cap closes the one seam that the regular shingles cannot cover. Shingles run in rows from the eave up to the top, and they stop at the peak. Something has to go over the gap where the two sides meet, or rain would run down into it.
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association describes hip and ridge products as shingles designed specifically to cap (opens in a new tab) the hips and ridges on a roof. A hip is the sloped line where two roof faces meet at an outside corner. A ridge is the flat line across the top. Both get the same treatment.
What is a ridge cap made of?
On an asphalt shingle roof, a ridge cap is a shingle that has been made, or cut, to fold over a peak. The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety says hip and ridge caps are designed to bend more (opens in a new tab) to cover the seams where two roof faces meet. There are two kinds. Some are made at the factory for the job. Others are cut from regular shingles on the roof. This Old House describes the second way: cut individual shingle tabs (opens in a new tab) from full shingles and nail them along the ridge.
How is a ridge cap put on?
It goes on last, one piece at a time, each overlapping the one before it. This Old House says to start at one end and nail the tabs in place, overlapping each by 5 inches (opens in a new tab). The rest of the roof is finished first, so the cap can sit over the top edges of the shingles on both sides.
The nails are what hold it. IBHS says caps are fastened with two roofing nails on each side (opens in a new tab), placed above the sealant strip, and that the manufacturer’s instructions on the wrapper decide the details. It also warns that until shingles are fully sealed, wind and rain pose a risk (opens in a new tab) to the roof. A cap that never sealed down properly is a weak spot from day one.
Weather matters too. Asphalt shingles get stiff in the cold, and the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association says that lifting or bending may cause the shingles to crack (opens in a new tab) during or after installation. It names hip and ridge shingles as a place for extra care, including warming them first. If you can, schedule a ridge job for a mild day.
How can you tell a ridge cap is failing?
Look along the peak for any piece that does not lie flat. From the ground, with binoculars if you have them, you are checking for a line that is no longer straight and tight. You do not need to climb up, and you should not.
Here is what the usual signs mean:
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| A piece lifted at one end | The sealant let go or the nails backed out |
| A crack across the bend | The shingle is old or was bent when cold |
| A gap in the line | A piece is missing |
| A water stain on the ceiling under the peak | Water may be getting in at the top |
A missing or lifted cap does not always mean the whole roof is done. It does mean the top seam is open, and that is the one place rain can reach the roof boards directly. If you find a gap after a storm, our guide on what to do about missing shingles covers the first steps.
Is a ridge cap the same as a ridge vent?
No, though they sit in the same place and are easy to mix up. A ridge cap is the shingle covering. A ridge vent is a vent that lets hot, damp air out of the attic, and the cap is laid over the top of it. So a roof can have a ridge cap with no vent under it, but a ridge vent has a cap over it.
If your roof has a vent under the cap, the cap is covering an opening, so it matters even more that it stays put. We explain how the vent side works in what is a ridge vent.
How much does a ridge cap repair cost?
Re-securing a loose ridge cap typically runs $350 to $700 in the Ellicott City area. That is the low end of what a repair costs, which makes it a small job. A ridge vent repair, which is a bigger job, typically runs $700 to $1,600. These are area ranges, not a quote, and the roof’s pitch and how easy it is to reach change the number.
A ridge cap repair is part of roof repair, which also covers shingles, flashing and pipe boots. On our roof repair page you can see what a repair includes and what it leaves out.
Common questions
How long does a ridge cap last?
It depends on the shingle and the roof, and we do not have a number from a source we trust, so we will not make one up. In general the cap is a shingle like the rest, so it ages with the roof. If the main shingles are worn out, the cap usually is too, which is worth knowing before you pay for a patch.
Can you use regular shingles as a ridge cap?
Yes, and it is a common way to do it. As above, roofers cut tabs from full shingles and fold them over the peak. Factory-made caps are made to bend, so they are the easier choice, but the cut way is a standard method.
Does the ridge cap need nails or sealant?
Both. The nails hold the piece in place, and the sealant strip glues it to the one below. The manufacturer’s instructions say where the nails go, and our piece on how many nails per shingle explains why the count and the spot both matter.
Can I fix a ridge cap myself?
A small repair is possible for someone who works at height every day. For most homeowners the roof peak is the highest and steepest place to be, and a mistake there is a fall. We would leave it to a roofer.
What to do next
If you have spotted a lifted piece, a gap or a stain near the top of the ceiling, have the peak looked at before the next storm. The inspection is free, and our free roof inspection page explains what we check from the roof.
