Ridge cap damage means the cap shingles along the roof’s peak and hips are cracked, creased, split or missing. Caps fail first because they are bent over the ridge, sit in the fastest wind and take hail head-on. Cut-up field shingles used as caps make it worse, because they are not made to bend and carry lower wind ratings. The repair is new manufacturer cap shingles nailed per the cap instructions, with the ridge vent checked underneath. This page is general information; your roofer makes the final call on your home.
On this page: Signs · Causes · What to check · Repairs · Basis · When to call
Signs of ridge cap damage
- Missing caps that leave the ridge vent or bare ridge exposed.
- Cracks across the fold of each cap, often in a row.
- Caps lifted or creased by wind, sometimes all facing the same way.
- Round dark marks or broken edges on caps after hail.
- Leaks or wind-driven snow in the attic near the peak.
Why ridge caps fail
- Hail. IBHS lists ridge caps as especially vulnerable to hail on asphalt roofs.
- Wind. Air speeds up over the peak and pulls on the cap edges.
- Cold bending. Caps installed in cold weather can crack at the fold if they are bent before they warm.
- Wrong product. Scrap laminates and three-tab pieces crack at the fold and carry lower wind ratings.
- Short nails or wrong nail spot over a ridge vent, so the caps hold only to the vent, not the deck.
Ground checks
- Stand far enough back to see the whole ridge and each hip with binoculars.
- Look for gaps, dark patches and lifted pieces along the line.
- Check soft metals on the roof and gutters for hail dents if a storm came through.
- In the attic, check near the peak for daylight, stains or snow after a storm.
Repairs
| Repair | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Replace individual damaged caps with matching manufacturer caps | A few caps are cracked or missing |
| Replace the full ridge and its vent | Many caps are damaged, or the vent is crushed or brittle |
| Replace the roof including hips and ridge | The field shingles are also damaged or near end of life |
Fixes that fail: gluing cracked caps back down, laying new caps over old ones, and cutting field shingles into caps where the manufacturer requires a cap product.
Manufacturer basis
Owens Corning’s starter and hip and ridge bulletin (Pub. 10023709-A, August 2023) says its lifetime shingle instructions call for an Owens Corning hip and ridge shingle, that scrap laminates are not acceptable as ridge cap because they are designed to lie flat, and that three-tab shingles carry only a 60 mph wind warranty versus 110 or 130 mph for its hip and ridge products. Its Duration STORM and FLEX instructions say a shingle-over ridge vent affects the impact classification of the impact-resistant hip and ridge. IBHS’s hail guidance names ridge caps as especially vulnerable. More on hail inspections is in hail damage or normal wear.
When to call
Call after hail or high wind, when you see gaps along the ridge, or when snow shows up in the attic near the peak. Related guides: creased and unsealed shingles, roof vent leaks and the roof problems guide.
Get the ridge looked at
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. We photograph every hip and ridge and the vent beneath, so you can see what a repair would replace. Colorado Springs area: (719) 488-2800 or a free inspection. Denver metro: (303) 209-0152 or a free Denver inspection. Austin: (512) 610-5897 or a free Austin inspection. Same-business-day reply.
Sources: IBHS, Is it hail damage?; Owens Corning, Use of Hip and Ridge and Starter with Limited Lifetime (Pub. 10023709-A); Owens Corning Duration STORM and FLEX installation instructions.
