A ridge cap is the covering installed along the top of a roof where two slopes meet, and along the hips, to seal the joint and shed water. It is a separate piece from the field shingles, and it is one of the last items installed on a new roof. Think of it as the roof's finishing seal at the highest, most exposed lines.
Where are the ridge and the hips?
The ridge is the horizontal line at the top where two slopes come together. A hip is the sloping line where two roof planes meet on the outside corner of a hip roof. Both are called out in a scope, and the ridge cap material usually runs along both. The inside meeting line, where two slopes form a low point, is a valley, which gets different treatment.
What does a ridge cap do?
- Seals the seam. The ridge is where the top rows of shingles from each side end. Without a cap, there would be an open joint.
- Sheds water. The cap overlaps both sides so water runs down and off.
- Adds a finished look. The line of the roof reads clean from the street.
- Can work with ventilation. On homes with a ridge vent, the cap goes over the vent opening so air can leave the attic while weather stays out.
What types are there?
| Type | What it is | Common notes |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose-made ridge cap shingles | Shingles made for hips and ridges, usually thicker and pre-shaped | Often from the same product line as the field shingles |
| Cut and bent field shingles | Standard shingles cut into pieces and folded | Used on some jobs; ask whether the manufacturer allows it for the product |
| Cap over a ridge vent | Cap installed on top of a ridge vent product | Must be compatible with the vent product |
| Metal ridge cap | Formed metal covering | Common on metal roofing and some accents |
Which type is right depends on the shingle line and the manufacturer's instructions. A matching, purpose-made cap is typically the cleanest answer for a standard shingle roof, but ask your roofer to explain the plan for your house.
How does it connect to ventilation?
Warm air collects at the top of an attic, and a ridge vent lets it out through a slot cut along the peak. The ridge cap then covers that vent. Whether a ridge vent is right for a house depends on the attic layout and the vent plan. We compare options in ridge vent vs box vents, and the broader topic is in roof ventilation basics. For a quick definition of vents in general, see what is a roof vent.
How is a ridge cap installed?
- The field shingles are brought up to the ridge from each side.
- Where a ridge vent is used, the slot and vent product are installed first.
- Cap pieces are laid along the ridge in overlapping order, facing away from the prevailing weather direction in the manufacturer's instructions.
- Fasteners are placed where the instructions call for and covered by the next piece.
- Hips are capped the same way, working up from the bottom.
What goes wrong with ridge caps?
Because they sit on the highest and most exposed lines, ridge caps take sun, wind and impacts first. Common issues include lifted or missing pieces, cracking, nails backing out, and gaps at a vent. Many of these are visible from the ground as a ragged or missing line along the peak. If you notice something, photograph it from the ground and call a roofer. Do not climb up to look.
Our crews' view is that ridge cap is not a place to economize on product or time, because small problems there are exposed to weather every day. That is our opinion and practice, not a rule for every roof.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ridge cap the same as the ridge vent? No. A ridge vent is an airflow product. The ridge cap is the covering that goes on top of it, or on top of the ridge when no vent is used.
Do hips need ridge cap too? Yes. Hips are typically covered with the same type of cap.
Does a new roof include a new ridge cap? It normally does. See what a roof replacement includes for the full list.
Can I replace just the ridge cap? Sometimes, if the rest of the roof is sound. A roofer can tell you whether it makes sense after looking at the whole roof.
Does the ridge cap color have to match the shingles? Usually it is chosen to match the shingle line. Ask your roofer what the line offers.
Is a ridge cap a wind vulnerability? It is an exposed location, which is why proper fastening matters. Ask about the installation method.
Talk to us about your roof
Total Roof Protection OKC can look at the peaks and hips of your roof and explain what we see. Call 405-415-5841 to set up an inspection. We will describe the roof as it is, with no promises about any outcome.