- Noticed the same thing on a few of my older properties. Even with chalk lines, the ridge cap just never sits perfectly straight if the decking’s got dips or humps.
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Couldn’t agree more. I’ve tried both pre-bent and hand-bent—sometimes hand-bending helps, but it’s still not flawless.“Pre-bent ones are never a perfect fit if your ridge is uneven.”
- On one roof, I actually used a little extra roofing cement under the cap in the worst spots. Helped it sit a bit flatter, but you’ve gotta be careful not to overdo it or it’ll look lumpy.
- If the ridge is really wavy, I’ll sometimes use a wider cap to cover more of the unevenness. Doesn’t fix the problem, but it hides it better from the ground.
- Honestly, after a certain point, I just focus on making sure it’s watertight and looks decent from the street. Most folks don’t notice minor waves unless they’re looking for them.
- Anyone ever try shimming under the cap to even things out? I’ve heard mixed results, but haven’t tried it myself.
Tried shimming under the cap once with some scrap shingles—honestly, it was more trouble than it was worth. Ended up with weird bumps and had to rip a section off and start over. Maybe I just don’t have the magic touch. I’m with you, though: if it keeps the water out and doesn’t look like a rollercoaster from the street, I call it a win. My wallet definitely appreciates not having to redo the whole ridge.
if it keeps the water out and doesn’t look like a rollercoaster from the street, I call it a win. My wallet definitely appreciates not having to redo the whole ridge.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d argue that shimming under the cap can actually be a solid fix—if you use the right material and keep things consistent. Scrap shingles are pretty thick, so they can create those bumps you mentioned. I tried using roofing felt as a shim on my place last fall. It’s thinner and easier to shape, so I didn’t end up with any weird humps along the ridge.
I’m in a colder climate, so keeping everything tight is a must or else ice gets in and makes a mess. If you’re dealing with uneven decking or old rafters, sometimes you have to build up one side just a bit. But yeah, if it looks wavy from the street, that’s not great either.
Guess it depends on how picky you are about appearance versus just keeping things watertight. For me, a little extra prep was worth not having to worry about leaks down the line.
I hear you on the “rollercoaster” look—nothing like a wavy ridge to make your house look like it’s auditioning for a theme park. I’ve had to shim spots with felt too, especially on older buildings where nothing’s square. It’s not glamorous, but it beats chasing leaks every spring thaw. Sometimes you just gotta pick your battles: curb appeal or sanity (and a dry attic).
Sometimes you just gotta pick your battles: curb appeal or sanity (and a dry attic).
Honestly, I get wanting to avoid leaks, but I’m not a fan of shimming with felt. It’s a quick fix, but it can compress over time and you’re back to square one. I’ve had better luck ripping up the high spots and planing them down, even if it’s more work up front. Keeps the ridge straighter and looks way cleaner in the long run. Just my two cents—sometimes the extra effort pays off.
