That’s fair—planing down the high spots is a pain, but you only have to do it once if you do it right. I’ve tried the felt trick before and, like you said, it settles and the ridge gets wavy again. It’s tempting to go for the quick fix when you’re tired and just want to be done, but I’ve always regretted it later. Hang in there... the extra time now saves a headache down the road.
I hear you on the temptation to just slap something down and call it good, especially when your arms are dead from hauling shingles all day. I tried the fast way once—used extra felt and hoped for the best. Sure enough, a year later that ridge looked like a roller coaster. Ended up redoing it anyway. Taking the time to plane things flat up front really does make a difference, even if it’s a drag in the moment.
Been there, done that—rushing through the ridge install just to get it over with. Last summer, I figured I’d save myself some time and skipped leveling out a couple of high spots on the ridge. Looked fine at first, but by the end of winter, the shingles were all wavy and a couple even cracked. Ended up pulling half of them off and redoing it anyway. Lesson learned.
Here’s what’s worked for me since: First, I always check the ridge for humps or dips and use a hand plane or even a belt sander to even things out. Takes maybe an extra hour, but it’s worth it. Next, I snap a chalk line dead center so I don’t start drifting off course—easy to do when you’re tired. When laying the shingles, I overlap them just enough and make sure each one’s tight before nailing down. If you’re dealing with weird angles or an uneven roof deck, sometimes you’ve just got to shim it with a bit of scrap wood.
It’s a pain in the moment, but fixing it later is way worse. Trust me on that one...
That’s a solid rundown. I see so many issues crop up from folks skipping prep work, especially on older roofs where the ridge isn’t perfectly straight anymore. The wavy shingle thing is a classic—hard to spot at first but it’ll come back to haunt you once the weather settles in. I’ve inspected plenty of jobs where minor unevenness led to premature wear or even leaks right along the ridge.
One thing I’d add: ventilation at the ridge can get overlooked when folks are focused on shingle alignment. If the ridge vent isn’t installed flush because of humps or dips, you can end up with gaps that let water or critters in, or just reduce airflow. I’ve seen some creative fixes after the fact—lots of caulk and foam, but it’s never as clean as doing it right from the start.
Curious if you’ve run into issues with fastener placement on those uneven spots? Sometimes nails don’t seat properly if there’s a dip under the shingle, which can lead to loose tabs or even blow-offs in high wind. I usually recommend folks double-check nail depth and angle, especially if they had to shim or sand down the ridge.
Also, do you find certain shingle brands are more forgiving when it comes to slight imperfections in the ridge? Some seem stiffer and less likely to settle in over time, while others will sort of "mold" themselves a bit better. Wondering if anyone else has noticed that, or if it’s just luck of the draw with batches.
Always amazed how much time you can save later by spending an extra hour up front... though I’ll admit, sometimes after a long day, it’s tempting to just slap them down and call it good.
- Oh man, the “wavy ridge” is the story of my life with these old buildings. I swear, every time I think I’ve got a straight line, I step back and it’s like a rollercoaster up there.
- Fastener placement on uneven spots? Yep, been there. Had a guy once who thought he could just “muscle” the nails in—ended up with half of them sticking out like little hats. Wind caught those tabs and we had shingle confetti after the first storm. Now I tell folks: if you feel resistance, don’t force it—shim or sand it down, or you’ll be chasing leaks for years.
- Ventilation is another one that bites people later. I’ve seen more than a few “creative” fixes too... One guy used expanding foam to fill a gap and ended up blocking half the vent. Squirrels loved it though—free insulation for their new penthouse suite.
- As for shingle brands, I’ve noticed CertainTeed seems to flex a bit more on weird ridges compared to GAF, which always feels stiffer to me. But honestly, sometimes it’s just luck of the batch—had one delivery where every shingle was warped like a potato chip.
- Totally agree about spending extra time up front. Every time I try to rush it because I’m hungry or tired, something comes back to haunt me (usually in the form of an angry tenant calling about a drip right over their bed).
- One trick that’s saved me: run a chalk line even if the ridge looks straight by eye. It’s amazing how much your brain lies to you when you’re tired and sweaty.
- And yeah... after 10 hours on a roof in July, “good enough” starts sounding pretty tempting. But then you remember who has to answer the phone when it leaks.
Anyway, if anyone figures out how to make 100-year-old rafters line up perfectly without tearing off half the roof, let me know. Until then, guess we’ll keep shimming and hoping for mild weather...
