By Charlie the Roofer for Roofline · Published · Checked against the sources listed below
Published UK guides put repointing a typical 10 m ridge at about £200 to £500, replacing it in fresh mortar at about £500 to £700, and a dry ridge system at about £700 to £1,600 on a semi. MyJobQuote gives £1,250 as the average dry ridge job. Scaffolding, hips and the length of the ridge move the price most.
What do the published price guides say?
Most guides put a dry ridge between £700 and £1,600 for an ordinary house, with repointing the cheapest option and a mortar re-bed in between.
- MyJobQuote gives an average of £1,250 for a dry ridge system. Its October 2026 guide lists £500 to £900 for a short terraced ridge, £900 to £1,600 for a standard semi, and £1,600 to £2,500 for a large or complex ridge.
- MyJobQuote prices mortar work in a separate October 2026 guide. It lists £200 to £300 to repoint 10 m of ridge, and £500 to £700 to replace the full ridge on a semi with an 8 to 10 m ridge.
- Trade2base gives June 2026 prices for a 10 m ridge of £300 to £500 to repoint, £500 to £700 for new tiles on fresh mortar beds, and £700 to £1,000 for a dry-fix system.
- Which? gives £80 to £300 to replace a single ridge tile, excluding VAT, from a survey of 11 Which? Trusted Traders in November 2025.
These are other companies' figures, not Roofline's prices.
Which option lasts longest for the money?
A dry ridge, or a re-bed with mechanical fixings, should outlast a repoint, because both hold each ridge tile with a fixing instead of relying on mortar alone.
Marley explains that BS 5534, the British Standard code of practice for slating and tiling, covers repairs as well as new roofs. Since the 2014 revision, ridge and hip tiles must be mechanically fixed whether or not mortar is used. A dry ridge system tested to BS 8612 is one way to comply. A mortar re-bed can also comply if the roofer adds a mechanical fixing kit, so ask whether the quote includes one.
Repointing rakes out the old mortar and replaces it without lifting the tiles. Trade2base calls it a legitimate repair on a roof that is otherwise sound. It adds no fixings, so the ridge still depends on mortar, which Marley says is prone to cracking and weathering. If tiles have already come loose, ask the roofer to explain why a repoint alone would hold them. Our BS 5534 guide explains the rules in more detail.
On heritage properties and listed buildings, Marley notes that mortar bedding without mechanical fixings may still be needed to keep a traditional look, although that work then falls outside BS 5534.
What makes one ridge quote dearer than another?
The length of the ridge and the access needed to reach it set most of the price.
Ridge length and hips
Ridges are priced by the metre. MyJobQuote puts a dry ridge at £40 to £75 per linear metre installed and adds £300 to £400 for each hip. Trade2base prices hip tiles at much the same rate per metre as ridge tiles, so a hipped roof with four sloping edges costs more than a plain gable roof with one ridge.
Scaffolding
MyJobQuote says scaffolding is needed for jobs lasting over an hour on sloping roofs, and puts it at £300 to £900 for a dry ridge job. Trade2base gives £500 to £900 for a standard three-bedroom semi over a two to three week hire.
Old mortar and exposure
MyJobQuote lists £150 to £300 to remove old mortar before a dry ridge goes on. Wienerberger says a proper fixing specification takes account of the roof's altitude and local wind exposure as well as its location. A farmhouse high in the Pennines or a house on the coast at Whitby may need a heavier fixing specification than a sheltered terrace in town.
What should you do if a ridge tile has come off?
Stay off the roof, keep the fallen tile somewhere safe, and send photos so a roofer can see the whole ridge.
Photos taken from the garden, the street or a bedroom window are enough to start. If you can get into the loft safely, look for daylight or damp under the ridge. If wind brought the tile down, our guide to storm damage insurance claims covers what to do next.
Roofline is based in Barnsley and covers Yorkshire. Send a photo on WhatsApp to 07413 797731 for a free itemised quote, or book a free inspection and we will send you photos of what we find. You can read more about our dry ridge, hip and verge work.
Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we think it is and whether it needs a visit. Quotes are free and itemised.
Sources
- Which?, How much do roofers cost? (published 8 May 2026; survey of 11 Which? Trusted Traders, November 2025)
- Marley, What are the fixing requirements of BS 5534?
- Marley, Should I use mortar or dry fix for my ridge and hip tiles? (updated 27 February 2026)
- Wienerberger, Roof tile fixing: why getting it right really matters
- MyJobQuote, Dry Ridge System Installation Cost Guide (UK) (last updated 12 October 2026)
- MyJobQuote, Ridge Tile Replacement Cost (last updated 1 October 2026)
- Trade2base, Roof repair costs UK (8 June 2026, June 2026 prices)
- Trade2base, Roofing pricing guide UK (8 June 2026)
General information about roofing in England, checked against the sources above when published. It is not a substitute for advice about your own roof.
