Hip and Ridge Cap Shingles

One high-stress area of a residential roof is where its two faces meet, either at a hip or a ridge. Protecting these areas helps reduce the risk of leaks. Before the advent of shingles purpose-made for hip and ridge caps, roofers typically cut up 3-tab strip shingles and bent them over these areas of the roof. Today, specially made versions of these types of shingles provide better protection while maintaining a roof's aesthetic appeal.

When it's time to talk to a contractor about a roof repair or replacement, knowing the components of a roof and how they help protect your home can help you navigate the decisions you need to make throughout the process.

Roy Campbell may be pushing 60, but it looks like 60 might be too scared to push back. He's the kind of roofer who won't tell his crew to tear off faster. Instead, he'll just sprint up the ladder with a shingle remover and set the pace himself. Setting a mind-boggling pace is a theme with Roy, whose company, Telge Roofing, of Cypress, Texas, recently replaced an 80-year-old VFW roof in about 14 hours, solving a problem that had festered for decades, and opening the door to a full renovation of the local landmark. That's just one reason we're calling Roy a GAF Roof Raiser.

Are you hand-cutting 3-tab shingles instead of using perforated hip and ridge cap shingles? You're not alone. At one time, 3-tab shingles were the market leader, so hand-cutting and installing 3-tabs on ridges and hips was standard practice.