Roofing 101, Part 6: The Importance of Ridge Cap Shingles

GAF Roofers Madison WI Roofing 2So far in our series, we’ve tackled five of the seven layers of a well-constructed roofing system, to give you a clear idea of what to look for when you talk with roofing contractors about roof replacement. The reason having an understanding of all seven layers is so important is because not all roofing contractors employ all seven of them — and this is something you need to be aware of.

Thus far in the series, we’ve covered:

Next up in the series is ridge cap shingles, the “finishing touch” that helps defend against leaks at the hips and ridges.

Before we dive further into ridge cap shingles, we’d like to mention that at Legacy Exteriors our roofing system brand of choice is GAF, who is the number one asphalt roofing company in America. Their products look stunning, and are made to last. If the roofing contractor you hire is a GAF installer — great! If they are a GAF Master Elite installer (like Legacy Exteriors) that is ideal, as to be GAF certified as a Master Elite installer, a roofing company has to meet certain standards including being a licensed roofing installer, being insured for all of the work, and committed to ongoing professional training. 

If the roofing company you choose is not a GAF installer, be sure you are getting a product that is of similar quality — for instance, like Owens Corning asphalt roofing — installed.

With that, let’s dive into GAF ridge cap shingles products. No matter what type of ridge cap shingles you choose, their purpose is to be installed on the hip and ridge areas of your roof in an effort to provide additional protection against leaks. GAF has a nice color selection to complement shingle color, too.

Timbercrest Ridge Cap Shingles Roofers Madison WITimberCrest®Premium SBS‑Modified Ridge Cap Shingles

10″ (254 mm) width impact-resistant ridge cap shingles, with a bullnose rounded edge, accent your new GAF shingle roof.

Additional benefits include:

  • SBS polymer-modified asphalt enhances flexibility and allows TimberCrest to pass the UL 2218 Class 4 impact resistance test, which is good news for homeowners.
  • Dura Grip™ Self-Seal Adhesive seals each piece tightly and reduces the risk of shingle blow-off.
  • Manufactured by GAF to complement GAF shingles.
  • A GREAT warranty: 25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration. Proprietary GAF Time Release Algae-Fighting Technology helps protect your ridge cap shingles from unsightly stains.

GAF Timbertex Madison WI Roof RepairTimberTex®Premium Ridge Cap Shingles

These double layer 12″ (305 mm) width ridge cap shingles provide large exposure, and a dimensional finished look.

Additional benefits include:

  • Large 8″ (203 mm) Exposure, which means there are fewer pieces to install versus typical 3-tab cut-up strip shingles — it also provides a more dramatic appearance on the roof!
  • Dura Grip™ Self-Seal Adhesive seals each piece tightly and reduces the risk of shingle blow-off.
  • A GREAT warranty: 25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration. Proprietary GAF Time Release Algae-Fighting Technology helps protect your ridge cap shingles from unsightly stains.
  • Eligible for a lifetime limited warranty when installed on Lifetime Shingle roofs.

Ridglass Ridge Cap Shingles Roofers Madison WIRidglass®Premium Ridge Cap Shingles

These ridge cap shingles are SBS-modified 10″ (254 mm) width, with a thick leading edge for a dramatic look.

Additional benefits include:

  • Designed with an extra-thick leading edge for a beautiful, real wood-shake look.
  • SBS-modified asphalt helps provide added flexibility and durability.
  • Made by GAF, they complement the color of your GAF Shingle selection.
  • Dura Grip™ Self-Seal Adhesive seals each piece tightly and reduces the risk of shingle blow-off.
  • A GREAT warranty: 25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration. Proprietary GAF Time Release Algae-Fighting Technology helps protect your ridge cap shingles from unsightly stains.

GAF Seal A Ridge Roofers Madison WI Roof RepairSeal-A-Ridge®Ridge Cap Shingles

Durable and cost-effective, these 12″ (305 mm) width ridge cap shingles help protect hips and ridges against blow-off.

Additional benefits include:

  • They’re the perfect, protective finishing touch for your new roof.
  • Seal-A-Ridge® Protective Ridge Cap Shingles offer protection at high stress areas of your roof.
  • They are a key part of the GAF Lifetime Roofing System and have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal.
  • Dura Grip™ Self-Seal Adhesive seals each piece tightly and reduces the risk of shingle blow-off.
  • A GREAT warranty: 25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration. Proprietary GAF Time Release Algae-Fighting Technology helps protect your ridge cap shingles from unsightly stains.

GAF Seal A Ridge AS Madison WI Roofing ContractorsGAF Seal A Ridge AS Madison WI Roofing Contractors 2Seal-A-Ridge® AS SBS-Modified IR Ridge Cap Shingles

These 12″ (305 mm) width SBS-modified impact-resistant ridge cap shingles help protect against extreme weather.

Additional benefits include:

  • They provide extra protection, as Seal-A-Ridge® AS SBS Modified Ridge Cap Shingles may also qualify for insurance discounts when used with certain GAF Shingles.
  • Dura Grip™ Self-Seal Adhesive seals each piece tightly and reduces the risk of shingle blow-off.
  • A GREAT warranty: 25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration. Proprietary GAF Time Release Algae-Fighting Technology helps protect your ridge cap shingles from unsightly stains.
  • It’s also eligible for lifetime limited warranty when installed on Lifetime Shingle roofs.

GAF Z Ridge Madison WI Roofing ContractorsGAF Z Ridge Madison WI Roofing Contractors 2Z®Ridge Distinctive Ridge Cap Shingles

Unique 10″ (254 mm) width ridge cap shingles are made with a Z-fold design and offer the look of thick wood shakes.

Additional benefits include:

  • A uniform look thanks to its machine cut design, which looks considerably cleaner than hand-cut 3-tab strip shingles.
  • Designed by GAF to complement the color of your GAF shingles.
  • This product is eligible for a lifetime limited warranty when installed on Lifetime Shingle roofs.
  • A GREAT warranty: 25-year StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration. Proprietary GAF Time Release Algae-Fighting Technology helps protect your ridge cap shingles from unsightly stains.

This brings us to the end of Part 6 of our series. Next up, we’ll take a look at asphalt roofing shingles!

Learn More

To learn more about GAF roofing solutions, check out our Asphalt Roofing page, which includes details on all of GAF’s asphalt roofing shingles and colors.

Contact Us Anytime …

Whether you would like a complimentary inspection of your roof, or are looking to chat about roof repair or roof replacement, please feel free to contact Legacy Exteriors anytime. We’re always happy to help!