Roof Lantern Ridge and Hip Repairs and Reseals

The ridge is where the hip bars and glazing bars meet at the top of a lantern, usually under a moulded or pressed end cap. It's a complicated junction and a frequent leak point. We reseal, re-seat or replace the ridge and hip caps so water can't get under them.

Ridge end cap and hip bars at the top of an anthracite aluminium roof lantern

What are the signs you need ridge and hip repairs?

Drips near the centre or top of the lantern
A cracked or faded ridge end cap
Sealant around the ridge cap split or missing
Staining along the hip bars inside

What usually causes it?

UV-damaged end caps

Plastic ridge end caps become brittle and crack, especially on south-facing lanterns.

Movement at the junction

Several bars meet at one point and each moves slightly with temperature; the seals at the ridge take the strain.

Poor original sealing

Ridge details are fiddly. If the original sealing was rushed, it's often the first place to leak.

How do we fix it?

Inspect the junctionWe remove the ridge cap where possible and check the connector, bars and seals.
Replace or rebuildCracked caps are replaced; where no matching part exists we make a durable seal and cover detail.
Reseal and testJoints are resealed and water-tested from the ridge down.

Why does the ridge leak more than the rest of the lantern?

It's the most complex junction and the most exposed. Water hits it from every direction, and several cappings and gaskets terminate there. A small gap at the ridge can feed water into more than one bar, which is why ridge leaks sometimes appear in two places at once.

What should you expect to pay for ridge and hip repairs?

Guide price, per lantern£195–£445 ex VAT£234–£534 inc VAT · ridge end cap, hip caps and seals

Guide prices assume a standard lantern on a single-storey roof with safe ladder access. Where a tower or scaffold is needed we add it to the quote (typically £245–£895 ex VAT). Diagnostic visits start from £145 ex VAT. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing before any work starts. See all guide prices.

Where is this on the lantern?

Highlighted in amber: ridge and hip caps.

Questions about ridge and hip repairs

What does a ridge repair cost?

Usually £195–£445 ex VAT for a standard lantern, confirmed in writing before work starts.

My ridge cap is a different colour from the frame — does that matter?

Faded or chalky caps are a sign of UV damage. Colour alone isn't a leak, but brittle caps crack, so we check them.

Can you replace just the ridge cap?

Yes, if a compatible cap is available and the seals underneath are sound.

Where do we carry out ridge and hip repairs?

We cover the whole of the UK. Choose your area for local details and towns we cover.

England

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Get a guide price

Tell us what's happening. We reply with a guide price and the next step — the fixed price is always confirmed in writing before any work starts.

Roof lantern ridge and hip repairs