The National Association of Roofing Contractors defines a roof ridge as the “highest point of a roof, represented by a horizontal line where two roof areas intersect, through the length of the area.” Basically, if your roof has two main planes that meet to form a peak, you have a ridge. This is important to know for many reasons. Read on for helpful information about ridge boards and ridge joists, including their role in the overall performance and life of your roofing system.

Ridges and roof beams

First, it’s important to understand that “ridge board” and “ridge beam” are interchangeable terms, so they mean the same thing. These terms will also be used interchangeably in this article.

Traditional house framing is sometimes referred to as “stick framing” in the residential construction and construction industry. Essentially, this style of construction consists of a basic roof frame with opposing sets of rake rafters that meet at their highest points in a ridge rafter. Ridge boards have wide edges and are placed between two opposing roof joists. Each rafter is angle cut at its ends so that they lie perfectly flat against each side of the inserted ridge board.

triangular roof formation

Ridge beams come in lumber sizes 1 x 8, 2 x 8, or larger. Typically, metal framing connectors and nails are used to attach the rafters to the ridge. This provides several advantages, including strong structural connections, lateral stability, and rigid column roof formation. Horizontal boards called “joists” are used to hold the joists together at their bottom ends, typically forming the upper story roof frame and attic floor of a home.

All of these roof components assemble into a triangular shape that provides attic space, structural durability, and much more. In addition to traditional wooden frames and ridge boards, there are other versions as well. Common examples include wood frame ridge boards, modern ridge boards, and precast truss roofs.

Professional advice on roofing

Regular roof inspections are an important part of routine roof maintenance and protection. Catching small problems early on is the best method to avoid costly, large-scale roof repairs or replacements. For questions about roof care, repair and replacement, talk to a licensed roofing contractor for information and advice you can trust. They can help you decide which roofing system best suits your property, budget and comfort needs.

If roof replacement isn’t what you need, they can provide a full property inspection, assess your roof’s current condition and needs, and recommend the best course of action to improve the quality of your roof.