Do I need to remove the mortar for dry verge caps?

Roofers have said you don’t need to remove the mortar for dry verge caps they just screw on is this true?

Answer(s):

Professional estimator

You will need to find the tile battens as each cap screws to the batten. Also if the mortar is flat and the caps fit nice then you can leave most of the verge there.

John Oliver, John Oliver Roofing Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne 

Absolutely remove old cement you need to expose the battons under the cement then stitch a lath right up the side of the verge for a better hold with the screws you use to fit the plastic verge.

Professional Estimator 

In general, the answer to this question really does depend on the existing roof and mortar and the product planned to be fitted. However this is an excellent reply and accurate

Antony Lister, Antony James Roofing, Street

You will need to remove the mortar and, most likely, the first metre of battens. The battens must overhang the gable to allow the dry verge to be fixed. You must also check the manufacturer’s instructions as this will tell you how far to leave the battens over the gable. ​​​​​You will also need a starter kit for fixing the bottom dry verge unit.

Professional Esimator

You don’t necessarily have to remove all old mortar/cement. The lath mentioned above is just additional support for a new dry verge. You will need to remove the mortar and, most likely the first metre of battens. The battens must overhang the gable to allow the dry verge to be fixed. You must also check the manufacturer’s instructions as this will tell you how far to leave the battens over the gable. You will also need a starter kit for fixing the bottom dry verge unit. I would agree with most of this apart from the point about you must remove all mortar.

Can you fix dry verge to existing roof?

Dry verges can be installed on existing roofs. They are ideal for new build projects. Dry verge installation is a great-looking solution for finishing the verge of a gable end on a roof. Due to the requirement for different fitting options we would recommend hiring a professional dry verge fitter.