How do you replace the shingles on a ridge vent?
Short answer. To replace shingles on a ridge vent, remove the damaged cap shingles and their nails, check that the vent underneath is intact, then install new hip and ridge cap shingles over the vent at the manufacturer's exposure, using nails long enough to pass through the cap and the vent into the decking. Seal the exposed nails on the final cap, and lap each piece so the exposed edges face away from the prevailing wind.
Why ridge vent caps fail
- Short nails: standard roofing nails may not reach through a thick vent into the deck, so caps loosen and blow off.
- Wind exposure: the ridge takes the strongest gusts, and Georgia thunderstorms and the remnants of tropical systems often peel caps first.
- Hail: cap shingles are bent over the ridge, so they crack more easily under hail.
- Overdriven nails: crushing the vent breaks the cap's seal.
Replacing them
- Remove damaged caps and pull their nails. Gently break the seal on the cap above the damaged area so the new piece can slide under it.
- Inspect the vent for cracks or crushed sections, and replace any damaged vent sections first.
- Use hip and ridge cap shingles made for that purpose. Many manufacturers sell caps designed to match their shingle lines, which matters for color and warranty.
- Install each cap at the specified exposure, overlapping the previous one, with nails in the designated area long enough to penetrate the decking.
- On the final cap, seal any exposed nail heads with roofing sealant.
- Press the caps down so their seal strips bond in the sun.
Shingle-over ridge vents
Most modern ridge vents are designed to be covered with cap shingles, giving a uniform roof line. Some homes have exposed aluminum ridge vents instead, which are not capped; if those are damaged, replacing them with a shingle-over vent is usually an upgrade.
Insurance note
If wind or hail took caps off, check the rest of the roof too, since the damage may be part of a larger claim. See wind damage to roofs in Georgia and ridge vent vs box vents.