Dry verges

Reckon

I had a few companies round to give me a quote on replacing the timber soffits, fascias and bargeboards on my house with PVC ones.

I'm a bit unsure as to the proper installation of the dry verges. I thought that the function of the dry verge is to cover the mortar and protect it from the weather. Therefore, I would ask them to take out all the old mortar and re-point and fit the dry verge on.

Recently I learned from someone else who had their property done that this is not the case and that the dry verge system is a replacement of the mortar and all the old mortar needs to be removed and the dry verge pieces screwed directly onto the wooden battens of the roof.

I think that some contractors are taking advantage of my lack of knowledge of the correct installation method and quote me for unnecessary procedures so that they can get more money out of me.

So what I want to know is: what is the correct way to install dry verges? What are its function? A complete alternative to putting cement on your verges? What do you think of them?

*j*

Dry verge systems have been developed by tiling companies to simplify and speed up roofing work. It also makes more money for them, as they didn't make anything from selling and and cement for the mortar mix. They are what seems to be recommended these days.

If you search marley dry verge, redland dry verge, roofing superstore, caseysroofing, you will see lots of info on the systems. I'm guessing that they work well enough if they are what the tiling companies now suggest.