Asphalt composition ridge cover with improved ridge bend

Abstract

Asphalt composition ridge cover formed from an approximately rectangular sheet of asphalt composition roofing material. The sheet of asphalt composition material is bent around a radius along a longitudinal centerline. The roofing material may be bent by pressing the roofing material into a resilient pad with a tool having the radius. The roofing material may include an accordion folded section to support an overlapping ridge cover. The accordion folded section may include a relief for the bend around a radius.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of roofing, and more particularly to preformed asphalt composition roof ridge, hip, and rake covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In building construction, the roof is a vital element for protecting the structure, particularly against the intrusion of moisture such as rain water. Many different forms of roofing are known with various advantages and disadvantages. Asphalt composition shingle roofs are a widely used form of roofing. An asphalt composition roof made up of individual shingles is a relatively durable, light-weight and inexpensive roof. Such a roof may have a weight of approximately 235 pounds per hundred square feet and is fairly easily and quickly installed. The asphalt is not easily ignited and fire resulting from hot ashes falling on the roof is further inhibited by the granular surface on such roofs.

[0003] As may be seen in FIG. 1, a shingle roof is typically made up of a number of sloping roofing planes that intersect along ridge lines 20 and hip lines 22. Sloping edges of the roofing planes that do not intersect another roofing plane or other surface form rake lines 23. The free hanging unsloped lower edge of a roofing plane forms an eve line (not shown). It is important that the ridge lines 20 and hip lines 22, which occur at the intersection of the upper portions of two intersecting roofing planes be covered by a durable roofing component that protects these edges and prevents the intrusion of moisture. This is typically accomplished by covering the ridge lines 20 and hip lines 22 with ridge covers 24. A ridge cover is basically a special shingle that includes a bend along a ridge line of the ridge cover to provide two surfaces seamlessly joined along the ridge line. The two surfaces of the ridge cover are disposed at substantially the same angle as the two intersecting roofing planes to be covered by the ridge cover. Thus a ridge line 20 or hip line 22 can be covered in a way that eliminates open seams along the upper edges of the roofing planes that would otherwise allow moisture to run under the shingles covering the roofing plane. Ridge covers may also be used to cover the exposed edges of the shingles along rake lines 23 or eve lines. Covering rake lines 23 or eve lines is typically done primarily for aesthetic reasons. It will be appreciated that ridge covers that include the present invention may be used to cover ridge lines 20, hip lines 22, rake lines 23, eve lines, and for any other application of asphalt composition roofing material that includes a bend similar to the ridge line bend of a ridge cover.

[0004] Various types of asphalt composition ridge covers are known in the prior art. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,294 to Freiborg. A persistent concern for ridge covers is the durability of the ridge cover, particularly along the ridge bend. The ridge cover is installed on portions of the roof that are most exposed and vulnerable to deterioration due to weathering. The ridge bend is, in turn, at the most vulnerable area of the ridge cover. Further, any breach in the integrity of the sealing provided by the ridge covers can allow moisture to get below the roof covering causing further deterioration of the roofing system as a whole.

[0005] Asphalt composition material is prone to cracking when bent or folded. This is of particular concern with respect to the ridge bend of a ridge cover because creating a ridge bend, particular when done in the field during installation of the roofing system, can compromise the asphalt composition material in the area of the ridge bend, one of the most vulnerable points of the roofing system. Various techniques have been used to create a ridge cover that is more durable and less susceptible to cracking along the ridge line. See for example U.S. Patent RE36,858 for a ridge cover made from an asphaltic material modified to improve its flexibility. It is desirable to provide asphalt composition ridge covers that are less susceptible to cracking along the ridge line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a drawing of a portion of a building roof illustrating the appearance of the ridge cover of the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 2 shows a rectangle of asphalt composition material.

[0008] FIG. 3 shows a ridge cover including the present invention with a typical configuration for installation.

[0009] FIG. 4 shows a ridge cover including the present invention with a typical configuration for packaging.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross section of a ridge cover during impact forming of a ridge bend.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 1 showing a ridge cover that uses accordion folding to provide an aesthetic appearance.

[0012] FIG. 7 shows the configuration of an unfolded ridge cover that uses accordion folding and the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 8 shows the accordion folds in the ridge cover of FIG. 8 in plan view.

[0014] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the ridge cover of FIG. 8 fully formed including a ridge bend according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 10 shows the configuration of another unfolded ridge cover that uses accordion folding and the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the ridge cover of FIG. 10 fully formed including a ridge bend according to the present invention.

[0017] FIGS. 12A and 12B are a cross section taken along line 12--12 of FIG. 11.

[0018] FIG. 13 shows the configuration of another unfolded ridge cover that uses accordion folding and the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the ridge cover of FIG. 13 fully formed including a ridge bend according to the present invention.

[0020] FIGS. 15A and 15B are a cross section taken along line 15--15 of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] First referring to FIG. 1, an illustration of a ridge cover 24, as installed on a typical roof, may be seen. It is to be understood that the phrase "ridge cover", as used herein, is used in the broad sense to include hip covers, rake pieces, and the like, and is used merely as a convenient phrase for identifying all such covers. Asphalt composition ridge covers may be applied along a ridge line 20, a hip line 22, a rake line 23, eve line, or generally at any intersection of two roof planes or edge of a roof plane, and for any other application of asphalt composition roofing material that includes a bend similar to the ridge line bend of a ridge cover.

[0022] In its simplest form, a ridge cover for an asphalt composition roof can be an approximately rectangular sheet of roofing material bent along its centerline to substantially the same angle as the angle formed by the roofing surfaces where they meet at the ridge line of the roof.

[0023] In the description and in the claims, the phrase "approximately rectangular" is used to distinguish from round, oval, triangular or other shapes departing substantially from a rectangular shape, and includes among other shapes, truly rectangular shapes, four sided shapes wherein two opposite sides are parallel and the other two sides are somewhat non parallel so as to define a member having a somewhat tapered width (see FIG. 2 for example), and stepped and notched shapes that introduce various cutouts into a generally rectangular shape. It will be appreciated that the particular overall shape of the ridge cover is not significant to the present invention. The term "substantially" is used in the description and in the claims to indicate a limitation that is met with a tolerance that is consistent with the normal variations found in producing the limiting conditions by normal commercial means.

[0024] Asphalt composition roofing material is characterized by a mat or roving of fibrous material typically saturated with asphalt, and having a layer of asphalt bonding inorganic granules to the top surface of the roofing material. The mat may be an organic mat, or an inorganic mat such as a fiberglass mat, and the asphalt may have or include a modifier, locally or throughout, to make the material more flexible, particularly in cold weather, though one of the features of the present invention is the minimization of the need for a flexiblizer. Generally the selection of the mat material, the granule color, etc. will be coordinated with the same parameters for the shingles on the roof for overall physical and visual compatibility. It will be appreciated that the specific type of asphalt composition material is not significant to the present invention.

[0025] It will be appreciated that when any material is bent, the outer surface of the bend is placed in tension and the inner surface is compressed. It will also be appreciated that asphalt composition roofing material is a complex elastomeric material with non-uniform properties and behavior that is not accurately described with reference to models based on ideal materials. Nonetheless, it is known that asphalt composition roofing material is susceptible to cracking along lines where it has been bent. Cracking may occur during the bending operation or later when the material ages or is exposed to adverse conditions. Asphalt composition roofing material becomes brittle when cold and it can be virtually impossible to bend without material failure at temperatures that can be encountered when installing a roof, particularly if the ambient temperatures is below 50.degree. F. While asphalt composition ridge covers can be made at the time of roofing installation either from specially cut material that is folded by the installer or from field shingle material that is cut and folded by the installer, bending and folding at the time of installation produces ridge covers that are highly susceptible to cracking along the folds and bends.

[0026] The present invention provides asphalt composition ridge covers that are less susceptible to cracking along the folds and bends by providing a ridge cover that is preformed. Preforming is carried out under conditions that reduce the stresses on the asphalt composition material. The forming operations may be carried out at elevated temperatures that allow the asphalt composition material to be bent or folded more easily. Preferably the bending and folding are done at above 150.degree. F. and more preferably between 180.degree. F. and 220.degree. F. These operations may be carried out with tooling that allows the forming to be performed more consistently and without introducing stress concentrations that can lead to localized cracking or other damage to the asphalt composition material.

[0027] The bend that forms the ridge line is the most important bend in terms of overall durability of the ridge cover as a part of the roofing system. It has been discovered that making the ridge bend around a radius provides a ridge cover that is less susceptible to cracking along the ridge line. It has been found that a ridge cover manufactured with a preformed bend according to the invention exhibits improved durability along the ridge line as compared to other ridge covers, and particularly as compared to ridge covers that are bent or folded at the time of installation. The inventive ridge cover makes the ridge line bend around a radius to produce less tension on the outer surface of the bend. Preferably the bending is done at elevated temperatures to improve the elasticity of the material during bending. Preferably the bending along the ridge line is done by an impact forming method described below to improve the characteristics of the material in the bent region.

[0028] In the description herein and as used in the claims, the phrase "bent around a radius" is used to mean a bend that is formed such that the inner surface of the bent material has a substantial radius as compared to the thickness of the material such that the tension introduced in the outside surface of the bent material is substantially less than it would be if the material were bent over a sharp edge. Asphalt composition roofing material typically has a thickness of about one-eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch. A bending radius of one-eighth inch has been found to be satisfactory for bending ridge covers made from a single thickness of roofing material. Larger radii can be used but the radius may be limited by other concerns such as the overall folding geometry of the ridge cover or packaging considerations.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows an asphalt composition ridge cover 24 before bending. The generally rectangular sheet of asphalt composition material has a forward first end 30 that is wider than an opposing rear second end 32 so that the forward first end of each successive ridge cover will fully cover the rear second end of the preceding ridge cover during installation. The two side edges 34 of the ridge cover taper from front to rear. In another embodiment, the steps may have a notch or step to reduce the width of the ridge cover at the rear portion and to provide a reference to set the overlap of ridge covers during installation. The outline form of the ridge cover is not significant to the present invention.

[0030] A ridge bend is formed in the ridge cover 24 in the area indicated by the dashed lines 36. The ridge bend is generally formed along a line connecting the midpoint of the front end 30 to the midpoint of the rear end 32. The ridge bend 36 is formed around a radius as may be seen in the end view of the ridge cover 24 in FIG. 4. Preferably the ridge bend 36 is formed through nearly 180.degree. such that the two sides 34 are substantially parallel as shown in FIG. 5. Bending the ridge cover so that the two sides meet or nearly meet is generally advantageous for packaging. It also ensures that the ridge covers will always be opened rather than folded for installation.

[0031] While the inventive ridge bend may be made by any technique that produces a bend around a radius, it has been found that the ridge line bend may be advantageously formed by an impact forming method. A cross section of the ridge cover 24 is shown during impact forming in FIG. 5. The outer surface 38 of the unbent ridge cover, which is typically coated with granules such as crushed rock, is supported on a resilient surface 40, such as a soft rubber block. A tool 42 having the bending radius is pressed into the ridge cover 24 to bend the ridge cover along the ridge line 36. Preferably the rubber block 40 is a soft solid rubber about one inch thick. The tool 42 may be a steel bar about one-quarter inch thick with a rounded edge as shown or a round steel bar about one-quarter inch in diameter. Preferably the tool is pressed into the ridge cover 24 about one-fourth of an inch after the tool makes contact with the inside surface 39 of the ridge cover 24. It is believed that this impact forming method of bending may be advantageous because the resilient surface 40 supports the outer granule covered surface 38 in the ridge bend region 36 and presses the granules into the outer surface during bending. This may improve the bonding of the granules to the asphalt composition material, particularly if the material is warm during the impact forming process, and thus provide a more durable material along the ridge line 36. It is also believed that the impact forming may support both surfaces 38, 39 of the ridge cover 24 in the ridge bend region 36 as it is bent to provide more uniform material properties of the bent region 36 after bending and thereby reducing discontinuities that cause stress concentrations that could develop into cracks and failures. It is also believed that the impact forming may provide a calendering effect wherein the fibers of mat material are compressed in the ridge bend region 36 to provide a thinner, more dense material that is more durable and more easily bent.

[0032] It will be appreciated that preforming ridge covers prior to installation allows the ridge covers to be formed from asphalt composition material that is warmed. Warming softens the asphalt material that impregnates the fibrous material and improves the pliability of the asphalt composition for subsequent bending and folding operations. The temperature of the asphalt composition material is typically elevated to above 150.degree. F., preferably to between 180.degree. F. and 220.degree. F., for the bending and folding operations. It will be appreciated that heating the asphalt composition material to these temperatures and handling the heated material for bending and folding at the time of installation would be difficult. Thus there is a significant advantage to manufacturing and shipping a preformed asphalt composition ridge cover.

[0033] The preformed ridge covers are preferably packaged and delivered folded so that the ridge cover is opened rather than folded during later installation. When the ridge cover is opened, the outer surface of the bend is compressed rather than stretched. Thus the field installation operation needed to prepare the ridge cover for installation is less stressful to the critical ridge bend region. This reduces the likelihood that the ridge bend region will be compromised even if the field operation is carried out under less than ideal conditions, such as being performed in cold weather.

[0034] A simple ridge cover of the type described above provides a satisfactory sealing of ridge lines and the use of a ridge bend according to the present invention provides a durable seal. However, asphalt composition material is relatively thin and asphalt composition shingle roofs tend to have a flat non-dimensional appearance. U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,294 to Freiborg discloses an asphalt composition ridge cover that uses additional folding to provide a ridge cover with a more dimensional appearance for the purpose of improving the aesthetic appearance of the roofing system. FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of ridge covers 124 of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,294 ('294 type ridge covers) taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 1. Considering two adjacent ridge covers where a first ridge cover 124a is partially covered by a succeeding ridge cover 124b, the preceding ridge cover 124a includes an accordion fold section 140a that supports the forward end 130b of the succeeding ridge cover 124b. This creates the appearance of ridge covers 124 with a substantial thickness.

[0035] The use of a ridge bend around a radius can be applied to '294 type ridge covers to improve the durability of the ridge covers in the area of the ridge bend 136. FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a '294 type ridge cover before folding. The ridge cover is accordion folded along the indicated broken lines 148, 150, 152, 154 to create the thickened accordion folded section 140 as shown in FIG. 8. The ridge cover is then bent around a radius according to the present invention to form the ridge bend 136. It will be appreciated that the accordion folded section 140 must be relieved in the area of the ridge bend 136 to allow folding along the ridge bend. U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,294 discloses the use of a T-shaped cut 156 to permit folding of the ridge bend 136.

[0036] The transformation of the T-shaped cut 156 through folding can be described by referring to the points at the intersection of stem and crossbar of the T 142, the two ends of the T crossbar 144, and the base of the T stem 146. When the ridge cover 124 is accordion folded as shown in FIG. 8, the intersection of the T 142 and the base of the T 146 are substantially coincident. The asphalt composition material is uncut along the ridge line from the midpoint of the front end to the base of the T 146 and from the intersection of the T 142 to the midpoint of the rear end 132. Thus, the bottom layer of asphalt composition material is uncut along the ridge line except for a discontinuity at the rear edge of the accordion folded section 140. All the layers of the accordion folded section 140 other than the bottom layer are cut along the ridge line by the stem of the T-shaped cut 156. Only the bottom layer of asphalt composition material in the accordion folded section 140 requires bending to form the ridge bend 136.

[0037] When the ridge bend is formed in a '294 type ridge cover according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 9, the cross-bar cut of the T-shaped cut 156 allows the corners of the top layer of asphalt composition material in the accordion folded section 140 at the intersection of the stem and crossbar of the T 142 to move away from each other to accommodate the thickness of the accordion folded section 140. The ridge bend is preferably formed according to the present invention prior to making the accordion folds to simplify the manufacturing process, although the ridge bend may be formed after the accordion folding as well. It will be appreciated that the transition from the bottom layer of asphalt composition material in the accordion folded section 140 to the next higher layer occurs at the base of the T stem 146. This point is constrained and the accordion folded section 140 is relatively inflexible. As a result, the '294 type ridge cover will tend to press inwardly at the base of the T stem 146 and fold the ridge cover sharply along the ridge line in the vicinity of the base of the T stem 146. This can increase the likelihood of cracking in this area as compared to the remaining portion of the ridge bend which is formed around a radius according to the present invention.

[0038] Another embodiment of a ridge cover 224 that uses a ridge bend 236 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10-12. In this embodiment, an I-shaped cut 256 is made to permit folding of the ridge bend 236. FIG. 10 shows an exemplary i-shaped cut 256. The second cross-beam of the I, closest to the forward end 230 of the ridge cover 224, allows the corners of the layer of asphalt composition material above the bottom layer in the accordion folded section 240 at the intersection of the stem and lower crossbar of the I 246 to move away from each other to accommodate the thickness of the ridge bend around a radius 236 as may be seen in FIG. 11. This prevents the accordion folded section 240 from pressing inwardly on the ridge bend 236.

[0039] As may be seen in FIG. 12A, a cross-section along line 12--12 of FIG. 11, the ridge bend around a radius 236 of each ridge cover 224 is unsupported against inward lateral pressure. FIG. 12B illustrates the effect of a lateral compression force, indicated by the arrows 260, on an exemplary ridge cover 224. Such a lateral force might result from the stacking of a number of ridge covers 224 for shipping or storage. The accordion folded sections 240 press inwardly against the sides 234 of the ridge cover 224 and may compress the ridge bend around a radius 236 resulting in a sharp fold in the vicinity of the folded accordion section 240 that is susceptible to cracking.

[0040] Another embodiment of a ridge cover 324 that uses a ridge bend 336 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 13-15. In this embodiment, a cutout 354 is used to provide clearance or relief for the ridge bend around a radius 336 in the vicinity of the accordion folded section 340. The cutout may be a generally rectangular aperture located across the ridge bend on one or more layers of the accordion folded section 340. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-15, the aperture is formed in the first and second layers of material above the bottom layer of the accordion folded section 340. The aperture in the first layer, defined by side edges 352, is wider than in the aperture in the second layer, defined by side edges 350, in the embodiment shown. The sides 350, 352 of the apertures are substantially parallel to the line of the ridge bend 336 with the line of the ridge bend being substantially at the midline between the sides.

[0041] As may be seen in FIGS. 14 and 15A, when the embodiment of a ridge cover 324 with the cutout 354 is folded, the cutout provides a relief adjacent to the ridge bend around a radius 336. As may be seen in FIG. 15B, when a lateral compression force, indicated by the arrows 360, is applied to the exemplary ridge cover 324 with a cutout 354, the sides 334 of the ridge cover can meet to support the lateral compression force without creating a sharp fold in the vicinity of the folded accordion. It will be appreciated that the distance between the one or more sides 350, 352 in the cutout, as well as the number of layers in the accordion folded section 340 that include the cutout can be varied and that the radius of the ridge bend and the thickness of the asphalt composition material may affect the preferred configuration of the cutout 354 for a particular embodiment of a ridge cover.

[0042] Roofing is subject to wind forces that can cause the roofing material to lift away from the roof deck and, in extreme cases, be torn away from the roof deck. It may be desirable to adhesively fasten the exposed leading end 330 (FIG. 13) to the ridge cover below to resist wind lifting. A wind seal adhesive is typically provided on preformed ridge covers by applying areas of an adhesive that will develop a strong bond with solar heating and the pressure of the installed ridge covers on the wind seal adhesive. While the wind seal adhesive requires heat and pressure to develop a strong bond, it is somewhat tacky under storage conditions. Typically a release tape or other form of release agent is required to prevent ridge covers from adhering to one another or transferring adhesive to undesired areas. The use of release tape is undesirable because it must be removed at the time of installation, creating extra work during installation and litter on the job site.

[0043] The use of a ridge bend around a radius permits a wind seal adhesive to be applied without requiring a release tape or other form of release agent. The application of a wind seal adhesive in connection with a ridge bend around a radius is illustrated with reference to the embodiment of a ridge cover 324 shown in FIG. 13. Two strips of wind seal adhesive 356, 358 are applied adjacent to the leading end 330 of the ridge cover 324. The strips of adhesive 356, 358 are applied on the lower surface of the ridge cover opposite the upper surface which may be coated with granules. One strip 356 is applied closer to the leading end 330 than the other strip 358 so that the two strips do not face each other when the ridge cover is bent around a radius to form the ridge bend 336. Thus when the ridge cover 324 is folded for storage or shipping, each of the strips of wind seal adhesive 356, 358 is on the inside of the ridge cover facing uncoated asphalt composition material. The ridge bend around a radius 336 causes the sides 334 of the ridge cover 324 to be spaced apart as may be seen in FIG. 15A. While the sides 334 of the ridge cover 324 may be pressed together in the vicinity of the accordion folded section 340 when stacked as shown in FIG. 15B, the leading end 330 tends to remain spaced apart. Thus the wind seal adhesive strips 356, 358 are not subjected to pressure prior to installation and they are not placed in a condition that promotes strong adhesive bonding. Generally, the wind seal strips 356, 358 will not contact any adjacent surface and will not bond at all. If the wind seal strips 356, 358 do contact another surface, it will be the opposing inside surface of the ridge cover 324 where transfer of adhesive is not detrimental. It will be appreciated that the wind seal as described in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-15 may be used with any ridge cover that includes a ridge bend around a radius.

[0044] There has thus been provided a novel preformed asphalt composition ridge cover where the bend along the ridge line is formed in a manner that reduces the susceptibility to cracking. While the description of the preferred embodiment has been with specific reference to FIGS. 1-15, it should be understood that various modifications, additions and substitutions may be made to the structure and method of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A ridge cover comprising a generally rectangular sheet of roofing material having an upper surface, an opposing lower surface, a first end, an opposing second end, a first edge, and an opposing second edge, the sheet of roofing material having a longitudinal centerline from a midpoint of the first end to a midpoint of the second end, the sheet of roofing material being bent around a radius along the longitudinal centerline such that the lower surfaces at the first and second edges are brought toward each other.

2. The ridge cover according to claim 1, further comprising a first strip of adhesive substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the first edge, and a second strip of adhesive substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the second edge, wherein the first strip of adhesive is closer to the first end than the second strip of adhesive.

3. The ridge cover according to claim 1, wherein the roofing material is folded an even number of times about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to cause multiple layers of the sheet of roofing material to form an accordion folded section between the first and second ends, each layer of the roofing material above a bottom layer in the accordion folded section being cut along the longitudinal centerline so that the roofing material can separate at the longitudinal centerline to facilitate the bending around a radius.

4. The ridge cover according to claim 3, wherein a top layer in the accordion folded section is cut perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline substantially coincident to an edge of the accordion folded section furthest from a folded edge of the top layer to facilitate the bending around a radius.

5. The ridge cover according to claim 4, wherein the bottom layer in the accordion folded section is cut perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline substantially coincident to a folded edge of the bottom layer to facilitate the bending around a radius.

6. The ridge cover according to claim 5, wherein a layer above the bottom layer in the accordion folded section is cut out in an area adjacent the longitudinal centerline to provide a relief for the bend around a radius.

7. The ridge cover according to claim 3, further comprising a first strip of adhesive substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the first edge, and a second strip of adhesive substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the second edge, wherein the first strip of adhesive is closer to the first end than the second strip of adhesive.

8. The ridge cover according to claim 1, wherein the roofing material is bent around a radius by pressing the roofing material into a resilient pad with a tool having the radius.

9. The ridge cover according to claim 1, wherein the roofing material is folded four times about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to form an accordion folded section between the first and second ends, the accordion folded section having: a bottom layer contiguous with the roofing material that extends to the first end; a first folded layer adjacent to the bottom layer, the first folded layer defining a generally rectangular first aperture having a width that extends to both sides of the longitudinal centerline and a length that extends between two fold lines that define the first folded layer; a second folded layer adjacent to the first folded layer, the second folded layer defining a generally rectangular second aperture having a width that extends to both sides of the longitudinal centerline and a length that extends between two fold lines that define the second folded layer, the second width being less than the first width; a third folded layer adjacent to the second folded layer, the third folded layer being slit along the longitudinal centerline; and a top layer adjacent to the fourth folded layer and contiguous with the roofing material that extends to the second end, the top layer being slit along a line coincident with a folded edge of the accordion folded section closest to the second end with a length that extends to both sides of the longitudinal centerline and along the longitudinal centerline to the line coincident with the folded edge.

10. A ridge cover comprising a generally rectangular sheet of roofing material having an upper surface, an opposing lower surface, a first end, an opposing second end, a first edge, and an opposing second edge, the sheet of roofing material having a longitudinal centerline from a midpoint of the first end to a midpoint of the second end, the sheet of roofing material including a thickening means midway between the first and second ends for supporting a first end of an overlapping ridge cover, the sheet of roofing material being bent around a radius along the longitudinal centerline such that the lower surfaces at the first and second edges are brought toward each other.

11. The ridge cover according to claim 10, further comprising a first adhesive means substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the first edge for adhering the first end to roofing material below the ridge cover, and a second adhesive means substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the second edge and spaced apart from the first adhesive means for adhering the first end to roofing material below the ridge cover without adhering to the first adhesive means.

12. The ridge cover according to claim 10, wherein the thickening means is configured for facilitating the bending around a radius.

13. The ridge cover according to claim 12, wherein the thickening means includes a relief means for relieving the bend around a radius.

14. The ridge cover according to claim 13, further comprising a first adhesive means substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the first edge for adhering the first end to roofing material below the ridge cover, and a second adhesive means substantially parallel and adjacent to the first end between the longitudinal centerline and the second edge and spaced apart from the first adhesive means for adhering the first end to roofing material below the ridge cover without adhering to the first adhesive means.

15. A method of fabricating a ridge cover comprising: providing a generally rectangular sheet of roofing material having a first end, an opposing second end, a first edge, and an opposing second edge, the sheet of roofing material having a longitudinal centerline from a midpoint of the first end to a midpoint of the second end; and bending the sheet of roofing material around a radius along the longitudinal centerline such that the lower surfaces at the first and second edges are brought toward each other.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein bending further comprises pressing the roofing material into a resilient pad with a tool having the radius.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising heating the sheet of roofing material prior to bending such that the bending occurs while the sheet of roofing material is at least 150.degree. F.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising heating the sheet of roofing material prior to bending such that the bending occurs while the sheet of roofing material is between 180.degree. F. and 220.degree. F.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein bending further comprises pressing the roofing material into a resilient pad with a tool having the radius.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: folding the sheet of roofing material an even number of times about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to cause multiple layers of the sheet of roofing material to form an accordion folded section between the first and second ends; cutting the sheet of roofing material along and adjacent to the longitudinal center to provide a relief means in the accordion folded section for relieving the bend around a radius.