How To Measure Roof Pitch With A Speed Square

A square simply refers to a 10 x 10 square of roofing.

How to measure roof pitch with a speed square.

Set the level on the edge of the speed square as shown below then place the heel of the speed square on a rafter or gable edge of the roof. How to measure roof pitch with a speed square. Placing a ladder near the roof you will put a level a foot or so up on the roof hold it level and measure from the 12 inch mark straight down. Working from the interior side of the roof you ll need access to a roof rafter to measure the pitch.

To find the squares divide the overall roof area by 100 and then round up. A distance of 7 inches 18 cm for example would mean your roof has a pitch of 7 in 12. Read the pitch on the side of the rafter square. Place the level horizontally along the rafter until it contacts the roof sheathing avoiding any protruding roof nails.

Measure the rise of your roof. Let s say it is equal to 1 5 m. A 14 in 36 cm difference for example indicates a pitch of 7 in 18 cm. Place the pivot point against the shingles.

Let s assume it is equal to 6 m. For instance if the roof is 1550 square feet then it is 16 squares. If you re using a 2 ft 0 61 m level divide the distance between the level and the roof by 2 to get the true pitch. Use a level and a pencil to make a plumb vertical line on one face of an existing rafter.

Then place a torpedo level on the fat base of the rafter square and adjust the square until the level is level. Measure with a speed square a speed square and level can be used to easily find the pitch of a roof. Place the pivot point on the square against the bottom of the rafter and align the 90 degree angle side of the square with the pencil mark. With a torpedo level and a speed square you can pretty accurately gauge the pitch of any roof with a gable end photo 1.

Measure the run length it is the horizontal distance between the roof ridge and the wall of the building.