How To Tell The Pitch Of My Roof

Example a the measurements are taken from on top of the roof.

How to tell the pitch of my roof.

Roof pitch refers to the slope which the rafter creates. The pitch of the roof is determined by the vertical rise in inches for every horizontal twelve inch length. Find the inverse tangent of the pitch to find the angle in degrees. The 7 means that the roof rises 7 for every 12 it runs.

To convert between american roofing ratios and pitch degrees follow these steps. The term pitch has two different meanings when it comes to roofs. You can t exactly get a ruler out to do it and guessing is just going to be suicidal in terms of the end product so if you are trying to learn how to determine roof pitch measurements you really do need to use a calculator. Some carpenters consider it more correct to use the term slope for the steepness and use pitch to describe the roof s overall dimensions.

You can assess this in two ways either as the roof pitch angles which the rafters make with the horizontal or the proportion between the run and the rise of the roof. Most people use it to mean the steepness of the roof. Here s an easy safe way to determine the pitch from inside your attic. Marvel at your mathematical.

A flat roof would have a 2 12 pitch while the average roof pitch would be between 4 12 and 9 12. Hold the level straight and level bubble centered and then measure the vertical distance down from the your 12 mark on the level down to the roof. Divide the first part of the ratio by 12 to work out the pitch. Finding roof pitch isn t rocket science it s simple geometry.

To measure the roof pitch you ll need an 18 or 24 inch level a tape measure and a pencil. Pitch is a measure of the steepness of a roof. Often you express roof pitch as the ratio between the rise and the run in the form of x 12. So a roof that rises six inches for every foot of run has a 6 in 12 slope.

The example to right shows 2 different ways to determine or calculate roof pitch also called roof slope. Check your results with the omni roof pitch calculator. Then in the attic place the end of the level against the bottom of a roof rafter and hold it perfectly level. A 12 12 pitch roof has a pitch angle of 45.

Any pitch higher than 9 12 is considered a steep pitch. First measure 12 inches from one end of the level and make a mark. It isn t necessarily a 12 inch run but the entire span. This is the amount your roof inclines in a 1 foot span or the pitch of your roof.

If you are trying to learn how to measure roof pitch calculations accurately you should really consider the importance of using a calculator. Pitch is shown as a fraction which divides the rise by the span. So if the roof has a 24 foot span and has a 4 foot rise then it has a 1 6 pitch.