How To Figure Out Your Roof Pitch

If you do need to calculate the pitch an estimate or shortcut is usually more practical than measuring the roof s overall dimensions.

How to figure out your roof pitch.

Rafter rise run from the pythagorean theorem. You ll need a level that is 12 or longer and a tape measure. One method to find the pitch is to climb on the roof and measure the rise for a 12 run. Here are a couple examples.

The roof pitch is the slope of the rafter. On a ladder beside the roof place the level a foot or so up the roof hold it level and measure from the 12 inch mark on the level s bottom straight down to the roof. For example if a roof has a pitch of 4 12 then for every 12 inches the building extends horizontally it rises 4 inches. First measure 12 inches from one end of the level and make a mark.

Divide the slope by two to get the pitch. This is very useful information for many purposes especially for roof framing the slope sometimes called pitch is calibrated on speed squares. You can use the following equations to find the length of the rafter and the slope. For a simple gable roof the span wall to wall will be twice the size of the run wall to ridge horizontally.

Then in the attic place the end of the level against the bottom of a roof rafter and hold it perfectly level. Roof pitch calculator results explained slope the slope of a roof is represented as x 12 where x is the number of inches in rise for every 12 inches of run. If you want to know how to find the pitch of a roof then start with a calculator. Rise run pitch where pitch is expressed in percent.

On the roof hold the level perfectly level and measure the height from the roof to the level 12 inches away from where the level touches the surface this will be the rise. How to measure roof pitch. Often you express roof pitch as the ratio between the rise and the run in the form of x 12. Pitch measurement method 1.

If this distance measures 4 inches you have a 4 in 12 pitch. This will allow your project to carry the depth and detail in the roof that you wanted as well as make sure that it will maintain a sturdy and effective nature throughout. Even if you want to use a flat roof pitch calculator system you will be able to find one. Roof pitch refers to the slope which the rafter creates.

8 inches and you have an 8 in 12 pitch. To measure the roof pitch you ll need an 18 or 24 inch level a tape measure and a pencil. Generally roof pitch is calculated from the same formula that describes a right triangle. The pitch is commonly defined as the ratio of rise over run in the form of x 12.