calculating your roof's pitch

calculating your roof's pitch

A roof's pitch is its slope.  The Pitch figure tells you how many inches the roof rises for every 12 inches it runs. Example, 5/12 pitch means that for every 5" the roof rises, it runs 12".

One way you can measure the pitch of a roof is by marking a line 12" from the top of the roof.  Hold the line perfectly level and measure from the roof's surface, to your 12" mark.  This will give you the rise.  This method might not be exact, because a roof with many layers of shingles, or any type of roofing that is bumpy or has any kind of texture, can give you less than precise measurement.

Another way you can measure is from the bottom of the rafters.  The way you calculate roof pitch is the same though.  Measuring from the bottom of the rafters is generally a more accurate method of calculating, because no roofing is involved in the measurements.  To use this method, you can make measurements in one of three places, including: the underneath of a barge rafter on the end of a gable, the underside of a rafter on a overhang at the lower portion of the roof 3. The underside of a rafter in the attic.

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From buying my first home, to building my first home, I've had questions about things like doors, siding, windows, lumber, Air Conditioning, Duct work, Furnaces, and more.  I've also found myself looking at remodeling - kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling in particular.  I have also had lots of questions about landscaping, sprinklers, and roofing.
So, this section of the site is designed to help you with your construction and home questions, no matter what they may be.
Check out the sites below for more information about calculating your roofs pitch