How To Figure Out Your Roof Pitch

8 inches and you have an 8 in 12 pitch.

How to figure out your roof pitch.

You can use the following equations to find the length of the rafter and the slope. If you do need to calculate the pitch an estimate or shortcut is usually more practical than measuring the roof s overall dimensions. If you want to know how to find the pitch of a roof then start with a calculator. For example if a roof has a pitch of 4 12 then for every 12 inches the building extends horizontally it rises 4 inches.

Pitch measurement method 1. Rise run pitch where pitch is expressed in percent. The pitch is commonly defined as the ratio of rise over run in the form of x 12. Often you express roof pitch as the ratio between the rise and the run in the form of x 12.

You ll need a level that is 12 or longer and a tape measure. Here are a couple examples. For a simple gable roof the span wall to wall will be twice the size of the run wall to ridge horizontally. Even if you want to use a flat roof pitch calculator system you will be able to find one.

Generally roof pitch is calculated from the same formula that describes a right triangle. How to calculate roof pitch. One method to find the pitch is to climb on the roof and measure the rise for a 12 run. Rafter rise run from the pythagorean theorem.

Then in the attic place the end of the level against the bottom of a roof rafter and hold it perfectly level. To measure the roof pitch you ll need an 18 or 24 inch level a tape measure and a pencil. How to measure roof pitch. 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. 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. The rise is the height of the roof and the run is the horizontal span as pictured above. This is very useful information for many purposes especially for roof framing the slope sometimes called pitch is calibrated on speed squares.

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. Divide the slope by two to get the pitch. Roof pitch refers to the slope which the rafter creates. First measure 12 inches from one end of the level and make a mark.