How To Figure Out Roof Pitch With Speed Square

Divide the first part of the ratio by 12 to work out the pitch.

How to figure out roof pitch with speed square.

Finding the pitch of a roof is simple with a speed square. In the united states a run of 12 inches 1 foot is used and pitch is measured as the rise of the roof over 12 inches. Find the inverse tangent of the pitch to find the angle in degrees. Because of its compact size it is frequently used as a saw guide when cutting framing members as well as a layout tool for quick 45 and 90 degree cuts.

It is often compared to slope but is not exactly the same. A speed square and level can be used to easily find the pitch of a roof. A roof s pitch is determined by how much it rises vertically for every foot it runs horizontally. Read the pitch on the side of the rafter square.

The triangle shaped square was invented in 1925 by albert swanson to provide a quick accurate method for marking rafters. Express roof pitch as the ratio of the amount of the vertical rise of a roof or rise over the corresponding horizontal distance or run you write the pitch assuming a run of 12 inches thus the ratio would describe how much a roof rises for each foot of the run. With a torpedo level and a speed square you can pretty accurately gauge the pitch of any roof with a gable end photo 1. Check your results with the omni roof pitch calculator.

To convert between american roofing ratios and pitch degrees follow these steps. Thus a moderate 6 in 12 roof pitch means that the roof rises 6 inches vertically for every 12 horizontal inches it runs. Then place a torpedo level on the fat base of the rafter square and adjust the square until the level is level. 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.

Leah s recommended tools for beginner diy ers. Place the pivot point against the shingles. As aforementioned there is no standard pitch of a roof. Marvel at your mathematical.

Leah answers a viewer s question about how to calculate the pitch of a roof on a structure.