Is My Roof Steep

Depending whether the roof area is measured horizontally.

Is my roof steep.

Most roof s have a pitch in the 4 12 to 9 12 range. In my case the roof s pitch was so extreme no local roofers wanted to mess with it. Depending on the pitch additional equipment may also be necessary. A roof s pitch is determined by how much it rises vertically for every foot it runs horizontally.

Place the butt end of the level against the edge of the roof and extend it into the air balancing it until it becomes level. A roof with x rise 12 run slope means that for every 12 inches horizontally run it rises x inches. At that point measure down from the exposed butt end back to the roof surface. See the image below for more explanation on rise run and pitch.

The table below shows common roof pitches and the equivalent grade degrees and radians for each. The slope of the roof is known at the pitch. The slope or pitch of the roof is determined by the vertical rise in inches for every horizontal twelve inch 12 length called the run. The possibility of slipping and falling makes working on any roof dangerous but it s especially so if the roof rises more than 4 feet for every 12 feet of horizontal span.

Roof pitch is a determining factor for cost of the roof as well as the roof area and the type of materials used. Roof pitch affects the actual area of the roof. So a roof with four inches of rise every 12 inches horizontally run would have a slope of 4 12 sometimes displayed as 4 12. A 12 in 12 pitch is a steep 45 degree angle roof.

A steep roof pitch can add to the cost of installation as it will be more time consuming to work on a steeper pitch. A complex roof architecture is more time consuming to complete than a simple flat roof due to angles and fitting. It affects walkability as well as drainage and roofs in areas of high rain or snowfall tend to have steeper pitches. The tools required will be a contractor s level at least 24 inches long and a tape measure.