Best Roof Angle For Snow

Pitch is a measure of the steepness of a roof.

Best roof angle for snow.

If you are building a new roof however consider the climate to determine the correct pitch and proper materials. These are also the most common pitches for shed roofs. Again the most important consideration is the weather. The safest way to determine the pitch of an existing roof is to measure from inside your attic using a level tape measure and pencil.

How roof pitch determines suitable roofing systems. At these slopes snow creeps rather than slides and is easy to manage. Significant here means less than an 8 change. The smallest pitch of a roof is 0 5 12.

To put this another way you can tilt a roof angle about 45 degrees away from the optimal angle the perpendicular angle to the sun without significantly affecting light transmission. This will extend the life of your roof. What is the smallest pitch of a roof. A flat roof would have a 2 12 pitch while the average roof pitch would be between 4 12 and 9 12.

The pitch of the roof is determined by the vertical rise in inches for every horizontal twelve inch length. Basically the steeper the pitch the better it can shed snow and rain. Flat and nearly flat roofs a pitch of 1 in 12 or 2 in 12 cannot be covered with shingles or shakes of any material since there is not enough angle to combat the danger of blow off. In snowy areas your roof should be at least 10 12 40 to allow snow to shed while the safest roof pitch in very windy areas is between 4 12 6 12 18 5 26 5.

On roof slopes between 4 12 and 6 12 rough textured roofing materials work best. Having a steeper pitched roof allows for more space in a shed loft. This image shows a relatively shallow roof pitch of 15 degrees. Use a handy tool like snow load calculator to help you determine if your roof can handle the weight of snow based on its pitch.

Because it is one of the many key elements that determine the safety of the roof over your head there is a very good reason to understand the purpose of roof pitch. A reputable roofing contractor will be familiar with the pitch required by these codes. There are advantages and disadvantages to having a steep pitch versus a shallow or low pitch the most obvious of which is the roof s ability to shed or withstand heavy snow rain or wind. Any roof from 4 12 to 9 12 is considered an ordinary angle for a roof.

Simply put roof pitch is the measurement of the angle or the steepness of your roof.