How To Figure Out Roof Pitch With Speed Square

Place the pivot point on the square against the bottom of the rafter and align the 90 degree angle side of the square with the pencil mark.

How to figure out roof pitch with speed square.

Thus a moderate 6 in 12 roof pitch means that the roof rises 6 inches vertically for every 12 horizontal inches it runs. Hold the 0 mark of the tape measure against the roof. Place the level horizontally along the rafter until it contacts the roof sheathing avoiding any protruding roof nails. With a torpedo level and a speed square you can pretty accurately gauge the pitch of any roof with a gable end photo 1.

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. Working from the interior side of the roof you ll need access to a roof rafter to measure the pitch. It can be assessed in two ways either as the angle the rafter makes with the horizontal or the proportion between the rise and the run of the roof. A speed square and level can be used to easily find the pitch of a roof.

How to measure roof pitch with a speed square. Use a level and a pencil to make a plumb vertical line on one face of an existing rafter. Place the pivot point against the shingles. Read the pitch on the side of the rafter square.

Roof pitch is often expressed as a ratio between rise and run in the form of x 12. Measure the vertical distance from roof to level. If you want to know how to find the pitch of a roof then start with a calculator. Roof pitch is simply the slopecreated by the rafter.

Extend it upward so it is perpendicular to the 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. How roof pitch is calculated to accurately calculate the area of your roof you must first determine its slope or pitch. Even if you want to use a flat roof pitch calculator system you will be able to find one.

Move the tape measure along the the roof until it hits the level at exactly the 12 inch mark.