Roof Pitch Level

A roof surface may be either functionally flat or pitched.

Roof pitch level. A a roof with a 6 rise for every 12 run has a 6 per foot or 6 in 12 pitch. Roof pitch or slope is a measure of vertical rise to horizontal run expressed in inches per foot. Pitch is thus the ratio of the rise in inches to a 12 inch run and is often expressed using a semicolon for example 6 12. First measure 12 inches from one end of the level and make a mark.

For example if you used a 24 inch level and your measurement was 12 inches the pitch in your roof is 6 in 12. Pitches of less than 2 12 are considered flat roofs even though they may be very slightly angled. You can also estimate a roof pitch by eyeballing it from the ground from the gable side with a level and ruler. Pitches lower than 4 12 have a slight angle and they are defined as low slope roofs.

Then in the attic place the end of the level against the bottom of a roof rafter and hold it perfectly level. Often you express roof pitch as the ratio between the rise and the run in the form of x 12. Roof pitch refers to the slope which the rafter creates. Pitches above 9 12 are very highly angled and are designated steep slope roofs.

The most commonly used roof pitches fall in a range between 4 12 and 9 12. You can assess this in two ways either as the roof pitch angles which the rafters make with the horizontal or the proportion between the run and the rise of the roof.