This is called the plumb line.
How to measure roof angle with speed square.
How to measure roof pitch with a speed square.
Read the pitch on the side of the rafter square.
Then enter the value of the run and choose the unit of measurement from the drop down menu.
Place the pivot point against the shingles.
At the corner of the square there is a pivot point.
Use a spirit level to mark a straight vertical line across the rafter.
This line which is perpendicular to the material edge that the speed square lip is hooked onto is a 90 degree angle.
Place the speed square along the edge of a board or the edge of any piece of material.
Because the speed square is a 90 degree angle each line on the diagonal represents one degree for a total of 90.
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.
Use a level and a pencil to make a plumb vertical line on one face of an existing rafter.
Line up the pivot point on the bottom edge of the rafter.
Step 2 find an angle hold the pivot point against the board and move the square until your desired angle lines up with the edge of the board.
Follow the bottom edge of the rafter to where it meets the common pitch reading.
Align the lip of the rafter angle square along the plumb line.
Hook the speed square lip over the edge.
Here are the steps to follow for the roof angle calculator.
Then place a torpedo level on the fat base of the rafter square and adjust the square until the level is level.
The speed square only has one right angle but one of it s main purposes is to quickly define a square line across a board a line 90 degrees a right angle to the edge of a board.
For more on the history of the swanson speed square you may watch this video.
It is the four right angles that defines our tool.