You can also estimate a roof pitch by eyeballing it from the ground from the gable side with a level and ruler.
Ideal roof pitch for snow.
It is an essential element to ensure water drains properly off of your roof.
For example if you used a 24 inch level and your measurement was 12 inches the pitch in your roof is 6 in 12.
The roof pitch would be described as a 6 12 pitch.
In this case you ll probably want a traditional 4 12 or so pitched roof.
According to the conventional rule of thumb this would require roof glazing to be about 60 degrees off the horizon 40 20 60.
If you sketch that out on paper you ll see that a roof angle of 60 degrees requires a very tall north wall or an altered plan for the greenhouse.
You can safely measure the roof pitch from inside your attic with a level that is either 18 or 24 inches a tape measure and a pencil.
A flat or low pitch roof might be just what you need.
The pitch of your roof also helps determine the type of materials that can be used on your roofing system.
Better raise that roof pitch a bit more to account for the buckets of snow you get every winter.
Live in the desert.
Shallow roofs don t really like moisture.
It is important for shingle roofs to function properly and one method of ensuring that this is achieved is to observe the pitch requirements for the shingles.
Or is your climate more tropical.
The graphic below helps flesh this out.
Begin by measuring 12 inches on your level and marking it with a pencil.
If you are adding an addition to your home or installing skylights knowing the existing pitch is important.