How To Figure Roof Pitch With Speed Square

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How to figure roof pitch with speed square.

Divide the first part of the ratio by 12 to work out the pitch. In the united states a run of 12 inches 1 foot is used and pitch is measured as the rise of the roof over 12 inches. To see how pitch impacts the look of a garage and changes cost click the design center button on our pole barn kits page. Because of its compact size it is frequently used as a saw guide when cutting framing members as well as a layout tool for quick 45 and 90 degree cuts.

Finding the pitch of a roof is simple with a speed square. Roof pitch refers to the slope which the rafter creates. It is often compared to slope but is not exactly the same. Before miter saws and even since professional carpenters used speed squares as a quick saw guide for cutting 45 and 90 degree angles.

Roof pitch is the measurement of a roof s vertical rise divided by its horizontal run. Roof pitch refers to the amount of rise a roof has compared to the horizontal measurement of the roof called the run. A 12 12 pitch roof has a pitch angle of 45. Photo 2 shows how to use the speed square to mark a 33 1 2 degree angle the same as you would need on a rafter tail for a roof with an 8 12 pitch.

To convert between american roofing ratios and pitch degrees follow these steps. Often you express roof pitch as the ratio between the rise and the run in the form of x 12. Find the inverse tangent of the pitch to find the angle in degrees. 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.

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