Standard House Roof Pitch

Citation needed carpenters frame rafters on an angle to pitch a roof.

Standard house roof pitch.

Usually average roof pitch is determined using the same roof length method. The terms are slight different by which the roof pitches are symbolized. Buffalo new york and montreal quebec canada specify 6 in 12 a pitch of approximately 26 6 degrees. The terms are scientific in nature.

The most commonly used roof pitches fall in a range between 4 12 and 9 12. Pitches lower than 4 12 have a slight angle and they are defined as low slope roofs. Gable and other multi pitched roofs allow for lower primary structures with a corresponding reduction in framing and sheathing materials. For example when the roof is denoted by six and twelve that means a roof that rises six inches each twelve level inches.

The table below shows common roof pitches and the equivalent grade degrees and radians for each. Today s standard ceiling height is nine feet. Pitches of less than 2 12 are considered flat roofs even though they may be very slightly angled. Commonly it is 3 4 th of span as per gothic rafter must be equal to span.

Pitches above 9 12 are very highly angled and are designated steep slope roofs. But since there is still a wide variety of slate roofing systems there are occasions when the minimum pitch can go down to as low as 15 0 depending on the uniqueness of the roof. A pitch over 9 12 is considered a steep slope roof between 2 12 and 4 12 is considered a low slope roof and less than 2 12 is considered a flat roof. Minimum roof pitch for shingles.

Newer houses are often built with nine foot ceilings on the first floor and sometimes eight foot ceilings on the second story. The picture below shows the pitch of a 7 12 roof slope meaning that for 12 of horizontal measurement roof run the vertical measurement roof rise is 7. This measurement is best done on a bare roof because curled up roofing shingles will impair your measurement.