Roof slope is an important term in the roofing industry. It is an important factor in choosing the right roofing material for your home. If you need to replace your roof, this term is something to familiarize yourself with. Having a complete understanding of your roofing system will help you make better purchasing decisions and even influence you to keep up with routine maintenance. Read on to learn more about roof pitches.
Definition
Roof pitch simply refers to the slope, angle, and slope of your roof. The slope of a roof is represented as two numbers divided by a bar or as a ratio with two points between two numbers. The first number is the numerator, and the second number is the denominator. Each number represents a specific measurement of a roof’s slope. The numerator represents the vertical height of a roof slope, while the dominator represents the horizontal length of a roof slope.
These numerical values vary greatly depending on the construction and architecture of a home or property. There are flat roof systems with little or no slope, as well as low slope roofing systems and high slope roofing systems. On average, most systems range in pitch from 4/12 to 8/12. Flat systems can have extremely low values, such as ¼ over 12, while other high-pitched systems can have a value of 12/12 and slope down at a perfect 45 degree angle.
doing the math
The math can be tricky since the number 12 is the common numerical value used for the denominators of slopes. Although 12:12 can be reduced to 1:1, the number 12 is always used for roof pitch. To read a roof slope value, you must start with the top number (numerator) and end with the bottom number (denominator).
Here are some examples:
2:12 or 2/12 = For every 12 horizontal feet, the ceiling drops 2 feet.
5:12 or 5/12 = For every 12 horizontal feet, it falls 5 feet.
8:12 or 8/12 = For every 12 horizontal feet, it falls 8 feet.
** Marginal note: You can also say that for every 12 horizontal feet, GOES UP 2 feet. It’s the same either way.
low vs high
low sloped ceilings – Homes built in the 1960s are notorious for low-sloped roof construction. They were built with very little slope, given just enough for the proper drainage of water. Because these roofs have a slope of about 1:12, they actually appear flat.
sloped ceilings – Examples of high slope roofing systems would be the Victorian era of building. Many times, these roofs had drastic and steep angles. Church steeples are another good example of a pitched roof.