Proper Roof Pitch For Snow

If the design necessitates a roof slope that drains onto a traffic area snow retention devices should be provided to hold the snow in place.

Proper roof pitch for snow.

A flat roof would have a 2 12 pitch while the average roof pitch would be between 4 12 and 9 12. 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. The higher the roof pitch the more often the snow slides off. The pitch of your roof also helps determine the type of materials that can be used on your roofing system.

You can also estimate a roof pitch by eyeballing it from the ground from the gable side with a level and ruler. It is an essential element to ensure water drains properly off of your roof. So in general the shallower pitch can be more dangerous with bigger slides. The primary reason roof pitch exists in the first place is to redirect water.

The roof pitch would be described as a 6 12 pitch. With regards to the pitch the building standard code bs 5534 recommends a minimum pitch of 200 for slate roofs. The pitch of the roof is determined by the vertical rise in inches for every horizontal twelve inch length. Divide the results by the number of 12 inch segments in your level.

For example if you used a 24 inch level and your measurement was 12 inches the pitch in your roof is 6 in 12. Once in the attic hold your level against the bottom of a roof rafter ensuring that all bubbles are resting in the center. Any pitch higher than 9 12 is considered a steep pitch.