Finding Roof Pitch Speed Square

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.

Finding roof pitch speed square.

A speed square and level can be used to easily find the pitch of a roof. 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. Finding the pitch of a roof is simple with a speed square. Roof pitch is the measurement of a roof s vertical rise divided by its horizontal run.

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. After finding out your roof pitch angles you can use the calculator to perform the calculations for you instead of doing them manually. The maths behind this number is that it is the square root of rise run 2 1. A roof pitch multiplier also known as a roof pitch factor is a number that when multiplied by the area covered by a sloped roof gives the actual area of the roof.

Leah s recommended tools for beginner diy ers. The triangle shaped square was invented in 1925 by albert swanson to provide a quick accurate method for marking rafters. Leah answers a viewer s question about how to calculate the pitch of a roof on a structure. If the shed is unfinished then simply prop the speed square against the roof framing such as the rafter and repeat the same method.

A roof pitch calculator can make things much easier. It is often compared to slope but is not exactly the same. A roof slope of 4 12 is a 1 6 pitch a 6 12 slope is a 1 4 pitch an 8 12 slope is a 1 3 pitch and so on. Simply plug in the.

The roof pitch calculator is a convenient online tool you can use to quickly assess the pitch of your roof to determine the length of rafters you need. Knowing how to calculate roof pitch rise run and ridge board height is essential to any shed construction. If a magazine such as finehomebuilding is going to put out an article to teach a topic it should use the proper words and definitions. Before miter saws and even since professional carpenters used speed squares as a quick saw guide for cutting 45 and 90 degree angles.