Understanding the most common roof pitch is essential. When you are about to build a house, a shed, or any building with a roof on the top, you need to understand what type of roof pitch and its angle to use on the roof.
The pitch of your roof can greatly impact the efficiency of your roofing system and should be considered when selecting the appropriate materials and installation method.
If you are unfamiliar with this, you can read it down below. It will give you a brief idea about the roof pitch and its usage. Here they are.
Common Roof Pitch Angles Used By Builders
There are four popular roof slopes, known as standard roof pitches, often used by builders. These include flat, low-slope, medium-slope, and steep-slope pitches. They can be found in a lot of types of houses.
They are flat roof pitch, low-slope roof pitch, medium-slope roof pitch, and steep-slope roof pitch. Every single one of them is going to be explained here. You must read them before deciding which type to use on the house.
- Flat Roof Pitch
Flat roof pitch is also known as minimum roof pitch, as the steep part of the roof is very minimal. Even though the name of this roof pitch has ‘flat’ in it, the surface is not totally flat. There is still an angle to allow water to drain. The pitch is around 1:12. This is the type of roof you will find on a backyard shed.
- Low-Slope Roof Pitch
Low slope is often built on houses or buildings where the roof is intended to get walked on a lot of time. The pitch is around 2:12 to 4:12. When using this type of roof, pitch, water, or snow won’t run off easily, and this has to be frequently checked for leaks and cracks.
- Medium-Slope Roof Pitch
This is the most used roof pitch. The pitch is around 6:12 to 9:12. Snow and water run-off is easy on this one, and it can still be walked on pretty effortlessly. This is why most houses are using this pitch.
- Steep-Slope Roof Pitch
The steep pitch, typically above 9:12, is characterized by a significant roof rise over a 12-inch horizontal distance, making walking challenging. Water run-off won’t be a problem, but walking on the roof will be a hard thing to do here.
Best Roof Pitch for Snow
When you live in an area where heavy snow often happens, your house must be completed by a roof that can endure the snow. It means that the roof must be built in a certain type of pitch and a certain angle.
That way, snow build-up won’t burden the roof and cause severe damage to the house. Here is further information about the roof pitch for snow.
- The Best Types of Roof Pitch for Snow
For asphalt shingles, the best measure of a roof pitch to endure snow is the medium-slope roof pitch, which balances snow run-off and walkability. This type of pitch can hold the snow build-up better, and the snow won’t slide down and fall easily, causing danger to the people or anything else under the roof. The snow run-off is great in this type of pitch, and it is easy to walk on, too.
- The Material of the Roof Pitch for Snow
Besides the angles, you also need to understand the best material for a house in a heavy-snow area to use in the roof pitch. Avoid the material of wood as wood can shrink and dry under freezing weather. Instead, use metal. Metal is sturdy, and it can endure cold, freezing weather better than wood.
Those are some of the most important explanations that you need to know about the roofing pitch. It’s advisable to consult with roofing contractors when deciding on the pitch for a steep roof or any other type, as they can provide expert guidance based on your specific needs.
Their expertise will help identify the typical roof pitch most suitable for your house, considering factors like climate and aesthetic preferences.
