Proper Roof Pitch For Snow

High pitch roof pros.

Proper roof pitch for snow.

Minimum pitch metal roof snow. 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. Furthermore a roof in a forest should have. For example a shingle roof in a snowy region could be 2 12 but it is better to have a steeper pitch such as 12 12 or even steeper to shed the snow.

Low pitch roofs are seldom used in regions of severe weather due to the stress of snow accumulation on roofs of structures. There are advantages and disadvantages to having a steep pitch versus a shallow or low pitch the most obvious of which is the roof s ability to shed or withstand heavy snow rain or wind. This measurement is best done on a bare roof because curled up roofing shingles will impair your measurement. Metal roofing system when properly designed and installed is famous for its strong performance against harsh climate environments.

The flip side to this is that it also becomes more expensive to build both in. The ratio between width and height is much smaller with a low pitch roof. You can enter this value either as a ratio x 12 or as an angle whichever suits you better. Since the pitch of the roof is lower it can act as a catch all for tree limbs and other debris.

If you are building a new roof however consider the climate to determine the correct pitch and proper materials. Intuitively this is the number of inches of snow on your roof in the place where the cover is the thickest. Importance of a roof pitch. The minimum roof pitch for shedding snow is around 30 or a 6 12 or 7 12 slope although this is not a definite as the material of your roof the direction of the snow and wind are some factors that can affect whether or not snow will slide as roofs of as little as 10 have been reported to shed snow.

This will extend the life of your roof. The minimum roof pitch is also subject to the standards set forth by the various building codes used in the respective regions. Therefore attic space can be at a premium with a low pitch roof. The chief reason for having a roof pitch is to redirect water and snow away from the roof and avoid any percolation that might result from stagnation of water on the roof.

There are several other factors that add up to this quality certainly such as proper slope snow loading requirements or the snow guard usage. This is fortunate since flat roofs are somewhat more prone to leaks and require frequent inspections. If your roof is pitched enter the length and width of the flat area covered by the roof. The safest way to determine the pitch of an existing roof is to measure from inside your attic using a level tape measure and pencil.