Customers ask this question quite frequently; it can get a bit confusing trying to describe it. Especially when Robert is trying to show you with his wild hand gestures.
The pitch of the roof refers to the steepness of the roof. Pitch is often discussed when people are designing for the snow load in their area.
If you live in an area with a lot of snow, you might think about getting a structure with a steeper sloping pitch. The steeper the pitch, the more likely the snow will slide off the roof.
Here is our answer to this Frequently Asked Question: What does roof pitch mean?
To find the pitch of a roof or slope you will need to know how many inches the roof line rises every 12 inches.
If you have a rise of 12 inches that would make your roof a pitch of 12. If you have a rise of 6 inches that would be a 6-pitch roof, making the 6-pitch less steep than the 12-pitch.
The image below shows how this works.
Considerations involved in deciding or selecting the pitch of a roof include:
- Availability and cost of materials
- Aesthetics
- Ease (or difficulty) of construction
- Climatic factors such as wind and potential snow load
- Local building codes
The primary purpose of pitching a roof is to redirect wind and precipitation, whether in the form of rain or snow. Thus, pitch is typically greater in areas of high rain or snowfall, lower in areas of high wind.
Having a steeper pitch in a colder climate helps to shed snow. A steeper pitch also allows more headroom; if you want to put a loft in your building, this is a great way to go without having to do a full upstairs.
A lower pitch is wonderful if you are looking to keep the cost of the building down. We may add structural support for a higher snow load rating with lower-pitched roofs, depending on the building.
Building your building to your area’s recommended snow load requirements is important.
Any roof can be engineered for proper snow loads.