Shed Roof Pitch For Snow

People have been killed by snow avalanches sliding off roofs during big snow winters.

Shed roof pitch for snow.

If you are building a new roof however consider the climate to determine the correct pitch and proper materials. Have a look at the shed roof design and shed roof construction pages to see the construction stages for shed roofs of other pitches and types. Therefore if your roof rises 4 inches over the course of 12 inches of horizontal run then your roof pitch is 4 12. For roofs that won t experience heavy snow loads a gable roof can span up to 22 with 2 4 rafters.

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. This will extend the life of your roof. 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. Pulling it all together.

In summary traditionally a roof pitch was determined by the climate and the available materials to achieve a dry building. Basically the steeper the pitch the better it can shed snow and rain. Constructing a new shed roof at the desired pitch is as easy as knowing how to use a speed square. Remember that pitch is calculated as the height or rise of a roof pitch over 12 inches of horizontal run.

As stated in the. You can use either 2 6 or 2 4 rafters for roofs with a 3 12 pitch or greater but it depends on the overall size of your shed. The flip side to this is that it also becomes more expensive to build both in.