What Is a Pitch Roof?

Measuring Pitch

• Builders state the pitch as the amount of slope for every 12 inches of horizontal distance. To measure this, place a carpenter's level with one end on the roof. Measure the distance between the level and roof at the point where the level is 12 inches from the end touching the roof. For example, if the measurement is 4 inches, the slope would be 4 inches in 12 which is commonly written as 4:12.

Pitch as Degrees

• Some plans list the pitch in degrees rather than slope. A 12:12 slope is a 45-degree angle while a slope of 6:12 is 22.5 degrees. Any roof slope steeper than 45 degrees is considered steep and may require specialized equipment.

Examples of Pitch

• A modern ranch-style home commonly has a low-pitched roof with a slope of between 4:12 and 7:12. A New England saltbox-style home features moderately-sloped roofs between 7:12 and 12:12 while a Tudor style roof is very steep with a slope of more than 12:12. Buildings can have almost any roof pitch the builder desires, although some community building codes specify minimum and maximum slopes.

Dual-pitch Roofs

• Some buildings feature multiple roof segments with different slopes. An example is the classic gambrel roof often seen in farm barns. This roof features a steeper low section of the roof and a flatter top section. The combination of the two roofs creates a larger usable space in the attic under the roof.