What Is the Pitch Angle of a Gable Roof?

What Is a Gable Roof?

• A gable roof has two roof surfaces of the same size that meet at a point at the top. It generally covers the entire house, but other sections of the house design that are angled to the main section can be covered under a separate gable roof. Other variations on the basic gable structure are also available, such as the front gable and Dutch gable

Advantages and Disadvantages

• The gable roof is common on most modern construction because it is easy and inexpensive to construct. The gable roof is not the most ideal roof style for areas that experience high wind conditions on a regular basis. Gable roofs can collapse at the end section unless adequately braced, according to the Home Improvement Helper website. The pitch angle of a gable style roof can be quite steep, allowing for plenty of room under the roof for repairs. Gable roofs are often used in cold climates to allow snow to slide off the roof area, preventing damage to the roof and other home structures.

The Pitch Angle of a Gable Roof

• The pitch angle is the amount that the roof slants. It is generally referred to in terms of inches of rise per 12 inches of “run” or surface length. Pitch is the "rise in run.” When expressed as measurement of angle, this number is converted into degrees. To figure the angle of the pitch, you compute the ratio of the number of inches of rise over the inches of run that you have measured, according to the Block Layer website.

How To Measure Your Roof's Pitch Angle

• To determine your roof’s pitch angle, use a carpenter’s level by putting it in the plumb position against the roof and the tongue of a framing square. Keep the level tight to the framing square and move the square and level until the level reads plumb. Pencil in a small mark where the square meets the level and measure this distance. When you divide this number by two, you have the pitch. You can then do the calculation as described -- compute the ratio of the number of inches of rise over the inches of run -- to get the pitch angle.