How to Calculate the Angle for a Roof Overhang

Knowing the angle of a roof overhang is necessary for many home remodeling activities. Adding decorative ornaments or installation of devices such as solar paneling, satellite dishes, gutters, or drain spouts, requires that the installer know the angle of the roof overhang on which it will be installed. Measuring this angle is usually done indirectly by home owners and contractors using simple trigonometric functions.

Measuring tape
Scientific calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the distance between the wall the overhang covers and the bottom-most point on the overhang itself.
- 2
  Measure the distance between the point of intersection, between the wall and overhang, and the point on the wall where the first measurement began.
- 3
  Divide the first measurement by the second. This ratio is the tangent of the angle for the overhang.
- 4
  Press the "ArcTan" button on the scientific calculator.
- 5
  Enter the result from Step 3 into the space provided on the calculator.
- 6
  Press the "Enter" or "Answer" key to obtain the angle. The Arctan function takes the ratio of the two sides measured and returns the angle required to make that ratio, which is the angle of the roof overhang.

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