DIY Roof Pitch Finder

Pitch, or slope, is defined as the vertical change in height in a 1-foot horizontal space. This measurement is used to determine the steepness of a roof. Roofs with pitches of more than 7 1/2 inches are said to be steep, while pitches of less than 3 1/2 inches are said to be slight. A moderate pitch is anything in between. Roofs with pitches of less than 1 inch are said to be flat. Measuring the pitch of a roof requires a couple basic carpentry tools.

Things You'll Need

• 4-foot carpenter's level
• Tape measure

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Hold the end of a 4-foot carpenter’s level against the end of the roof. Elevate by hand the other end of the level until the bubble shows level.

   • 2

     Measure the distance between the elevated end of the level and the roof with a tape measure.

   • 3

     Divide that measurement by 4 to determine the amount of pitch to the roof. For example, if the measurement taken at the end of the level is 16 inches, the pitch of the roof is 4 inches for every horizontal foot.