Angled Roof Shed Plans

Style Affects Angles

• A roof style will affect the angles of the roof. A basic shed or pent roof slopes in only one direction and most are in the low or moderate slope range; a low-slope roof angles at 15 degrees or less, a moderate usually about 25-30 degrees. A gambrel roof has two slopes on each side, requiring four angles, two per rafter; those angles must add to 90 degrees and a typical gambrel has each rafter end cut at 22.5 degree angles.

Top Cut Is Key

• The key roof angle is the top or plumb cut, the angle which forms the peak of a gable roof or the front edge of a pent roof. A hip roof adds complex angles because it slopes on each end of a gable roof in the center; four hip rafters must be cut at about a 45-degree angle to connect the peak to the corner and be supported by varying length "jack" rafters which have varying angles depending on the pitch and length of the rafters.

Square Finds Angles

• The basic tool for calculating roof angles is a framing square, which has a thin tongue 16 inches long and a wide blade 24 inches long which form a 90-degree corner or heel. The blade also has a table for figuring the length of rafters and the angles for hip and jack rafters. Building supply and roofing outlets also usually have tables showing angles for specific rafter styles and sizes.

Builder Chooses

• A shed builder can choose a roof style and pitch angle depending on the locale and the requirements for the shed. A two-slope gable roof is the most common, but a gambrel style may be used to provide more headroom or storage inside the shed. A common shed variation of the gable roof is called saltbox; it has two slopes, but with an offset peak so one side is higher and affords more inside storage space. Saltbox angles are calculated just like basic gable angles.