In metric systems either the angle in degrees or rise per unit of run, expressed as a '1 in _' slope (where a '1 in 1' equals 45°) is used.Considerations involved in selecting a roof pitch include availability and cost of materials, aesthetics, ease or difficulty of construction, climatic factors such as wind and potential snow load,[2] and local building codes.The primary purpose of pitching a roof is to redirect wind and precipitation, whether in the form of rain or snow.The high, steeply-pitched gabled roofs of Northern Europe are typical in regions of heavy snowfall.[3] A flat roof includes pitches as low as 1⁄2:12 to 2:12 (1 in 24 to 1 in 6), which are barely capable of properly shedding water.
Display of roof pitches 1:12 through 18:12
A roof made of
thatch
, one of the oldest roofing materials, needs a steep pitch to drain properly
Some types of stone roof have a very restrictive roof pitch, which can lead to leaking
Working on roofs with pitches too steep for safety requires a staging of scaffolding boards secured with
roof brackets
A pitch gauge measuring the slope of an asphalt shingle roof
A building in the
Black Forest
of Germany with a pitched roof
