The roof - there’s no question that it is one of the most important aspects of your home. It may not create the ground you stand on or section your house into rooms, but it covers your head at night; it protects you from the elements; and creates a part of the privacy you - and all members of our society - strive to maintain. So you know that it is important to purchase the right materials when constructing your roof. But it is also important that when you lay them down, you do so correctly, with the right pitch in mind.
The pitch of the roof is the slope or angle of your roof. It is how much your roof rises in correlation with the span. Therefore, it is expressed in fractions or ratios, such as 7/12 or 7-12. What that means is for every twelve inches of span, the roof slopes upward another seven. Any roof that rises at least three inches for every twelve or has a gradient degree of fifteen is considered pitched.
There are several ways for you to determine the pitch of your roof. You can measure from on top of the roof or from the bottom of the rafters. To do the first, mark a level at twelve inches, and then measure the roof from the surface to the mark. This can be difficult, as a roof with multiple layers of shingles will not return an accurate measurement. Therefore, you can also measure from the rafters. You do the same thing - marking twelve inches with a level and measuring the distance - but from one of three places: underneath a barge rafter on a gable side, underneath an overhang or at one of the rafters in the attic. Whichever you choose, be sure to measure carefully and accurately. You do not want to miscalculate your roof’s pitch.
But why? Why is the angle of your roof so important?
There are several reasons, but the most obvious and important is remodeling. If you want to add a master bedroom, garage or any other addition to your home, you need to know the pitch of your roof so you can create a room that corresponds with the rest of the house. Knowing the pitch will also alert you to which products you should purchase if you are, for example, installing skylights. If you select the wrong ones, rain water may accumulate in them, puddling before they leak into your house, destroying your ceiling and anything else it can reach.
Therefore, it is very important that you know and maintain a standard roof pitch. If you don’t, additions and installments may prove detrimental to your living. It may turn the one item that shields from all the sky has to offer into a dripping, oddly sloped structure with limited purpose, aside from convention. Don’t let that happen to your roof - know the pitch, know the material and know the roof. It’s simple with limited math, and it is one of the smartest things you could do to maintain the value and quality of your home .
About
The Author...
Dena Davis is an Austin Real Estate Agent with a focus on the local neighborhoods. The Davis Company has developed relationships with Austin Residents, Commercial Real Estate Owners and buyers through out the Round Rock and Austin Area. To learn more find her at:Davis" target="_blank">www.daviscompany.com">Davis" target="_blank">Davis" title="http://www.daviscompany.com">Davis" target="_blank">www.daviscompany.com">Davis Company
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