You can assess this in two ways either as the roof pitch angles which the rafters make with the horizontal or the proportion between the run and the rise of the roof.
Roof slope vs pitch.
If the pitch is 1 3 the slope is 8 12.
Pitch is thus the ratio of the rise in inches to a 12 inch run and is often expressed using a semicolon for example 6 12.
If the rise is 6 inches for every 12 inches of run then the roof slope is 6 in 12 the slope can be expressed numerically as a ratio.
The following table shows the roof pitch rise in run equivalents for all roof slopes in degrees from 1 to 72.
Plus since the low pitch requires fewer materials and less work than the steep pitch it comes at a lower cost.
Often you express roof pitch as the ratio between the rise and the run in the form of x 12.
When someone remarks on the pitch of a roof they are referring to the angle slant or slope of your roof.
The pitch is measured by a simple formula.
A roof with the least pitch would be a flat roof.
Slope minimums for various roof coverings.
The combination of two numbers are used to display or show the roof pitch.
Understanding your roof s pitch and slope by knowing the pitch of your roof you will know what type of products can be used and the best ways to go about applying them.
If the slope is 4 12 the pitch for the 24 foot span is 1 6.
Other than the 45 roof slope which is 12 in 12 none of the standard roof pitches 5 in 12 6 in 12 etc are equal to a whole degree.
Remember slope is expressed as a ratio and in inches per foot.
A roof that rises 4 inches for every 1 foot or 12 inches of run is said to have a 4 in 12 slope.
Pitch and slope do not mean the same thing.
Roof pitch is a term describing how steep or flat your roof slope is.
The slope ratio represents a certain amount of vertical rise for every 12 inches of horizontal run.
Roof slope expressed as rise.
Last updated july 10 2020.
Because slope affects how water is shed from a roof surface and determines the limits for using asphalt shingles understanding how to measure the slope of a roof may be valuable to a home inspector.
Roof pitch refers to the slope which the rafter creates.
Slope is the ratio measured in inches per foot.
This can be very effective for certain ranch styles porch rooftops or modern geometric rooftops.
Picking a low pitch or slope for your roof will give your rooftop a flatter more box like look.
A a roof with a 6 rise for every 12 run has a 6 per foot or 6 in 12 pitch.
To see what the degree equivalents are for standard rise in run roof pitches see our page quick reference.
The pitch of the roof pertains more to the actual construction of the house whereas the slope is more relevant to the roofing of your house.