Roof Pitch
The angle of a roof surface, measured in degrees from horizontal.
What is roof pitch?
Roof pitch refers to the steepness or angle of a roof. It's typically expressed in degrees, where 0° would be completely flat and 90° would be vertical.
In the UK, residential roofs commonly have pitches between 30° and 45°. The pitch affects everything from material choices to drainage and structural requirements.
How roof pitch is measured
Pitch can be expressed in two ways:
- Degrees: The angle from horizontal (e.g., 35°)
- Ratio: Rise over run (e.g., 4:12 means 4 inches of rise for every 12 inches of horizontal distance)
In the UK, degrees are more commonly used by professionals.
Why roof pitch matters for roofers
Pitch affects nearly every aspect of a roofing job:
- Material suitability: Some materials require minimum pitches
- Labour time: Steeper roofs take longer and may need extra safety equipment
- Drainage: Low pitches need different waterproofing approaches
- Pricing: Steeper = more complex = higher cost
How Roofering shows roof pitch
Roofering displays the pitch for each roof segment in the measurements view. This helps you understand the geometry before you visit, so you can plan materials and quote accurately.