How To Find The Pitch Of A Roof Using A Speed Square

Read this number along the inches scale at the top of the framing square.

How to find the pitch of a roof using a speed square.

Set the level on the edge of the speed square as shown below then place the heel of the speed square on a rafter or gable edge of the roof. Express roof pitch as the ratio of the amount of the vertical rise of a roof or rise over the corresponding horizontal distance or run you write the pitch assuming a run of 12 inches thus the ratio would describe how much a roof rises for each foot of the run. Because of its compact size it is frequently used as a saw guide when cutting framing members as well as a layout tool for quick 45 and 90 degree cuts. Find the unit rise say inches per foot of the roof on the top line in the framing square rafter table e g.

A 6 inch rise per foot. To find the pitch just place the pivot point against the shingles. As aforementioned there is no standard pitch of a roof. The triangle shaped square was invented in 1925 by albert swanson to provide a quick accurate method for marking rafters.

You can use a speed square to find pitches. Finding the pitch of a roof is simple with a speed square. With a torpedo level and a speed square you can pretty accurately gauge the pitch of any roof with a gable end photo 1. A speed square and level can be used to easily find the pitch of a roof.

The pitch tells you the amount of vertical rise in inches for every 12 in.