How To Use A Speed Square To Measure Roof Pitch

Read the pitch on the side of the rafter square.

How to use a speed square to measure roof pitch.

The roof pitch calculator is a convenient online tool you can use to quickly assess the pitch of your roof to determine the length of rafters you need. Find a common rafter angled with the pitch of the roof. After finding out your roof pitch angles you can use the calculator to perform the calculations for you instead of doing them manually. This is accomplished by use of the main protractor and two specialty protractor angle guides on the inside of the tool.

Finding the pitch of a roof is simple with a speed square. Use a spirit level to mark a straight vertical line across the rafter. 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. Knowing how to calculate roof pitch rise run and ridge board height is essential to any shed construction.

Directly below the 6 inch mark on the framing square read the required rafter length 13 42 per foot of run for a 6 inch rise 6 in 12 roof. A speed square and level can be used to easily find the pitch of a roof. 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. Simply plug in the.

This is called the plumb line. Place the pivot point against the shingles. A roof pitch calculator can make things much easier. Measuring pitches part of the speed square s role as a protractor and its original mission as a tool is in quickly finding common and uncommon rafter angles for the pitches on roofs.

To calculate the required rafter length multiply the total run length half the building width plus the width that the roof is to overhang the house wall by this number 13 42. Shed roof pitch calculator. Then place a torpedo level on the fat base of the rafter square and adjust the square until the level is level. With a torpedo level and a speed square you can pretty accurately gauge the pitch of any roof with a gable end photo 1.