How To Use A Speed Square To Measure Roof Pitch

Finding the pitch of a roof is simple with a speed square.

How to use a speed square to measure roof pitch.

Align the lip of the rafter angle square along the plumb line. 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. This is called the plumb line. Simply plug in the.

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. Read the pitch on the side of the rafter square. The triangle shaped square was invented in 1925 by albert swanson to provide a quick accurate method for marking rafters. After finding out your roof pitch angles you can use the calculator to perform the calculations for you instead of doing them manually.

Knowing how to calculate roof pitch rise run and ridge board height is essential to any shed construction. A speed square and level can be used to easily find the pitch of a roof. Find a common rafter angled with the pitch of the roof. 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.

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. Place the pivot point against the shingles. 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.

A roof pitch calculator can make things much easier. This is accomplished by use of the main protractor and two specialty protractor angle guides on the inside of the tool. With a torpedo level and a speed square you can pretty accurately gauge the pitch of any roof with a gable end photo 1. 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.