Ideal Roof Slope For Snow

Roof slopes between 4 12 and 6 12 are best for minimizing the wind uplift effects in high wind zones.

Ideal roof slope for snow.

The way pitch also known as roof slope is measured is rise over run. For example a shingle roof in a snowy region could be 2 12 but it is better to have a steeper pitch such as 12 12 or even steeper to shed the snow. Asphalt is the most versatile and works well in any roof pitch climate. People have been killed by snow avalanches sliding off roofs during big snow winters.

On roof slopes between 4 12 and 6 12 rough textured roofing materials work best. For lots more information on which roof finish to use for which slope and indicative costs. They hold the snow in place and keep it from accumulating and then sliding off in large slabs that can be dangerous. Visit the shed roofing page.

Basically the steeper the pitch the better it can shed snow and rain. A ratio is the most common way of expressing roof pitch or roof slope but degrees are also possible. The graphic below helps flesh this out. If you sketch that out on paper you ll see that a roof angle of 60 degrees requires a very tall north wall or an altered plan for the greenhouse.

Steeper slopes are ideal for areas that have higher snow loads and will also prevent the possibility of ponding water on the roof. Roof pitch is the measurement of roof steepness. A steep slope roof is one whose slope is greater than 3 12. The most common roofing material is asphalt shingles.

When it comes to residential construction your roof is a visible part of the structure. The general temperature will determine the exact roof pitch with a lower pitch being best for temperate zones and steeper for areas that experience snowfall. According to the conventional rule of thumb this would require roof glazing to be about 60 degrees off the horizon 40 20 60. For slopes below 20 degrees systems such as epdm fibreglass metal roofing can be used.

There are advantages and disadvantages to having a steep pitch versus a shallow or low pitch the most obvious of which is the roof s ability to shed or withstand heavy snow rain or wind. So if your roof rises 4 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal length then the pitch of your roof is expressed as 4 12.