Shed Roof Pitch For Snow

In summary traditionally a roof pitch was determined by the climate and the available materials to achieve a dry building.

Shed roof pitch for snow.

Therefore if your roof rises 4 inches over the course of 12 inches of horizontal run then your roof pitch is 4 12. For roofs that will experience heavy snow or wind and will span the same distance use 2 6 rafters. This will extend the life of your roof. You can use either 2 6 or 2 4 rafters for roofs with a 3 12 pitch or greater but it depends on the overall size of your shed.

People have been killed by snow avalanches sliding off roofs during big snow winters. 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. Basically the steeper the pitch the better it can shed snow and rain. As stated in the.

For roofs that won t experience heavy snow loads a gable roof can span up to 22 with 2 4 rafters. Pulling it all together. The higher the roof pitch the more often the snow slides off. If you are building a new roof however consider the climate to determine the correct pitch and proper materials.

Remember that pitch is calculated as the height or rise of a roof pitch over 12 inches of horizontal run. Constructing a new shed roof at the desired pitch is as easy as knowing how to use a speed square. Have a look at the shed roof design and shed roof construction pages to see the construction stages for shed roofs of other pitches and types.