Shed Roof Pitch For Snow

Remember that pitch is calculated as the height or rise of a roof pitch over 12 inches of horizontal run.

Shed roof pitch for snow.

Pulling it all together. As stated in the. For roofs that will experience heavy snow or wind and will span the same distance use 2 6 rafters. Slopes greater than 6 12 will tend to shed snow regardless of the texture of the material on them so roof slopes should be configured to avoid shedding anywhere people might be walking or exiting.

For roofs that won t experience heavy snow loads a gable roof can span up to 22 with 2 4 rafters. This will extend the life of your roof. People have been killed by snow avalanches sliding off roofs during big snow winters. 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.

Basically the steeper the pitch the better it can shed snow and rain. Constructing a new shed roof at the desired pitch is as easy as knowing how to use a speed square. If you are building a new roof however consider the climate to determine the correct pitch and proper materials. In summary traditionally a roof pitch was determined by the climate and the available materials to achieve a dry building.

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. 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. Therefore if your roof rises 4 inches over the course of 12 inches of horizontal run then your roof pitch is 4 12.