Shed Roof Pitch For Snow

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Shed roof pitch for snow. People have been killed by snow avalanches sliding off roofs during big snow winters. 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. The higher the roof pitch the more often the snow slides off. The flip side to this is that it also becomes more expensive to build both in.

In summary traditionally a roof pitch was determined by the climate and the available materials to achieve a dry building. If you are building a new roof however consider the climate to determine the correct pitch and proper materials. 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. Pulling it all together.

For roofs that won t experience heavy snow loads a gable roof can span up to 22 with 2 4 rafters. The safest way to determine the pitch of an existing roof is to measure from inside your attic using a level tape measure and pencil. Therefore if your roof rises 4 inches over the course of 12 inches of horizontal run then your roof pitch is 4 12. 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.

Constructing a new shed roof at the desired pitch is as easy as knowing how to use a speed square. Basically the steeper the pitch the better it can shed snow and rain. For roofs that will experience heavy snow or wind and will span the same distance use 2 6 rafters.