How To Find The Pitch Of A Roof Using A Speed Square

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.

How to find the pitch of a roof using a speed square.

Finding the pitch of a roof is simple with a speed square. A speed square and level can be used to easily find the pitch of a roof. You can use a speed square to find pitches. A 6 inch rise per foot.

Read this number along the inches scale at the top of the framing square. Because of its compact size it is frequently used as a saw guide when cutting framing members as well as a layout tool for quick 45 and 90 degree cuts. Simply move the pivot point against the edge of your board lining up the edge of the board with your desired angle. Find the unit rise say inches per foot of the roof on the top line in the framing square rafter table e g.

The pitch tells you the amount of vertical rise in inches for every 12 in. The triangle shaped square was invented in 1925 by albert swanson to provide a quick accurate method for marking rafters. As a matter of fact finding the pitch of a roof was the motivating factor for how this tool was invented in the first place hence it s official name the rafter square. With a torpedo level and a speed square you can pretty accurately gauge the pitch of any roof with a gable end photo 1.

As aforementioned there is no standard pitch of a roof.