Roof Pitch For Massachusetts

The massachusetts state building code 364 780 cmr seventh edition 8 22 08 effective 9 1 08 1503 2 flas hing.

Roof pitch for massachusetts. It would be great if everyone had a roof that was angled exactly the same as their latitude but every property is unique. Roof assemblies and rooftop structures 780 cmr 1501 0 general 1501 1 scope. Residential and commercial roofing shingles slate roof ventilation roof underlayments asphaltic and tpo roof membranes. There is no standard universal roof pitch.

In the usa the range of standard pitches is anywhere between 4 12 and 9 12. You ll need a level that is 12 or longer and a tape measure. Roof pitch in massachusetts is determined by materials not the weather. How roof pitch determines suitable roofing systems.

Flat and nearly flat roofs a pitch of 1 in 12 or 2 in 12 cannot be covered with shingles or shakes of any material since there is not enough angle to combat the danger of blow off. One method to find the pitch is to climb on the roof and measure the rise for a 12 run. This measurement is best done on a bare roof because curled up roofing shingles will impair your measurement. The recommended minimum roof pitch for shingles is 2 12 or simply two units of vertical rise to every twelve units of horizontal span.

On the roof hold the level perfectly level and measure the height from the roof to the level 12 inches away from where the level touches the surface this will be the rise. A complex roof architecture is more time consuming to complete than a simple flat roof due to angles and fitting. A steep roof pitch can add to the cost of installation as it will be more time consuming to work on a steeper pitch. Roofing shingles and materials plus factory certified roofers including ratings from real homeowners from north america s largest roofing manufacturer.

Roof pitch varies depending on culture climate style and available materials. Many roofs are going to have slopes between 30 and 40 degrees which means that solar panels can lie flush against the roof and produce enough electricity for attractive returns. For that reason flat roofs are limited to these types of covering materials. The picture below shows the pitch of a 7 12 roof slope meaning that for 12 of horizontal measurement roof run the vertical measurement roof rise is 7.

Depending on the pitch additional equipment may also be necessary. In the uk the typical house has a pitch between 40 50 although 45 should be avoided.