How the Roof Pitch Helps You Choose Roofing Materials

Whether it’s for new roof construction or replacement, you have a plethora of roofing materials to choose from and it may seem like any one of them will do. Far from it, though, your choice of roofing materials is dependent on a lot of factors, but the most overlooked one is the roof pitch.

CQ Construction and Roofing explains how the roof’s pitch helps you decide the materials for your new roof.

What Is a Roof Pitch?

The pitch is the roofing term for the angle, slant, or slope of the roof. The pitch is designated as two numbers divided by a slash, such as 2/12 or 7/12. In some cases, the slash is replaced by a colon, but this is all a manufacturer preference.

The numerator refers to the vertical height of the roof while the denominator, or the second number, refers to the actual length of the roof. As a general rule, the denominator is always 12 – even if the roof is 12/12 and can be reduced to 1/1.

1/12 to 3/12: Flat and Low Slope Roofing

These roof pitches are at the lower ranges and are common for urban and contemporary style houses, as well as industrial and commercial properties. The majority of the roofing materials available for these pitches are industrial, such as built-up roofing and TPO. Standing seam metal can go as low as 1/2 but it usually works for low-slope roofs.

4/12 to 12/12: Asphalt, Composite and Metal

The most popular roofing materials for these are asphalt and composite, although metal roof replacement around these ranges is growing in popularity due to its versatility. These roofs are of medium height and the typical ones you see on most homes.

5/12 to 12/12: Wood and Slate

Both wood and slate tend to work best for roofs with a very high pitch, since they are more susceptible to leaks when they’re completely flat. Homes with these kinds of roofs usually have a traditional look to them and are quite tall.

As your residential roofing company, we’ll help you pick the right roofing material according to your roof’s pitch and home’s architectural style. Call us today at (850) 634-4007 to learn more about our services. We offer new roof construction in Crestview, FL.