Is It Important to Change Your Roof Pitch?

Roof replacement experts state that it’s essential for homeowners to understand how to measure their roofing system’s pitch. The roofing pitch or the roof slope determines how quickly excess water, debris, or snowfall will slide off your roof. The steeper your pitch is, the quicker your roof will get rid of debris. 

A roof pitch is a form of measurement used to determine the slant of your roof. Its importance to the functionality and safety of your roof cannot be understated. As such, there are many good reasons to understand its purpose and what it means for the safety and comfort of your loved ones beneath it.

In fact, just over a month ago in Ellisburg, NY, local anchors reported that a barn roof collapsed and killed cattles during a severe winter storm. After one day, the roofing system of an elementary school collapsed in an area in Montana. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were sustained during the event. Roof collapse is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, especially in areas with heavy snowfall. In fact, some states have released guidelines to help clear snow during these harsh winter months to avoid homeowners’ roofs from collapsing. Studies have even shown that flat and low-pitched roofing systems used in industrial applications which can be found in some residential roofing home designs are at great risk of buckling under heavy snow and ice formation. As such, this shows that your roof pitch matters in terms of your home’s safety and integrity.

With that information, some homeowners wonder if it’s important to change your roof’s pitch? Your trusted roof installation contractor, Roofmasters Roofing and Sheet Metal, shares a comprehensive guide to help you through this matter.

Defining What Is the Roof Pitch

The roof pitch is one of the most prominent parts of your roofing system, according to roof repair experts. Roof pitch is shown as a ratio of the roof’s vertical rise to its “run”, or also known as the horizontal span. Here in the United States, the roof pitch is usually measured in inches and shown as a ratio. The higher the number of the rise in the ratio is, the steeper your roof is. The second number is the run or the horizontal area measured, which usually runs around a standard 12 inches which is equivalent to one foot of roofing system. 

For example, if a roof pitch is described to have a 10:12 ratio, this means that for every 12 horizontal inches of roof there is, the roof rises 10 inches, creating a steep slope roof ideal for cold weather conditions. If you plan to measure your roofing pitch on your own, you can take the measurements safely from inside your attic or crawl space.

Why Is Roof Pitch Essential?

Your roof repair expert will tell you that roof pitch is very important since this allows water, snow, and rain to run off from your roofing system. This is why homes built in climates with harsh winter and rain conditions tend to build roofing systems with a steeper pitch. A roofing system built by a skilled roofing company will be able to prevent pooling water or snow accumulation over time, which can lead to serious roofing damage if left untreated. It can cause issues like mold growth, cracks, leaks, and in worse cases, a roofing collapse. Many states, including those up north where snowfall is usually expected, mandate minimum pitch levels in their building codes. Their insurance provider gives some guidelines to calculate the safe snow load for roofing systems so that it can deal with heavy snowfall which can happen every few years.

3 Reasons Why You should Change the Pitch of Your Roof

Adjusting your roof’s pitch is more involved than just having a roof replacement project. When you’re discussing a roof replacement project, this involves tearing off and replacing your old roofing shingles, damaged roof decking, flashing, and your gutter system and replacing it with a new one. When you have to change your roof’s pitch, you’ll need to have some major structural changes, such as replacing your roof’s ridges, props, eaves, rafters, and internal walls. Here are some reasons why you should change your roof’s pitch:

1. Avoid Serious Problems. Roof replacement is needed if your roof is rotting or sagging. Having a sagging roof indicates that there are issues with your roof’s decking, as well as the fundamental components. You won’t see this problem as often in a home that is well-maintained. However, if you’re restoring a home that hasn’t been taken care of in a while, then this is something you’ll most likely spot.

2. New Home Addition. Since getting a pitch adjustment is akin to that of adding to your home, it’s something that you should consider when you’re having a home addition. If you’re planning to add another floor, or a half, it’s important to consult with your structural engineer beforehand to see how much your roof’s pitch needs to be changed. This is the golden opportunity to give your roof a new shape in order to change its appearance.

3. Head Room. If you like the way your home looks and flows and you don’t want to add another floor, but you’d like to raise your home’s ceilings, then changing your roof pitch is a great idea. Some of these modifications can be done with your current home, unless your roofing contractor says otherwise.

Keep in mind that changing your roof’s pitch will affect your roof’s appearance, functionality, and more. It’s not a budget project, but a major renovation, so go into the project with the mindset that you’re taking on a big task. If you don’t have to change your roof’s appearance, other builders would advise to leave it be and search for a new home instead. 

We’ve Got You Covered

Roofmasters Roofing and Sheet Metal is a full-service roofing company that has been family-owned and -operated for more than 40 years now. In the Midwest region, we are the residential roofing contractors to trust for all your replacement, repair and restoration needs. To learn more about what we can do for you, simply give us a call at (785) 628-3614 or fill out our contact form. Schedule a FREE estimate today! We serve Hays, Colby and the surrounding KS communities.