Roof pitch, determining from the ground?

[LinuxRandal]

Can I use something like a speed square to determine my roof pitch from the ground?

I have the length and width and am trying to more accurately estimate my amounts needed, and I don't have time to get up there today (already running two hours behind).

Thanks
Back to the front.

[ragswl4]

Can I use something like a speed square to determine my roof pitch from the ground?

I have the length and width and am trying to more accurately estimate my amounts needed, and I don't have time to get up there today (already running two hours behind).

Thanks
Back to the front.

The rise and run measurements will tell you the pitch (you may know this already) and the speed square will give it to you directly. Also the angle from vertical will give you the pitch (read off of the speed square). Hope this helps. Don't know a way to do it from the ground.

[jonmulzer]

Single story house? Get a long 2x4 or something and mark it in foot increments with magic marker. Get someone to stand back and "measure" the distance from peak to gutter as you hold it up to the peak of the gable. It should get you close enough for shingle quantities.

[pelligrini]

To get a ballpark pitch: while standing on the ground you can sight down a long straightedge (like a 6' 1x2) and eyeball it parallel to the roof plane. With a speedsquare, or a ruler you can estimate the pitch by measuring. The further away from the roof plane you are the harder it is to eyeball it closely.

[iceman61]

If you have some money to drop you could always use this:
http://www.eagleview.com/

Seriously though, to get the pitch with a speed square, you will have to get up there & the speed square will tell you the exact pitch. You'll need to use a torpedo level on the bottom of the speed square.

I'm curious as to why you need to know the pitch. I only use roof pitch as a difficulty factor when I roof, but not to measure; that is unless you are estimating rafter length. If you lived on the east side of MO. I would come over & estimate it for ya.

[Rand]

Try using a pitch gauge like this one: http://haageducation.com/pub_view.asp?productID=31

[Kristofor]

Lots of practical answers already... Otherwise you can always crack out your geometery/trig skills... I'm pretty sure every "word problem" I had in 9th/10th grade had to do with measuring the height of water towers, power poles, or rooflines without actually climbing said structure...

[Zenaca]

Or you could go to the place you buy your shingles and the have a handy little cardboard card about 3x5 if i remember right with notches around the edge, just stand back and hold the card up and look at the peak of your roof and match one of the notches it will tell you the pitch!

I used to have one out in the shop i will look for it and scan it if i can find it.


Bud

[Hellrazor]

Ok I will really mess you guys up...

Do you have access to the attic? Check the pitch from the inside

[pelligrini]

That's off topic! The OP asked how to do it from the ground.

[LinuxRandal]

Update

I probably could have done better, with a level and a protractor, as those cheap protractors are see through.

That said, I used a spot that I knew was "level" for all practicle purposes, and was standing out in the yard (neighbors) trying to figure out what I thought was the pitch gauge (rafter layout section). That was when I noticed the degree section. I tried to match it up (hard to do on something not transparant) and when I was close for my guesstimate, when I made a stop someplace with an online computer, I typed in the angle and roof pitch and arrived at 6/12.

Yesterday, I finally found the paper at Lowes (cut out and match angles, not as nice as the one above), and started steeper and worked my way to a match (6/12).

My no measure estimate, and my measure estimate, would be about the same (a little higher on the no measure one).

It can be done, and thanks again.