Roofer - What Pitch Should Roofs Be?

Roofers Advice & Tips - What Pitch Should Roofs Be?

Roofs are referred to as flat or pitched roofs and the two terms lend themselves to ask: what pitch should my roof be?

A flat roof usually has a negligible pitch to help the rain run toward the edge. It is usually covered by felt or other solid sheet finish. A flat roof usually does not employ tiles since wind driven rain can be pushed into the joints and cause leaks. A flat roof is the cheapest and easiest construction containing only rafters, decking and felt.

Different Roof Pitches

A pitched roof usually has a pitch of fifteen degrees or greater and can be covered with tile or slate. The steeper the pitch, the more material is used to cover it; therefore, steeper pitched roofs are more expensive to construct and repair. Each type of roofing material has a minimum roof pitch for its use to prevent water seepage into joints.

In general, some of the minimum roof pitches are are follows:

• greater than 15 degrees pitch for concrete tiles
• greater than 17.5 degrees pitch for manmade slates
• greater than 20 degrees pitch for natural slate
• greater than 30 degrees pitch for machine plain tiles
• greater than 35 degrees pitch for handmade clay plain tiles

Each roofing manufacturer has more exact specifications and new products are appearing all the time. The pitch is usually dependent on location and type of weather patterns and a local roofer will have a good idea of the pitch needed for a homeowner's location.

How Long Should Roofs Last?

Different roofing materials have different life expectancies. A roof can be expected to last 20 years or longer depending on the type and manufacturer. If there are water marks on the ceiling , it is a good possibility that the life of the roof may be coming to an end however, it is possible to repair sections of roof instead of replace the whole roof. Although it is possible to repair roofs as a DIY project, a professional has the benefit of experience with roofing materials and is more prepared to handle the safety aspects of working on a pitched roof.

Planning Permission - Roofs

When considering changes to existing roofs, it is important to check if the changes require planning permission. In general, if you are repairing an existing roof or recovering less than 25 percent of the roof, whether flat or pitched, you do not need approval, but if you are making structural changes, changing more than 25 percent of the covering or using a roofing material that would perform differently in a fire than the original you may need to submit for approval and it is worth checking with your local building control division within the local authority.