Flat Roof Pitch Design

Flat roof design guide.

Flat roof pitch design.

An example for a steep sloped roof is 8 12. Flat and low sloped roofs look striking on a wide variety of architectural models especially on contemporary house designs. This modest slope can be achieved in a number of ways. According to the international code council the minimum slope for water runoff is inch per 12 inches.

Normally 1 80 0 72 is the recommended minimum angle for a slope and this is universal across the vast majority of flat roofing systems regardless of the materials that they incorporate. Flat roof slope the slope of a roof or pitch is determined by how many inches the roof rises over 1 foot or 12 inches. In fact many residences have sections of flat roof on porches balconies garages and room extensions which appear so attractive. A common choice for flat roofing material is epdm rubber as it is highly durable waterproof and can be made from recycled materials.

Flat roofs are typically designed with a pitch of 10 degrees or less. Some bauder waterproofing systems are bba approved for use with zero falls but back falls are not acceptable and should be corrected. There are different kinds of roofs and all these have particular specifications for their installation. The pitch of a roof is arrived at by dividing the vertical rise and its horizontal span or what people in the roofing industry would refer to as the slope.

Ask any architect and they ll tell you that hardly any other type of architecture is as timeless and modern as that of flat roof houses. Some local codes take it a step further allowing a slope of only of an inch per foot. A completely flat roof is a poor design as water and snow will collect on it eventually leading to your roof collapsing in from the weight of it all. Regardless of how new or modern a house is there is a good chance that it will be topped off with a flat roof now but if you can t picture how great they look we.

It should come as no wonder then that these are experiencing a serious comeback right now. Flat roofs are built with a slight pitch of at least 1 8 per foot so water can drain either to centralized drains scuppers or a gutter system. The smallest pitch of a roof is 0 5 12. Underneath the basics flat roofs are usually constructed with a ceiling nailed to joists which support a deck usually wood in residential construction a vapor barrier insulation and a roof board.

From there the flat roof system you choose will determine the materials you apply. Roof pitch in layman s language simply refers to the steepness of the roof.