To adequately protect against snow, rain, and the heat of the sun, your home roofing system must be in excellent shape. A porch expands a home’s outside space. The porch’s roof helps to regulate the environment and temperature there. However, if the roof pitch is too shallow, installing a roof may lead to drainage issues.
Many individuals enjoy unwinding on their covered porch, which is also a fantastic spot to host guests. How much of a roof pitch must a covered porch have, though?
Make sure the roof pitch meets or surpasses these standards if you want your covered porch to last through many years of use and damage. Any home would benefit greatly from having a covered porch. It creates an outdoor living area that can be used all year long and offers shade and shelter from the weather. However, you must confirm that the pitch of your roof is high enough for this use.
What Is a Covered Porch’s Minimum Roof Pitch?
Ordinarily, four inches are required for every horizontal foot of distance as the minimum roof pitch required by law. For instance, your roof must be pitched at least 12 inches (12′′ = 72′′) if your covered porch is eight feet long and three feet broad.
This will guarantee that rainfall is properly drained, preventing leaks in your house. Make sure you examine this before installing a covered porch to your home:
- The legislation stipulates a four-inch minimum roof pitch for any covered porches that are more than three feet in width and eight feet in length.
- Roof pitches on covered porches must be at least every 12 inches.
- The roof must rise around six inches for every foot in length and should be pitched at an angle of at least two feet over the center of the covered porch.
- This permits rain to drain off and stops leaks from developing during times of intense rain or snowfall.
This is a crucial point to keep in mind when constructing a covered porch.
Smallest Roof Pitch
Roofs can be pitched as low as 1/4:12, or 1/4 inch rise to 12 inches of run. Only built-up roofing or specialist synthetic roofing can support such a modest pitch. Low-slope roofs shouldn’t be used to cover covered porches that are close to trees or in places that receive a lot of rain. This prevents accumulation of debris and water on the surface of the roof.
Match the existing roof’s pitch.
The covered porch roof should have the same pitch as the main roof. Residential roofs with varying pitches don’t seem to work together. Choose a shallower pitch if it is not possible to match the existing roof. Avoid choosing a steeper pitch since the covered porch’s shape will dominate or contrast with the main roof.
Use the appropriate slope and match the roof’s material
Match the main roof’s primary roofing material to that of the covered porch. The possible pitch of your roof will depend on the material you choose. The shortest pitch for shingles is 1:6, which equates to a rise of 4 inches and a run of 24 inches. A standing seam metal roof’s shortest pitch is 1:4, or 3 inches rise to 12 inches run. The 2:12 pitch, or 2 inches rise to 12 inches run, is the smallest pitch for roll roofing. The shortest pitch for GAF shingles is 2:12.
The blog post offers some excellent information on how to figure out your roof pitch and what supplies are need to get construction going. The advantages of having an outdoor area where family can congregate at any time or enjoy their morning coffee before work have also been discussed.
If you’re in the market for new roofing in Bethel Park PA turn to Pittsabana Contracting Services LLC. This local roofing company employs team members who are certified by CertainTeed and committed to delivering premium service on every job, from repairing storm-damaged commercial buildings to fully replacing residential roofs. Call (412) 580-6567 to speak with a friendly staff member to schedule service or visit the website to learn more about how they’ll help you.
