Pitched Roofing: Which is The Right One for Your Home?

A roof is the key external feature of most houses as it can be seen from a distance, so it is important to ensure you choose the right roof pitch. With most styles of house - even the shallow-pitched villas popular in early Victorian times – the roof dominates and therefore should look correct. We have put together some helpful information on how to choose the right roof pitch for your house design. The Right Pitch The pitch of your roof will not just have an effect on the way your house looks but will also determine how much water the roof will hold and dispose of. The lower the pitch, the greater the amount of water that the roof slope will collect and discharge. As a result, the tiles must be able to cope, particularly at the lower end of the slope with the greater expected volume of water without risk of leakage. There are five common roof pitches used when building or renovating a house, including:

• 39°: This pitch is good for a Georgian style home
• 42.5°
• 45°
• 48°
• 49°: A perfect for an 'Arts & Crafts' house

Deciding on the correct roof pitch will depend on the style of house you are building or renovating and, to a certain degree; the area the house is situated. Generally, the more traditional the house, the steeper the pitch should be. With Victorian and Arts & Crafts designs (particularly those around the turn of the 20th century) being the steepest and Georgian being the shallowest. A lot of housing that was built in the 20th century came with shallower pitches to benefit from saving money but the reigniting of interest in house design, coupled with the desire to make better use of roof space, such as loft conversions, has led to steeper pitches in recent years. If you would like some further advice on pitched roofing or have a future project and need professional help, contact us on 01603 418818.