Florida Minimum Roof Pitch

Importance of a roof pitch.

Florida minimum roof pitch.

Florida has more roofing regulations than you may realize. Asphalt shingles continue to be the most widely installed roof covering option in north america. However you can only use this pitch with built up roofing or specialized synthetic roofing. Let us recap on the minimum roof pitch required for each type of roofing material.

All metal roofing shall be tested in compliance with tas 100. The minimum slope for lapped nonsoldered seam metal roofs with applied lap sealant shall be one half unit vertical in 12 units horizontal 4 percent slope. The minimum pitch for a roof is 1 4 12 which translates to 1 4 inch rise to 12 inches of run. Most of these laws are found in the sixth edition of the florida building code which went into effect on dec.

A better design is to eliminate gables in favor of a hip roof all around the home so each side has a slope. Reroofing shall not be required to meet the minimum design slope requirement of 12 in section 1507 of the florida building code building for roofs that provide positive roof drainage high velocity hurricane zones shall comply with sections 1515 2 2 1 and 1515 2 2 2 of the florida building code building. Lap sealants shall be applied in accordance with the approved manufacturer s installation instructions. They provide excellent weather resistance great value and now more than ever a tremendous range of beautiful designs and color blends.

Asphalt shingles require a minimum roof pitch of 2 12 or greater. The minimum roof pitch is also subject to the standards set forth by the various building codes used in the respective regions. The short simple answer is 2 12 has traditionally been considered the absolute minimum acceptable roof slope suitable for asphalt shingles. That s a 7 12 pitch the roof gets 7 inches higher for every 12 inches of run toward the peak.

All metal roofing shall resist a minimum wind uplift resistance as determined by chapter 16 high velocity hurricane zones for a roof slope of 9 5 degrees 0 0166 rad and a roof mean height of 15 feet 4 6 m. The minimum slope for standing seam roof systems shall be one quarter unit vertical. Metal roof shingles require a minimum roof pitch of 3 12 or greater. Civil and structural engineer rima taher phd recommends a 30 degree slope as the right pitch to aerodynamically handle high wind.

The chief reason for having a roof pitch is to redirect water and snow away from the roof and avoid any percolation that might result from stagnation of water on the roof. There are laws regarding who can work on roofs how roofs must be installed or repaired when roofs may be reroofed and much more.