The final cost of your roof replacement project depends on a lot of things — including labor and materials — but the biggest factor is the roof itself. More exactly, the roof pitch. In today’s post, your trusted local roofing contractor, Innovative Roofing & Siding, gives you an in-depth look at what is roof pitch and how it influences roofing cost.

What Is Roof Pitch?
Roof pitch refers to the measure of your roof’s steepness. Most residential roofs have a standard 9/12 pitch. This is what experts consider a “walkable” surface or a slope that provides enough steepness to perform an installation on. Represented as a fraction or ratio, the roof pitch’s upper half of the fraction or first value of the ratio is the run, which measures the horizontal stretch of the pitch. The second value is the rise, or the vertical measure, and is constantly 12 inches.
How Does It Affect Roofing Cost?
If you’ve ever searched for the “best roofer near me”, you’ll find lots of experts ready to answer this question, as it is asked by homeowners frequently. Steeper roof pitches usually have a bigger roof area. This means it will require more material to cover the entire space. If you’re planning to rebuild the frame, you may have some latitude on the cost by lowering the roof pitch. This isn’t ideal, though, if the roof will only be stripped down to the roof deck. A lower roof pitch also helps facilitate easier roof repair.
On the other hand, a higher roof pitch can make the system greater at shedding rain and snow. Doing this can increase the project cost, as the gutters will have to be replaced with bigger ones to handle the potentially heavier load. Additionally, it will increase attic ventilation requirements. In certain situations, the roof may require exhaust fans for proper ventilation.
Looking online for a “trusted roofing company near me”? Innovative Roofing & Siding is here for you. Give us a call at (865) 444-6070 or complete our form to schedule a FREE consultation. We serve homeowners in Knoxville and other nearby areas.