Speed Square For Roof Pitch

Using a speed square as a try square.

Speed square for roof pitch.

A speed square will have two specialty protractor angle guides on the inside of the tool which has both common rafter angles and hip valley angles marked out. As a matter of fact finding the pitch of a roof was the motivating factor for how this tool was invented in the first place hence it s official name the rafter square. The 90 degree right angle leading out from the pivot and the lip makes quickly and. You can use a speed square to find roof pitches guide your circular saw and more including marking any angle from 0 to 90 degrees.

After he created the speed square other carpenters began asking him for one and the swanson tool company was born. As stated in the video speed squares have useful markings on them from 0 to 12. The triangle shaped square was invented in 1925 by albert swanson to provide a quick accurate method for marking rafters. Swanson was a carpenter in a small town outside of chicago.

Invest in a larger speed square and you could even use it for longer cuts. Therefore if your roof rises 4 inches over the course of 12 inches of horizontal run then your roof pitch is 4 12. You can use a speed square to find pitches. A speed square and level can be used to easily find the pitch of a roof.

You can also use a speed square to find level if you re on the job without a spirit level. Speed squares aren t just for marking 90 and 45 degree angles when you re cutting 2x4s. He wanted to create a device to make it easier to quickly determine roof pitches. Finding the pitch of a roof is simple with a speed square.

The speed square was invented in 1925 by albert swanson. Constructing a new shed roof at the desired pitch is as easy as knowing how to use a speed square. Set the level on the edge of the speed square as shown below then place the heel of the speed square on a rafter or gable edge of the roof.