How To Pitch A Roof ~ Comprehensive Guide

[@arronmcknight]

Grand Master Dan, so humble, proper gentleman, letting Roger do all the talking and yet never raises an eyebrow. If anything, gently corrects Roger once he has done talking. You two should do a lot more videos together 👍

[@SkillBuilder]

It might seem strange for me (Roger) to lead the video but our previous videos with Dan and Robin have left lots of people scratching their heads. It is probably because a carpenter is too close to the subject and rushes the explanation. You are right about Dan being a proper gentleman and we have plenty of videos coming up with him.

[@arronmcknight]

@@SkillBuilder I'm not knocking you Roger I promise and I know you're only doing your bit mate, don't wanna come across one sided cuz you're a top bloke as well. Love & respect always 👍🏻

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

@@arronmcknight thanks for watching it.

[@jamesgreen9665]

Love all your videos Dan, could you do one one a hip roof

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks @@jamesgreen9665 Yes one is in the pipeline…

[@denty32]

From someone who has been cutting roofs for 30 years the Essential Roofing Square and Dans Roofing app is a game changer. Great tutorial Roger and Dan 👏👏👏

[@SkillBuilder]

Great to hear!

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks Mark. Glad the square is still serving you well. 🙌

[@stephensaines7100]

Using it as a skill saw rip guide is genius.

[@atgaming95]

Honestly one of the best videos explaining the process of pitching a roof, so simple so straight forward

[@pops6638]

A great informative video. Dan never fails to amaze me, with his carpentry skills, and good explanations. He’s a magician with the timber!

[@SkillBuilder]

Couldn't agree more!

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks Pops.

[@lewiscunliffe1051]

The one thing I took more notice than that beautifully machined pitch square. Was the little off cut of osb on top of the ridge keeping the rafters spot on 😁 learn something new everyday. 👍🏻

[@matthewhook3375]

Great to see Dan on the channel again and love this scale model roofing explanation. Would love to see the rest of the roofing process explained in this accessible way - e.g. soffits, fascias, felt & battening, tiling, insulating etc. Top work as always chaps!

[@SkillBuilder]

More to come!

[@matthewhook3375]

@@SkillBuilder splendid, looking forward to it!

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

@@matthewhook3375 thanks.

[@ricos1497]

Great video lads. Dan is another real asset to the channel. Great communicator and shows humility and knowledge in one.

[@boabmarlee]

I only work on a roof every couple of years as most of my carpentry is finishing joinery and shopfitting but Dan's roofing Square looks like some bit of kit and worth buying to sit in my cupboard for when the time comes

[@dougieranger]

Brilliant, innovative solution. Best of luck with your roofing square Dan. 🇬🇧

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks Dougie.

[@liquiddenti]

I've got Dan's square and it's invaluable. I will not do a roof without it 👌👍

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks Chris.

[@thetallcarpenter]

You can't explain it much simpler than that guys👌illustrating the the pitch with a string from flat to upright helps make it easier to understand as well👍

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks Del. 🤝

[@thetallcarpenter]

@@Ultimate-roofing-square. 🤗🤩

[@SJWardBuilders]

Nice one gentleman!!! Dan your square is the nuts!!

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks Sam.

[@IWantOffThisRideNow]

This video made my work so much easier than what I have been doing. I have worked with a carpenter in the distant past and know a little but never even helped putting on a roof. I just do what I can build in my head. If I can successfully build in my brain I can transfer it to the actual construction. I'm fortunate in that regard, but I'm definitely lacking knowledge in some areas. This video lesson covered everything I needed. I'm still a little confused on the "bird mouth" but I think I can work around it. I'll find out tomorrow! Thank you so much for this video! ❤

[@stevenwaibel6856]

This answered so many questions I've had! Not all but a good amount! I love how everything was down scaled and easy to understand! Thank you very much my friend!👍

[@SkillBuilder]

Glad it was helpful! If you have more questions, please ask because that helps us make better videos. We are aware that many of our previous videos on this subject were too advanced for those starting out.

[@jeffyoung321]

Excellent video Roger and Dan.

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Another carpenter masterclass with Roger and Dan the man 🤙🏾🤙🏾🧱👍🏽

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks chaps. 🙌

[@KG6AFF]

Excellent! Love the proper English accents, great coverage very instructional, thank you for teaching everyone! ... the cm comparisons will come in handy while I'm living and building in Hungary after living 40y in California (Oregon) ... and then was merely a little interested in building NOW im very interested in creating a few geodesic dome and octagon small buildings starting out and practicing on small and later using what I learned to build large house sizes. of the same.. all these tips are excellent and very helpful, along with 2 years of wood shop in Paradise Ca high school... 1987... -tibor

[@pauloshea5483]

Good work lads

[@ron1martens]

5:48. Very nice tool accessory. I like it. Thanks for uploading .

[@paulfinnonjoinery]

class vid as always lads. love a roofing job now. used to really struggle with them and basically guess before watching youtube videos. night and day difference now.

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

That’s great Paul. 🤝

[@AmirAlwan]

Another great contribution to the community. It’s worth mentioning that this type of roof construction with a ridge board will require collar ties or bolting the ceiling joists into the rafters for preventing spreading of the rafters. Otherwise the top ridge will have to be designed as a beam supporting the weight of the rafters.

[@stephensaines7100]

In some North Am jurisdictions, hurricane clips are also required. They're cheap, strong, and an excellent touch even if not required by code.

[@crackerjack3762]

I was looking up baseball pitching tutorials and I’m not disappointed

[@nickgriffin637]

My youngest has just got me an essential roofing square for my birthday. Chuffed to bits. Photos don't do it justice!! Now I need to get some work in 😂

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Glad you like it Nick. 👍🏻

[@hermesjackle5903]

Thanks Roger and Dan , that was very informative . I'm going to use this information when I upgrade my UPVC Conservatory roof.

[@tadsam1261]

Thanks excellent training for a novice

[@SkillBuilder]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sergiofernandez3725]

Great explanation

[@istvankovasznai2300]

You have such a good talent for this m8. Well done. Good videos. Your video helped my a few times already. Thank you

[@covecarpentry]

Dan the man.

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks Patrick.

[@MattyB1970]

Really helpful, I’d like to see the next step now adding felt batten and tiles, then Ill have a go at adding a pitched roof to my shed!

[@ianw5119]

Great video, really informative. Learnt so much from these boys over the years. And Robin of course.

[@MrFlyby34]

Brilliant roofing square and I am gonna buy one. Cheers guys😊

[@roysammons2445]

My goodness what a team. Not only that I thought you two were going to do some Russian dancing there at the end, maybe even a bit of Fiddler on the roof.

[@epm8625]

Great videos easily explained nothing over cooked 👍

[@GeoffreyAbwa]

Very good lesson for beginners. May be you can go to other types of roofs.

[@kiwifruitpoo]

Nice lads. Can you cover fascia and soffit work too please.

[@SkillBuilder]

Great suggestion!

[@artursrikmanis]

THIS VIDEO IS GOLD!!!! THANK YOU!

[@darrenbethell3171]

Dan what model is that Makita circular saw with the plunge saw base on please buddy

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Hi Darren I’m not 100% sure but it’s a 36v one. It’s great as it’s compatible with a guide rail.

[@darrenbethell3171]

@@Ultimate-roofing-square. I know I thought I could kill two birds with one stone here just struggling to find a model no for it. If you get a min could you have a look on the body of it and let me know please is really appreciate it Dan👊

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

@@darrenbethell3171 i certainly will look at it later this afternoon and let you know the model no. 😉

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

@@darrenbethell3171 it’s a DHS782. 👊🏻

[@darrenbethell3171]

@@Ultimate-roofing-square. nice one thankyou so much I thought it may be that one Screwfix have got them on a bit of an offer atm £269 ffx and Powertool world £342 so guess where I’m off to in the morning. Thanks Dan much appreciated keep up the good work pal respect 👊

[@tlaw192]

Great video thank you

[@sparkyobrian6417]

love this channel

[@opentrail]

Great explanation. Thanks for sharing. Looks so much fun too.

[@acattackroofing4678]

Dan is one clever man

[@neil-mv3it]

great video best roofing square on the market

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Many thanks Neil.

[@micssticksnpipes]

Keep up the vids guys really enjoy them 👍

[@SkillBuilder]

We will! Thanks for the feedback. We have over 800 videos now

[@jamesmacleod2457]

Fantastic stuff Thanks!

[@tinytonymaloney7832]

I would actually take a chance and build a small apex roof from this video, it's actually a very good simplified breakdown of the important cuts and joints but whether or not it would pass any building regs is debatable 😁😂 Tell me though, the pitch angle of the truss would have surely reduced in angle due to the section taken out for the birds mouth, probably only about 3 degrees perhaps, is this ignored or have I misunderstood the calculation???

[@SkillBuilder]

The whole thing lowers down equally at top and bottom. The ridge is set on the top edge of the rafter so it isn't a question of pivoting it from the top. The angle remains the same

[@amazing451]

Nice to see Dan back on the channel at last, hope you'll be back soon on a real roof. 👍👍

[@SkillBuilder]

We have one coming up but this was an attempt to strip away the distractions of the building site.

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks Kevin. 👍🏻

[@henryparrott2447]

Love ❤ you show old man. Learn so much here. 👏 👏

[@grantgreenham2834]

Thank you guys this is great!

[@malcolmfunnell4501]

I’ve got an eco flow . I bought it six month’s ago , gave it a go it’s a lot of money the sun is getting higher , always knew I would need another battery, underestimated in the first place I will need two , only have 1200 watts of solar panels connected , took me a day too install . I’m in Surrey if you want to have a look

[@Mike_5]

?

[@SkillBuilder]

Hi Malcolm. We would love to see it. You can send your contact details on this link www.skill-builder.uk/send

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Good graphics Dylan. 👊🏻.

[@frankiegoestohollywood9784]

Great video very useful ❤

[@michaelplays2449]

Great Video !!

[@SkillBuilder]

Thanks!

[@petergrimes5210]

Please will you let me know the details of Dan's Eye protection, thank you

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

I’m sure they came from tool station. Not expensive either.

[@shariff7871]

Hi , I watched both of your clips pitch and hip and would it be possible to make a video for a semi octagon Roof please. Thank you

[@danielsmedina]

Thank you for your video, but i have a question. It is not necessary to have a rafter tie or a collar tie?

[@SkillBuilder]

yes

[@OfficialWong355]

For the length of the rafter, does the 1374 mark where the birds mouth go? Or is that just the total length of the rafter, just got confused on that part

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍 Great information

[@mingueyox]

Does such a pitched rood need ties (rafter tie / collar rie) to address the lateral pressures? Many thanks

[@SkillBuilder]

yes

[@gdfggggg]

I use Forgefast as it’s got a torx head. So much better than the old Pozy drive. And, you can’t beat a good screw.

[@waynecharlton954]

Is it best to leave your first pair off gableroof rafters 50 mill of the exterior walls when building an extension on to the exterior wall house ?

[@SkillBuilder]

Yes that is always a good idea and it might help if you eveb want to put a secret gutter under the tile abutment.

[@clivebrown645]

I am putting a hip roof on my oak gazebo and one side the wall plate has a slight bow in it meaning the rafter run will change slightly. How do I get round this?

[@SkillBuilder]

You will have to physically measure each rafter to make sure it is right. If the oak is showing I would give Dan Cox a call.

[@adam-qf2vz]

hi there. What if, as I have, your frame you are working off is not parrallell and also is varied in height ? Its a 300 year old barn frame.

[@p-jan5747]

4:20 if you know the height off the building and the rafter run, you can easily calculate it with Pythagorean Theorem (c = √(a² + b²)).

[@SkillBuilder]

I did say that

[@p-jan5747]

@@SkillBuilder oh im sorry, did not notice that. Always have you on on the side when im working :). Great content!

[@simonmiddleton2990]

A massive thanks Roger , i have watched countless videos regarding roofing and always struggled, i would defo attempt a roof now , cheers mate .

[@SkillBuilder]

Hi Simon . Some people make a big fuss about roof construction but carpenters have been doing this for thousands of years and not much had changed. In the end it is all about accurate measuring a marking.

[@CarolynQui]

As a first time, this is great! I just need to review it more than once and then build a fake roof first to see if I really get it. Then I can pitch away!!! Q - can I just make a small pitch on a roof that is flat? The room was added on with no building code as we are not in the city limits and now problems are cropping up. We have corrected the water problem but we must add a very small pitch. I do not understand enough to know if Iwe can simply add a low pitch and be done with it. The 30 pitch would be too much.

[@andrewhayes8469]

does the length of the rafter include the over hang ?

[@SkillBuilder]

No

[@johnforeman9926]

Hello, I use the speed sq. to layout my rafters. I having a very difficult time with the birds mouth! These are my measurements: 143.25 span...71-5/8 run...3/12 pitch...17.91 rise...73-13/16 diag. I make my 1st plum cut 3/12...measure down the board to 73-13/16 make 2nd plum cut...add10.5" for overhang. I come back to the 2nd plum cut...measure up 1-1/2 inch for the seat cut, then 3-1/2 inch cut. I finish off with cutting 3/4 inch for the ridge board...it doesn't fit!!! What am I doing wrong!!!

[@berkantdilber]

Folks, can you recommend a software that is suitable for this kind of material preparation, where it can automatically list all the desired lumber sizes and their cuts?

[@MrBsmurfy]

Great video! Q- doing a DIY greenhouse using twinwall ploycarbonate for the roof. Anyone know a reason not to have a flat angle vs a birdmouth at the wall end of the rafter?

[@SkillBuilder]

The rafter helps to stop the walls spreading. That only works if they are tied at the top and bottom.

[@MrBsmurfy]

@@SkillBuilder Thank you! im using light roof and using a treated 175mm X 75mm beam so hoping it will be ok when i go to do it.

[@el_wazabi1752]

Wana yo to school for this in uk but can't find

[@DNWandera]

Why does mr cox measure the hip length from top to wall plate whereas he measures the rafters to the topmost point of the height above plate?

[@SkillBuilder]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZKZXp6sn9mJkK8

[@dlite1972]

How do you go about working out the rafter length without the use of apps ?

[@SkillBuilder]

Tan

[@karlkjj]

Dans square is the dogs dangly bits easy to use and accurate ….he’s also a good guy !!!

[@SkillBuilder]

He is also a very knowledgeable guy in all sorts of surprising ways.

[@karlkjj]

Yes I know we talk a lot on Instagram

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

@@karlkjj 🙌

[@galvanisedegg1466]

I need a video on how to do paving on a gradient just saying

[@theworth123]

Just the same as on the flat. only use a string line from the top pavior down to the lower one and follow with the rest laying to the line.

[@SkillBuilder]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5ipamiJZbaem6M

[@alan36753]

Looking forward to pt.2 Don't use an electric kettle buy a Kelly kettle and use your off cuts to brew tea!

[@NAFO_Badger_Brigade]

Ha ha ha! That's me ! I book a scrounging day every so often to follow the chippies on roofing jobs to get the offcuts for my log burner!

[@therealdojj]

My builder is also using stabila levels so I'm pretty sure my build is going to be straight 👍

[@theworth123]

A drppped stabilla can be inacurate always reverse the level and check the diffrence before trusting it..

[@therealdojj]

@@theworth123 I'm sure he does 👍 I just supply cups of tea 😁

[@MphoThobatsi]

I still don't understand what factors decide the pitch of the roof, or is it by roofer discretion

[@Bazza1968]

Superb, just downloaded the app, took a couple of watches to get my head around it lol. Best of all it's UK and done in metric, I don't understand why the Shermans use imperial, it's utter nonsense. 31/83" and all that crap.... I've a garden room to do and much as I'd love one of his roofing squares I'll stick with the (METRIC!!) Milwaukee speed square I bought!

[@SkillBuilder]

There is nothing wrong with the speed square but, if you are doing lots of rafters, Dan's square speeds it up, which means the speed square becomes the slow square.

[@Bazza1968]

@@SkillBuilder Absolutely, if you were a pro you'd be daft not to get one. I'll probably end up doing a pair then using the template method! (Will need to ensure that everything else up to the wall heads is spot on for that!)

[@marlowjoinery9783]

Dans square is well worth the money for repetitive cutting of rafters there’s not a better square on the market

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Thanks for your continued support Mark. 🙌

[@Uk_Good_life]

Thanks sir

[@Lacebylad]

Another easy to understand vid. Any chance of another explaining how to bring a soil pipe through a pitched roof?

[@DanCasey-n9g]

OSB ?

[@I-am-not-a-number]

The rafter bows go down on a slate roof, the slates will sit better. I always leave the ridges and hips an inch higher than the jacks and commons.

[@theworth123]

This proves the rule and some rules need adjustment for real applicatoins.... Ridges and hips should be above but it depends on the the pitch, the higher the pitch the higher the the ridge ect will be above, best to draw the geometrical lines of the roof for perfect accuracy.

[@oghillfarmwoodwork]

As a complete beginner I would have benefitted if you actually showed the positioning of marking out the bird mouth cut on camera. From that point on I was lost. Show the marked timber on camera would've been ideal.

[@burwoodbuild]

Roofing for dummies… 🤪 don’t be so hard on yourself chaps! 😂 Got to say Dan’s an absolute roofing legend! 💯👊🏼

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

😂. Thanks Chris.

[@burwoodbuild]

Your welcome mate! 🫡

[@loafersheffield]

Best person I've seen on a chop saw is Kayla Lemieux. A Canadian woodshop teacher. 🤣

[@karl-arnal]

all good but one can't depend on an app to be able to measure the rafter length

[@SkillBuilder]

Why is that? I have not found it unreliable. It is trigonmetry, it doesn't change with the weather

[@karl-arnal]

​@@SkillBuilder of course, i am sure is a great app, but what if you don't have battery on your phone? people is been cutting rafters without a phone for thousands of years, wouldn't it be better to learn those technics and understand the principles of where one is getting those numbers from before using an app?

[@marlowjoinery9783]

Nice to see a chippy use a ks120 properly not just second fix work

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

It’s certainly a tool…

[@marlowjoinery9783]

Do use a 5kva transformer with it ?

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

@@marlowjoinery9783 no.. just a 3.3 kva. Not had any problems and it’s powerful enough.

[@marlowjoinery9783]

@@Ultimate-roofing-square. I use a 3.3 mines been fine too

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

@@marlowjoinery9783 a few chaps on the festool group did mention a 3.3 isn’t powerful enough. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Foz1]

A framing square with straight edge clamped to it (see Robin Clevett's) works wonders and is really inexpensive.

[@SkillBuilder]

That carpenters framing square has been arond for centuries possibly going back to the ancient greeks who made one from wood. City and Guilds apprentices are shown how to make a simple fence for it in their first year and it is shown in the C&G course notes along with more explanations of all the things it can do. It is a good tool and has many setting out uses that most people don't understand.

[@Foz1]

@@SkillBuilder Did not know that! The fence really is useful. Great for stairs too.

[@sdevane75]

that bird mouth explanation was as clear as mud

[@SkillBuilder]

Maybe leave it to someone who understands these things. Most people found this video easy to follow.

[@mule666]

Listening is hard

[@theworth123]

The span is outside wallplate to outside of wall plate the RUN is half the span.. Just saying...

[@SkillBuilder]

yes, thank you

[@theworth123]

@@SkillBuilder You're very welcome, great vids BTW..

[@Tappygillmore]

They said that at the beginning

[@harveyhouse9652]

what happens when you're working on an old building and it isn't square?

[@SkillBuilder]

If you are putting in a new wall plate you make it square, if not you adjust the rafters but a lot of old buildings are more square than new ones.

[@sgtspite]

Left feeling very confused 😕 😆

[@JohncTrumpet]

Just use trig at 4:27... lol

[@wokfisher5749]

I think you forgot to tell us to deduct half the thickness of the ridge off.

[@SkillBuilder]

No we didn't. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqSwqpeendFql9E

[@richardbudgell2374]

Great video but far to fast for me

[@dampwally611]

if you watch it two or three times it starts to sink in.

[@caahacky]

Camera went off the job at the crucial bit on the birds mouth.

[@SkillBuilder]

yes, that cameraman is from Essex so.............

[@thomasschafer7268]

😮und trotzdem ist diese form des dachstuhls problematisch. Die last vom dach drückt auf die aussenwände und will diese nach außen schieben!!👎🇩🇪🤔🤔

[@niallchurch2679]

What about doing a greenhouse,can screws be used in that?

[@erdysoliman816]

I am very thankful for the kzbin.infoUgkxbnOKZBE4evMO5V2vroHeCjq6d_MV6wJO that has been a tremendous help to me in building a perfect outdoor shed. I have been facing many challenges and difficulties for a long time, but this plan has guided me to correct the mistakes during the process. I am impressed by the projects and I express my gratitude to the creator of this collection of plans.