A pitched roof is a type of roof that slopes downwards, typically in two parts at an angle from a central ridge, but sometimes in one part, from one edge to another. The pitch of a roof is its vertical rise divided by its horizontal span and is a measure of its steepness. A flat roof has a pitch of zero, while all other roofs are pitched. The primary purpose of pitching a roof is to redirect wind and precipitation, whether in the form of rain or snow. Pitch is typically greater in areas of high rain or snowfall and lower in areas of high wind.

There are many different types of pitched roofs, including gable roofs, hip roofs, gambrel roofs, dome roofs, and mansard roofs. The two basic construction methods of pitched roofs are cut roof and truss roof. The parts of a pitched roof include eaves, gable, flashing, hip, ridge, purlins, fascia, rafter, battens, and joist.

The pitch of a roof is expressed as a ratio of inch rise per horizontal foot, or as the angle in degrees its surface deviates from the horizontal. For example, a roof that rises 3 inches per foot would be described as having a pitch of 3 (or “3 in 12”) . The most common roof pitch on residential homes falls between 4/12 and 9/12, and a “walkable roof” is generally defined as having a roof pitch of 7/12 or below.

In summary, a pitched roof is a type of roof that slopes downwards, typically in two parts at an angle from a central ridge, and its pitch is a measure of its steepness. There are many different types of pitched roofs, and the parts of a pitched roof include eaves, gable, flashing, hip, ridge, purlins, fascia, rafter, battens, and joist.