There are advantages and disadvantages to having a steep pitch versus a shallow, or low, pitch, the most obvious of which is the roof's ability to shed or withstand heavy snow, rain or wind. basically, the steeper the pitch, the better it can shed snow and rain .. I have a 4;12 pitch on a single wide 2001 mobile home and am thinking of going metal. currently a shingle roof. most roofers are telling me that metal will shed the snow 'garuanteed' and a few people are telling me that it will not shed snow all that well due to the pitch.. Basically, a tall steep-pitched roof that bottoms out on two shallow-pitched roofs on either side. our original plan was to have the slick metal panels (standing seam) so the bottom roof can shed snow from the upper easily and prevent snow and ice buildup on either roof..
Shed roof pitch calculators. the best way to calculate the pitch of your new shed roof is to use an online pitch calculator such as this one here or this one. the only thing you need to know to use these pitch calculator is at least two of the following, run, rise, or angle.. If you don't like the looks of a 12/12 roof, and you don't like to work on a steep roof, you are free to build a roof with any pitch you want. i don't know what you mean by "the optimum roof pitch in vermont for shedding snow with a metal roof." my roof has a 12/12 pitch and metal roofing, and it holds snow all winter, until sometime in late march.. But without designing the snow retention based on accurate testing, you could be wishing you had that steep slope and metal roof (which was always intended to shed snow). it is critical that a designer specify enough snow retention devices based on the slope and snow load..
