
Here are some of the more common conversions that are used in the building trades.
We also have a handy conversion calculator
To Convert | To | Multiply By |
---|---|---|
°C (degrees Centigrade) | °F (degrees Fahrenheit) | 1.8 and add 32 |
kg (kilograms) | lb (pounds) | 2.205 |
kPa (kilo Pascals) | lbf/in² (pounds of force per square inch) | 0.1450 |
kPa (kilo Pascals) | lbf/ft² (pounds of force per square foot) | 20.88 |
L (liters) | gal (imperial gallons) | 0.2200 |
L/s (liters per second) | gal/min (imperial gallons per minute) | 13.20 |
lx (lux) | ft-candle | 0.09290 |
m (meters) | ft (feet) | 3.281 |
m² (square meters) | ft² (square feet) | 10.76 |
m³ (cubic meters) | ft³ (cubic feet) | 35.31 |
mm (millimeters) | in. (inches) | 0.03937 |
m³/h (cubic meters per hour) | ft³/min (cubic feet per minute) | 0.5886 |
m/s (meters per second) | ft/min (feet per minute) | 196.9 |
MJ (megajoules) | BTU (British Thermal Units) | 947.8 |
N (Newtons) | lbf (pounds of force) | 0.2248 |
RSI (insulation) | R-value (insulation) | 5.6818 |
There are two ways to measure a slope and each method of measurement can be converted to the other. The two ways are: ratio of rise to run or degree of angle.
Measurement One
Most carpenters are familiar with the ratio of the rise and run for stairs and rafters. The rise is vertical and the run is horizontal. A typical slope of the roof is 5:12, so the rise is 5" and the run is 12". Another way to look at this is the ratio of a slope when the rise is one compared to another value. 5:12, or 5 in 12, becomes 1:2.4 or 1 foot in 2.4 feet. Road builders refer to the gradient of a slope as a percentage. It is still a ratio but the rise is figured in 100 units of run. For example, a 10% gradient is 10 units of rise in 100 units of run, where the units are the same. 5 in 12 becomes 41.67% (percent which means per 100) or 41.67 feet rise in 100 feet or 41.67 inches in 100 inches or 41.67 metres in 100 metres. No matter what unit you use you must measure both the rise and run in the same unit.
Example: To calculate the slope of a roof (referred to as a pitch) of 5:12 to a percent of slope: Divide 5 by 12 = .4167, then multiply by 100 = 41.67%.
As a ratio to a rise of one: 5:12 becomes 1:2.4. (12 divided by 5 = 2.4). To convert 1:2.4 to a percentage, simply divide 1 by 2.4 = .4167, then multiply by 100 = 41.67% - the same as 5:12.
Measurement Two
The second way to measure a slope is by the angle of the slope (in degrees). If you know the angle of the slope you can convert that angle to a rise to run ratio.
This is done by using the tangent, which simply means the rise divided by the run at any given angle. The tangent of a known angle can be looked up in a table or by using a scientific calculator (a calculator that has a tangent button and usually lots of others). You can also find the angle of the slope if you know the rise to run ratio by using the inverse tangent on your calculator (the tangent in reverse, usually looks like this: tan-1) or by looking up the angle in a table of tangents where the angle corresponds to your known slope ratio. That's all a tangent is. It's just the ratio (fraction) of rise over run for any angle of slope.
One important note about angles in calculators. There are three ways to specify an angle (and you only need to know one of them unless you're an engineer): degrees, radians and gradians. You guessed it: degrees is the one to use. You can skip the other two and I won't bother you with their definitions!
The reason the above note is important is because you MUST set your calculator to degrees (instead of rads or grads) otherwise the results of your calculations will NOT be useful to you. There are many types and models of calculators. You want one that can calculate in degrees and has the tangent key (tan) and inverse tangent key (tan-1).
Using your Scientific Calculator to get the rise to run for any known angle of slope:
Using your Scientific Calculator to get the degrees of a slope from a known ratio of rise and run:
You can also check out our Conversion Calculator at our Construction Conversion Calculator and set the Convert field to Slope.
Hi, I'm Dave Osborne. With over 50 years experience as a journeyman carpenter, foreman and contractor in heavy construction I enjoyed working with apprentices and sharing the tricks of the trade that others shared with me. Now I get emails from Members all over the world and we include many of my answers in our Free Monthly Newsletters. Some of my answers include drawings and instructions specific to a project, but may also answer your questions. I use correct construction terminology, so you can confidently inform your building supply dealers or contractors exactly what you need.
ASK DAVE!
Membership gives you full access to our hundreds of how-to articles, woodworking plans, converters, calculators and tables. Our Stair Calculator is one of the most popular on the internet. We have projects you can build for (and with) your kids, furniture for your wife, and sheds and gazebos. If you run into a problem or need advice your Membership includes unlimited email questions to me through our Ask Dave quick response button.
Join us!