Roof Battens

Unlike typical timber battens, roof battens have been specially processed and treated to comply with the necessary British Standards. This ensures that they offer the necessary level of strength and longevity for roofing applications, whether they are being used on a pitched or flat roof.  

As you may expect, moisture can significantly impact the integrity of your timber battens. It is therefore required that roofing battens do not exceed a moisture content of 22% in order comply with BS5534.Should a batten exceed this moisture content they should not be used in neither pitched nor flat roofing applications.

Yes, any batten used for a roofing application must be graded. This is to ensure they are of the necessary quality to comply with Building Regulations. For timber battens to be graded they are typically inspected by hand or laser, ensuring that there are no significant flaws in the wood such as knots or splits.

Whether you’re working on a new build or refurbishing an old roof, installing the roof battens correctly is vital. While the battens may be hidden, they’re necessary to ensure the structural integrity, durability and weather-tightness of your roof.

1. Installing the roof membrane. A roof membrane is vital to prevent water ingress into your roof space and provide extra insulation. We provide breathable membranes, air permeable membranes and non-permeable membranes.
   
   
2. Before installing your roof battens, make sure that you have your size and spacing correct. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• Battens should be fixed to the rafters and no more than 600mm apart. They should span at least 3 rafters and be at least 1.2m long.
• No more than a quarter of your roof battens should join over one truss for gauges over 200mm. For gauges below 200mm, there can be a maximum of three consecutive joins in any twelve battens.
• Use a spread of batten lengths to achieve the above, as it results in staggered joints.

3. Now you’re ready to start fixing the battens into place. Remember, nails used to fix battens should be at least 3.35mm in diameter, and 65mm in length to achieve the required minimum 40mm of penetration into the rafter.
   
   
4. Begin at the lower edge of the roof, nailing battens into place at the centre of the rafters. Place joints directly over rafters. NB: If your batten end is going to be set in mortar, be sure that an appropriate treatment has been applied.
   
   
5. Now it’s time to start covering the roof. We have one of the UK’s best ranges of roof tiles, roof shingles and roof slates. So you’re sure to find something perfect for your home.