How many roof battens do i need

Metal roof battens may also be used with steel or timber support framing. Metal roof battens offer extraordinary strength to weight values and are lighter than timber battens. Metal roof battens will not warp or rot nor are they subject to insect attack. However, they are generally a little more expensive than wooden battens. You also have to be very precise with your fastening alignment. Metal roof battens are usually 40mm high and made from 0.

They can nest together to allow for easy storage and handling. The grooved surface on the top and flanges makes for straightforward non-slip fastener placement and also provide a safer surface for roofers to walk on during installation. Stramit Top Hat 40 metal roof battens are designed for cyclonic conditions. Top Hat 40 battens are made from 0. They measure 90mm x 40 mm x 40mm. Metal roof battens such as the Stramit range provide additional torsional strength for your roof truss system too.

The spacing may also vary across specific areas of the roof where loads are usually higher such as corners and roof edges. Your choice of roof cladding and sheet thickness will also influence the optimal span distances for battens. So Zincalume roof batten spacing may not be the same as Colorbond roof batten spacing. There are a number of standards that cover the manufacture and use of battens in Australia.

These standards include:. If wading through all of that seems like too much of a headache simply come and talk to the No. There is a wide range of insulation blankets and reflective type sarking available for metal roofing. For example if you have a roof cavity where you can install thermal insulation then your main focus for using foil backed blanket type products will be to reduce condensation and create a vapour barrier under the roof.

Specific tie-downs may be required for attaching battens to support structures in high wind areas. Herein, how do I work out how many roof battens I need? Measure the distance from the top of the lowest batten to the top of the highest batten.

Divide the distance by the maximum gauge of the tiles being used, and round the result up to the next largest whole number. The result is the number of courses of tile on the roof , rounded to a whole number. Also Know, how do you calculate Batten spacing for roof tiles? Divide distance by mm maximum gauge of Ashmore tile. Round this figure up to give number of courses up roof slope as a whole number. Divide measured distance by number of courses to give required batten gauge.

Concrete slates require 38x25mm batten for mm joist spans and 50x25mm batten for mm joist spans. Tiles can be installed both double or single lap and the choice will impact batten size. Clay and Concrete tiles will require 38x25mm batten for double lap applications. Roof Batten - maximum spans and spacing non-cyclonic Maximum span - mm Maximum spacing - Internal Spans - mm End spans Up to mm Span - mm Note: the batten spacing must not exceed the manufacturers maximum recommended support spacing for the roof cladding material.

Asked by: Abdelhalim Stinglwagner hobbies and interests woodworking How many roof battens do I need? Last Updated: 14th April, Battens should be fixed to rafters set at centres not more than mm apart and should span at least 3 rafters. To ensure this, the battens should be at least 1. Not more than one in four battens should be joined over one truss for gauges over mm.

Laxman Firestone Professional. How far apart should battens be? Tiera Nackies Explainer. How do you attach battens to rafters? Normal procedure is to use one batten screw per rafter. The screws you mention will be acceptable. For joins over a rafter , butt the ends together with the join exactly over the centre and skew screw on each batten end into the rafter.

On roofs with a steep slope, tiles are usually fastened to battens. According to CemTile, most roof tile manufacturers allow direct nailing, but on roofs with a slope greater than or on roofs in very cold climates where ice dams are likely, the tiles should be fastened into battens to ensure they remain fastened to the roof. In regions where high winds are common, roof tiles are usually fastened to the battens to prevent them from lifting from the roof deck. Battens elevate the roof tile off the roof deck, and this ensures that water drains off the roof.

How you install battens can affect the drainage efficiency. For example, horizontal battens run perpendicular to the slope of the roof and tend to trap moisture, so a 1-inch gap every four feet is necessary to allow for drainage. Horizontal battens should also be installed so that there is a clearance of at least 6 inches between the batten and the valley to allow concentrated water flow.

According to RCI, Inc. Installing a batten system beneath roof tile can offer some energy savings, as well.

According to CemTile, the space between the roof deck and the tile creates a thermal barrier.