Vital things you need to consider about roofing battens in a property
If you are building a new house or going through a refurbishment, roofing battens are integral to the Project. Before installing roof battens on your property, you should know their features and benefits. It is essential to know the types of battens available and the dimension and resilience of these structures. These battens can help your home withstand harsh weather, including heavy rain. If you have any doubts, contact a roof battens manufacturer or retailer. In addition, you can ask the manufacturer about third-party certification.
Types of roofing battens
There are various types of roof battens. They are typically made from wood and should be adequately painted to maintain their aesthetic appearance. Generally, battens should be replaced every three to four years, depending on the roof’s overall appearance. This is a necessary part of the roofing process, as battens are generally located beneath shingles, which will eventually wear down.
Battens should also be preservative-treated to protect them from wood rot. Different types of preservatives are available, and other manufacturers offer various guarantees. For example, JB Red Battens contain a patented red pigment that prevents fungi and insects from attacking the battens. In addition, these battens are FSC and PEFC certified.
Roofing Batten Quality
Whist, your Roofing Batten must meet the BS5534 Roofing Requirements. It’s important to note this is a Minimum Requirement. We recommend checking your Roof Battens before installation.
Check your Roof Battens have not been damaged in transit or the rare occurrence of a defect getting past the Quality Control Process.
When checking your Roofing Batten, always check:
- Defects: Should be cut out of Roof Battens less than 1.2 Metres Long
- Distortion: Timber Should be Straight with a maximum 5mm Tolerance over 1.2 Metres
- End Splits: Should be Trimmed from your Roof Battens Before Use
- Fissures: Must not exceed half the Roofing Batten Thickness or 300mm
- Graded: All Roof Battens must be Graded
- Knots: Are allowed Dependent on Position and Size
- Growth Rate: Your Roof Batten should show at least Four Annual Growth Rings
There are Tolerances for your Roof Batten, including a Dimension Tolerance of:
- Width +/-3mm
- Thickness +3mm/-0mm
- 20% Moisture Content
There should be no decay or Insect Attack Damage to your Roofing Material.
Sap Stain is permitted along with Resin Pockets as long as they do not exceed 70mm in length and 6mm in Width. The excellent news is that reputable suppliers and manufacturers who sell a roof batten range will have an inspection process.
Does your ceiling need battens?
As seen above, ceilings are one of the places where battens are commonly used. However, do you need them? Here are five reasons to get them:
- This prevents the plasterboard attached directly to the timbre from cracking
- Permits the ceiling to be even when the timbre used is not
- Reduces the impact of noise between two different floors
- Less likely to be impacted by timbre shrinkage
- Lowers need for active maintenance and saves time and money
Conclusion
Once the roof battens are installed, it’s time to start covering the roof. Battens give construction a sense of stability. In the ceilings, they reduce the impact of noise and timbre shrinkage on the plasterboard and the ceiling, in general. Since they need less maintenance work and ensure the roof remains even, homeowners can save money and time on repairs. As such, ceiling battens have become a necessity in every house.
