Setting Out Battens Roof Tiles

Hold a final short strip of batten across the top of the roof just below the ridge and rest a tile on it.

Setting out battens roof tiles.

Use a hammer and nails to fix the batten in place when the position is correct. Mark the position along the eaves and top battens of every third tile. To ensure this the battens should be at least 1 2m long. These are nailed horizontally at regular spaces depending on the slate size you have chosen and the amount of slate overlap you require.

For example 25x50mm battens should be used for single lap modern roof tiles when laid on rafters with a 600mm span. Set out the first second and all the rest of slates on a pitched roof. Battens should be fixed to rafters set at centres not more than 600mm apart. The supplier of the tiles should recommend the spacing up the roof between the battens known as the gauge this usually varies according to the size of the tiles the pitch of the roof and the degree of exposure.

Ensure verge overhang is equal at left and right ends. Lay a course of tiles along the eaves setting the tiles at the average linear coverage. Not more than one in four battens should be joined over one truss for gauges over 200mm. Roof battens or slating lath two different terms for the same thing tanalised timber battens that are nailed to the roof rafters or roof trusses.

Then determine the position of the highest batten at the top typically the top of the uppermost row of slates tiles should be at least 75mm 3 inches under the edge of the ridge tile. Setting out across the roof. At this stage some adjustment in shunt could be made if necessary to allow a 38 to 50mm overhang at verges. They should span at least three rafters and be at least 1 2m long.

Here are some guidelines to bear in mind. It is also important aesthetically so that the tiles on the finished roof are equally spaced. Battens should be fixed to rafters set at centres not more than 600 mm apart and should span at least 3 rafters. Below 200mm there can be 3 consecutive joins in any twelve battens.

Setting out the means of securing the counter battens or battens to the wall structure should be decided before the tile battens are set out and nailed to the counter battens or the wall structure. Set out the first second and all the rest of slates on a pitched roof. Start by establishing the position for the lowest batten for the slates tiles on the roof allow for the overhang of the stales tiles in front of the fascia. The setting out of battens needs to take into account the top and bottom of the wall and the openings through it such as windows.