Setting Out Slate Roof Battens

Battens may be hidden by the roof covering but their purpose is to provide a reliable anchor that tiles or slates can be fixed securely to.

Setting out slate roof battens.

Just short of the centre of the gutter. Holing gauge mm battening gauge mm m batten per m2. Set out the first second and all the rest of slates on a pitched roof. Set out the first second and all the rest of slates on a pitched roof.

Start by laying the under eaves course creating a staggered pattern for stability a 5mm gap between each slate is required to allow for natural expansion. What roof pitch do i need for what slate size generally speaking 20 degrees is the lowest advisable pitch for a slate roof depending on the size of the slates and how much that the roof is exposed to. It also allows you to determine the holing gauge distance from hole to tail of slate and the number of linear metres of batten per m 2 of roof. This table allows you to confirm the correct batten gauge distance between battens for your chosen slate length and lap.

The slate or tile manufacturer or supplier will specify the spacing of the battens up the roof for the particular type of covering this spacing is referred to as the gauge the gauge may depend upon the pitch of the roof and the amount of. The updated bs 5334 code of practice for slating and tiling specifies a number of batten sizes based upon the span of the rafters and the product being used. Lay the roof slates. Set the last batten at the ridge so that the ridge tiles will overlap the top course of tiles by at least 75mm.

The next thing to do is to work out the spacing for the battens up the roof. Now the roof has been set out correctly with the battens at the right distance apart its time to lay the slates. Roof battens and gauge the gauge is the space between the roof battens this will set the overlap of your chosen slate in most cases. Slate length mm battening gauge mm m batten per m2.

Setting out up the roof gauge set the first batten at eaves to allow the tails of the eaves course tiles to overhang the fascia by 40 to 45mm ie. Roofing battens are nailed into the rafters or roof joists or trusses and provide support for the roof tiles or slates. Spacing the battens.