- Less flogging: Full-length battens prevent the sail from flapping like a flag. ...
- Easy furling: The battens ensure the sail drops onto the boom in a neat stack.
- Improved draft shape: Full-length sail battens create a smooth sail shape that holds stiff, especially in strong winds and choppy waters.
Are battens always used in a roofing system?
Battens are not always used in a roofing system. Roofing battens or battening, also called roofing lath, are used to provide the fixing point for roofing materials such as shingles or tiles. The spacing of the battens depend on the type of roofing material and are applied horizontally.
What is a batten?
A batten is most commonly a strip of solid material, historically wood but can also be of plastic, metal, or fiberglass. Battens are variously used in construction, sailing, and other fields. In the lighting industry, battens refer to linear light fittings.
What is the purpose of a batten on siding?
For example, battens are used to cover the seam that is created when two siding panels butt up to each other. The batten is then caulked on either edge to keep water from getting behind the panels and causing rot, mildew, and decay issues down the road.
What are batten strips and how are they used?
Today batten strips can be used to class up a house built with simple panel siding. As labor costs continue to climb, builders are looking for ways to trim the budget without sacrificing quality and the aesthetics of great design. Batten strips are a relatively inexpensive add-on that makes a big impact.

What is a batten and for what is it used?
batten, term used in joinery for a board 4 to 7 inches (10 to 17.8 cm) wide and not more than 3 inches (7.6 cm) thick employed for various purposes. In sailing the word is applied to a strip of wood nailed to a mast to prevent rubbing or to fix down a tarpaulin over a hatchway in rough weather.
Are battens necessary?
You do not have to use a batten roofing system under most building codes. In some cases, it is necessary, but in most cases using batten on your roof is a choice to gain the benefits of using this system. There are primarily two options for roofing, a direct to deck system or a roof batten system.
Where do battens go?
Roof battens are thin strips of material that may be made of wood, plastic or metal. They're installed before the tile is laid on the roof and may serve more than one purpose.
What do battens do in a roof?
Roof battens: Provide a breathable space allowing any condensation to be eliminated. Increase the structural performance of roof truss systems. Enable roofing materials to be secured firmly to the roof.
What does a batten look like?
Batten trim or batten molding is a thin strip of trim typically with a rectangular cross-section similar to lath used in lattice, used to cover seams between panels of exterior siding or interior paneling.
What is a batten on a building?
A batten is generally a strip of timber (although it can also be steel or plastic) which is used in the construction of buildings. They are typically used as spacers to raise the surface of a material, or as a secondary framework onto which a surface may be fixed.
How do you install battens?
0:005:04How to install Board and Batten Siding - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe Bourdon battens on the upper half of a shed or a combination of primed one by ten and one byMoreThe Bourdon battens on the upper half of a shed or a combination of primed one by ten and one by four trim boards. The first step is to install some blocking in several places.
Can you walk on roof battens?
The battens are only fixed with the recommended nails. The safe system of work dictates that the roofers never deliberately walk on the battens, mid span, between the trusses.
How many battens do I need?
Multiply the number of rows in each section of the roof by the length of the eaves for that specific section. This will give you the total length of battens needed for each side of the roof.
How many battens should be on a roof?
Battens should be fixed to rafters set at centres not more than 600mm apart. They should span at least three rafters and be at least 1.2m long. No more than one in four battens should be joined over one truss for gauges over 200mm.
Are roof battens structural?
The quick answer is YES. Roof battens no matter how you look at them are a structural element of any roof. Roof battens are one of those constantly misdiagnosed and overlooked aspects of roof construction. But roof battens provide some extremely important structural functions to protect your roof.
How do you put out roof battens?
2:224:57How to install Roof Battens ready for Verges and Ridges - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo we'll take our Ridge batten which is a piece of 38 by 25. And plain tile timber place it on theMoreSo we'll take our Ridge batten which is a piece of 38 by 25. And plain tile timber place it on the apex of the roof. And then we'll place our batten straps over the top firmly securing them to each
Can you sail without battens?
Battens are absolutely needed on any sail that has any positive roach. This means sailcloth that is over the direct line between the head and the tack. Any such sailcloth cannot be tensioned by sail trim, and will flap uncontrollably when sailing unless the area is stiffened with battens.
Why do people batten walls?
A battened wall lined with plasterboard can help insulate your house and protect it from damp, while giving you a smooth plasterboard wall.
Do all sails have battens?
Applications in sails Cruising sailboats may have four to six battens. Racing sailboats may have full-length battens, as well, that allow for better sail shape. Batten length near the head of the sail is limited by the need for the roach to pass ahead of the backstay, when tacking or jibing.
Why is it called a batten?
In order to seal these gaps, wooden strips a few inches wide were nails to the outside of the house where the boards met. The wooden strips were known as battens, and this style of siding became known as board and batten.
What is a batten?
A batten is most commonly a strip of solid material, historically wood but can also be of plastic, metal, or fiberglass. Battens are variously used in construction, sailing, and other fields.
What is batten in lighting?
In the lighting industry, battens refer to linear light fittings. In the steel industry, battens used as furring may also be referred to as "top hats", in reference to the profile of the metal.
What is a batten luminaire?
Batten luminaires are typically cheap and meant to be fixed directly to structural battens in loft spaces or to ceilings and soffits in back-of-house areas where aesthetic value is not required. Fluorescent fittings may include a low-specification diffuser cover, or simply have the fluorescent tube exposed.
What is a batten in metal roofing?
Battens are also used in metal roofing to secure the sheets called a batten-seam roof and are covered with a batten roll joint. Some roofs may use a grid of battens in both directions, known as a counter-batten system, which improves ventilation.
What is a roofing batten?
Roofing battens or battening, also called roofing lath, are used to provide the fixing point for roofing materials such as shingles or tiles. The spacing of the battens on the trusses or rafters depend on the type of roofing material and are applied horizontally like purlins .
What is a screed batten?
In concrete work a screed batten is fixed to the formwork to smoothly guide a screed smoothing tool.
How big is a batten?
In flooring a batten may be relatively large, up to 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) thick by 7 inches (18 cm) wide and more than 6 feet (1.8 m) long.
What are Battens?
Sometimes called a lath, a batten provides a fixed point for roofing materials to be attached.
2- Traditional Battens
These are normally crafted from hardwood. They are 1” x 2” x 4” in size and can be used with wooden roof structures.
What is board and batten siding?
Board and batten, or board-and-batten siding, describes a type of exterior siding or interior paneling that has alternating wide boards and narrow wooden strips, called "battens.". The boards are usually (but not always) one foot wide. The boards may be placed horizontally or vertically. The battens are usually (but not always) ...
What is reverse board and batten?
Reverse board and batten have very narrow boards with wide battens installed over the seams. Like horizontal siding, the size variations will have a dramatic effect on how natural light creates shadows on the siding.
Why is board and batten siding called barn siding?
Because it was inexpensive and easy to assemble, board and batten was used for structures such as barns and garden sheds. Board-and-batten siding is sometimes called barn siding because many barns in North America are constructed this way. Even today, this type of siding on a house exudes a comfortable informality.
Is board and batten a construction material?
Remember that board and batten is not a construction material , and often the materials used will affect the overall final appearance.
Is board and batten siding more formal?
Even today, this type of siding on a house exudes a comfortable informality. Board-and-batten shutters, which use the batten as a horizontal brace, are also considered less formal and more provincial than louvered shutters. Because it's how the batten is used with the board that is important, they don't have to be made of wood.
Why is it important to understand battens?
Understanding more about roof battens is vital for anyone that plans on doing roofing work, needs roof repair or is involved in any area of construction. Having a good understanding of how a roof works starts with understanding each component of the roofing system and how it plays a role in ensuring that the roof is functioning at a high standard.
What is the purpose of a batten on a roof?
Battens are not always used in a roofing system. Roofing battens or battening, also called roofing lath, are used to provide the fixing point for roofing materials such as shingles or tiles.
Why Are Battens A Great Option for Any Roof?
A batten roof can last longer, be more durable, deliver a higher level of energy efficiency.
What is the spacing of a batten?
The spacing of the battens depend on the type of roofing material and are applied horizontally. The spacing of the roof battening highly depends on the type of exterior roofing material that is going to be used. For example, metal roofing will be attached to special metal roof battens.
How many fasteners does a roof batten have?
That means there are fewer fasteners compromising the underlayer of roofing for each square. Direct deck roofing can have as many as two hundred fasteners while the batten roofing has less than fifty.
What do you need to know about roof battens?
Roof Battens, All You Need to Know About Roofing Bat tens. If you are not involved in the roofing industry, you likely do not have any idea what roofing battens or roof battening is. Most people think of roofs as being made of the materials that they can see. They look at a roof and see shingles and assume that is what a roof system is, ...
Why do you need a plastic batten?
This method of batten installation can help to ensure if any water gets in do to driving rain forces, the water will find the gap and run down the batten and off the roof. Plastic battens are designed with channels that encourage water to seamlessly run through the batten instead of under the roofing material.
What is a batten?
Here is the lowdown on battens and what you need to know to choose the right ones for your sailing needs. Battens are the primary structure of a mainsail. They support the sail's shape, ...
Why use battens for sails?
The bottom line is that the more full-length battens, or framework, are used, the more durable the sail will be, and the better it will hold its shape in a breeze. More structure equals less flog and quieter luffing (as when taking a reef). Reduced flogging will preserve the resination that holds woven materials together and makes them stretch resistant.
What is the purpose of I beams on a sail?
Acting as “I” beams, they resist the forces on the sail that try to compress the leech in towards the luff when the sail is sheeted in. This preserves the open leeched airfoil shape and keeps the sail from becoming fuller and more semicircular (rounded leech) as the breeze and the loads increase.
What is a batten receptacle?
Batten receptacles are the boxes that contain the batten on the luff end and connect the sail to the mast. They eliminate chafe and wear. Ideally they have a stainless steel, articulating universal joint to keep the batten from pushing forward while allowing the batten to spin independently of the slide.
Why is a batten important in a mainsail?
A batten running the entire width of the sail is most critical in the top sections of a mainsail because the roach represents the greatest percentage of the cord (straight line distance between leech and luff). In the lower sections of the sail, the roach is a smaller percentage of the cord, so the battens don't have as much work to do.
What happens when a batten is shorter?
If the battens are shorter, the loads are transferred to the material of the sail wherever they end. Over time, the fabric breaks down and hinging develops.
Where should battens be used on a mainsail?
At a minimum, full-length battens should be used in the top sections of the mainsail.
Why Use Batten Strips?
Batten strips are making a huge comeback. They used to be commonly found on cedar shake gables. Today batten strips can be used to class up a house built with simple panel siding.
Material Options For Batten Strips
There are several options for batten trim materials. Commonly available batten trim can be made from all natural wood to preservative treated wood to completely man-made products. Of course there are pros and cons to each one. Let’s take a look at the real wood category first.
Manufactured and Non-Wood Batten Strips
Some of the newer products on the market for batten trim are Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and fiber cement. These popular products have unique characteristics that may be ideal, but only in certain conditions.
Conclusion
XT Trim by Belco is the clear winner for batten trim. It literally ticks all the boxes: budget-friendly, lightweight, warranty for 20-years against rot, easy to install, readily available and accepts paint well.

Overview
Wall battens
Wall battens like roofing battens are used to fix siding materials such as tile or shingles. Rainscreen construction uses battens (furring) as part of a system which allows walls to dry out more quickly than normal.
Board-and-batten siding is an exterior treatment of vertical boards with battens covering the seams. Board-and-batten roofing is a type of board roof with batte…
Roofing
Roofing battens or battening, also called roofing lath, are used to provide the fixing point for roofing materials such as shingles or tiles. The spacing of the battens on the trusses or rafters depend on the type of roofing material and are applied horizontally like purlins.
Battens are also used in metal roofing to secure the sheets called a batten-seam roof and are covered with a batten roll joint.
Spacers
Battens may be used as spacers, sometimes called furring, to raise the surface of a material. In flooring the sometimes large battens support the finish flooring in a similar manner to a joist but with the batten resting on a solid sub-floor as a floating floor and sometimes cushioned.
Trim
Batten trim or batten molding is a thin strip of trim typically with a rectangular cross-section similar to lath used in lattice, used to cover seams between panels of exterior siding or interior paneling.
Flooring
In flooring a batten may be relatively large, up to 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) thick by 7 inches (18 cm) wide and more than 6 feet (1.8 m) long.
Batten doors
In door construction battens may be used to strengthen panels made up of multiple boards, as in a batten door, or to cover joins.
Wall insulation
Battens are used for solid wall insulation. Regularly spaced battens are fitted to the wall, the spaces between them filled with insulation, and plasterboard or drywall screwed to the battens. This method is no longer the most popular, as rigid insulation sheets give better insulation (with battens bridging the insulation) and take less time to fit.