Batten ceilings are a type of ceiling that is made up of timber, which is an affordable and sustainable material. Timber battens are often used in warehouses, workshops and garages as they provide good insulation against the heat and noise.
Ceiling Batten Section is now used by most Builders as it prevents Plasterboard cracking and “nail popping” caused by shrinkage of the battens. Ceiling Batten Section is fixed to the bottom truss or ceiling joist.
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.
Roof laths: Provides a secure base for lightweight roofing materials. They enhance roof stability and longevity. Roof battens: Contributes to the structural integrity of roofing systems. They offer support and ventilation and prevent water buildup.
As well as ceiling battens, furring channels can also be used to attach plasterboard to walls. Ceiling battens, on the other hand, are normally only used for ceilings, and only in residential construction.
Ceiling Battens shall be spaced at either 600mm maximum centres or the maximum permissible span as specified in the load span table to the right. Ceiling Battens shall span a maximum of 1200mm between supporting framing for a continuous span, and 900mm maximum for a single span.
Furring strips are slender, long strips of wood — typically spruce, fir or Southern yellow pine. These types of wood have good structural integrity and are useful in both exterior and interior structural applications.
Ceiling battens can be made of either steel or timber – but steel's normally preferred because it's straighter. In most cases, your plasterer should use the systems and methods that are recommended by the plasterboard manufacturer.
Lath and plaster was a skilled craft and a time-consuming technique and the advent of cheaper, mass produced, pre-manufactured plasterboard meant lath and plaster largely fell out of favour by the 1930s and 1940s. Plasterboard was simply faster and less expensive to install.
Counter battens are wooden strips that are installed vertically over pitched roofs to which horizontal tiling battens are attached. They are used to allow rainwater to pass off the tiles and away from your roof.
Treated timber battens, also referred to as roofing lath or timber battening, are commonly used to support or fix roof tiles and slates to rafters.
- Using Untreated Timber: If you're using timber battens, ensure that they are properly treated to resist moisture and rot. Untreated timber can lead to early rot, weathering and insect infestation and costly repairs. - Neglecting Ventilation: Battens should be installed in a way that allows for proper ventilation.
Battens shall be designed to carry the bending moments and shear forces arising from the transverse shear force equal to 2.5% of the total axial force.
JB Red Battens use a patented preservative called MicroPro. It has a unique red pigment and provides a 60-year life expectancy for protection against insect attack and wood-rotting fungi.
Cutting can be applied, but abrasive discs should be avoided. If cutting is needed, Millform recommends the use of a power saw with a steel cutting blade or power nibbler. Ceiling battens should never be walked on or made to carry other loads.
The trusses combine and connect to make up the roof structure. Trusses, also known as rafters, have a standard thickness of 0.6 – 1.0mm. Roof battens, also known as roofing lath or top hat, are used to provide a fixing point for roofing materials in tiled roofs.
Lath and plaster methods have mostly been replaced with modern drywall or plasterboard, which is faster and less expensive to install. Drywall possesses poor sound dampening qualities and can be easily damaged by moisture.
Lath consists of narrow strips of wood that attach to wood studs inside the wall or to ceiling joists. The plaster uses the lath for a base until it can dry and harden, forming the visible part of the wall. As long as you can find the studs under the plaster, you can hang drywall by screwing the sheets to these studs.
Knob-and-tube wiring may run throughout the home, and is often identifiable by its rubber or asphalt-saturated cotton cloth coating. This system of wiring was phased out in the 1940s after better alternatives came along.
Due to their steel construction, Stratco Ceiling Battens will help control timber rafter movement, which will assist in preventing the plasterboard ceiling from cracking in the future. Stratco Ceiling Battens are manufactured from hi-tensile zinc/alum steel that delivers superior strength and durability.
Flat ceilings are by far the most popular ceilings in homes today. Also called conventional ceilings, these ceilings are usually 7 to 10 feet tall, flat and finished with drywall, then painted.
Victorian cornice otherwise known as Victorian coving is a very popular design that reflects the elegance that was prevalent during the Victorian period. Victorian cornices have been prominent within restored Victorian homes, appearing on the ceilings and walls for a variety of room types.
Furring channels are also sometimes called the 'top hat channels' because if you look at them from their ends, they're the shape of a top hat. As well as ceiling battens, furring channels can attach plasterboard to walls. Conversely, ceiling battens are used only for ceilings and residential construction.
The origin of the furring strip may be from the root "furr", which is the term given to the space behind the field of lath. Metal furring strips are used for commercial projects, or in towns where fire-proof supporting elements are required by the local building code.
Normally roof joists go in level (so the soffit is flat and becomes the ceiling) and the fall on the top surface is created by the firring strips - so that the final roof deck will drain properly. Ceiling joists that do nothing other than hold up the ceiling and/or insulation would not requiring firring strips.