In a pitched roof, insulation is placed under the roofing tiles. It is important to try to prevent water getting to the insulation, as this can cause the board to become ineffective. In this article, we explain why counter battens might be used in pitched roof constructions.
What are counter batterns?
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.
Why are counter battens important?
Roof tiles are usually laid horizontally and attached to timber tiling battens. Underneath these battens, you will find your counter battens, running vertically, and, beneath these, a breather membrane.
If your tiles are laid without counter battens, rainwater could pass between the tiles and get stuck behind the tiling batten, building up a pool of water over time. As you can imagine, this is not what you want as it can then damage the structure of your roof – as well as the insulation that’s keeping your house all cosy and warm!
To sum up, counter battens:
- Create a clear path for rainwater to run
- Eliminate the chance of water pooling
