Replacing Timber Roof Battens

Can a metal roof be installed over my existing shingles without the use of battens.

Replacing timber roof battens.

Roof battens are thin strips of material that may be made of wood plastic or metal. Thanks edward for allowing me to share our correspondence on this frequently asked question. Concrete or clay tile roofing is a skill that very few roofing companies know well. Here is an example of improper installation with wood battens installed directly on top of the tar paper.

While roof battens are most commonly made of metal or wood they can be made of other materials like plastic or composite there are several different types of batten some combine two materials to get the needed affect. These battens were developed in conjunction with the bre and meet nhbc requirements for fully graded roofing battens. This great question comes from edward c a homeowner who plans to have a new metal roof installed over the aging existing shingles on his single story home. They are made from fsc or pefc certified timber and manufactured to provide a consistent thickness of 25mm.

Roof battens are not just to provide footholds for roofers but are an important part of the roof structure itself. Quality battens are increasingly seen as an important part of forming a secure roof. For example elevated battens are standard wood battens that have a block of plastic in some cases wood attached to the underside to elevate.