is there a better kind of roofing / cladding batten?

[Alan Ambrose]

Having monkeyed around with some blue 'graded' roofing batten a couple of days ago I was unimpressed - a pilothole-less screw driven through it would cause it  to shatter.

 

Is there a better quality of batten? e.g. What are the people with fancy cladding, cedar, larch etc using as battens for their nice hard wood rain screen?

[Tony L]

Yes.  Dura Composites, who sell very nice, expensive cladding, will sell you some special aluminium batten bars.

[Mr Punter]

I have used plastic lumber for below ground.  Over twice the price of timber and may not have good fire rating for cladding but it does not rot.

[G and J]

We're using thermowood battens for our cladding (russwood).

 

Our roof battens were "gold" SIG roofing, which we also plan to use on the man cave cladding

[JohnMo]

If you use thin battens they will split, but there are screws and screws. Using self drilling screws makes a big difference, 50mm battens makes things better also

[BadgerBodger]

Red batten, nail. Never had an issue.

[Oz07]

15 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

Having monkeyed around with some blue 'graded' roofing batten a couple of days ago I was unimpressed - a pilothole-less screw driven through it would cause it  to shatter.

 

Is there a better quality of batten? e.g. What are the people with fancy cladding, cedar, larch etc using as battens for their nice hard wood rain screen?

How dry and light were the battens? Wetter the better when it comes to not splitting timber. Usually when I've had a pack of battens delivered they are heavy and soaked. Were probably still a tree the week before. 

[Alan Ambrose]

OK that's interesting. I can see these plastic battens:

 

https://www.kedel.co.uk/battens/BS2505150.html - 50x25x3m solid 11.67 each

 

Low Profile Composite Decking Joists/Battens 3m | Dino Decking 50x30x3m hollow 7.50 each

 

Brown Plastic Square Sub Frame W 40 x H 40 x L 3000mm - F H Brundle 40x40x3m solid 7.30 each

 

Strikes me that with all the plastic waste we get through, that recycled plastic s.b. cheap and plentiful.

 

 

Thermowood prices seen a bit more elusive atm. This could be cut down to 25x50mm at about 6.75 for 3m length.

 

Thermowood Pine Batten | 25mm x 100mm | Woodlands DIY Store

 

 

 

[JohnMo]

I used these inside and out, used hundreds, almost zero issues

https://mkm.com/product/47mm-x-50mm-rough-sawn-carcassing-green-treated-t001663

 

These wood screws

https://www.screwfix.com/p/reisser-cutter-tub-pz-countersunk-high-performance-woodscrews-5mm-x-100mm-250-pack/734pv

[Gus Potter]

On 28/02/2026 at 11:59, JohnMo said:

These wood screws

For all as a cautionary note. Selecting screws / nails can be a bit of a minefield. Screwfix for example say "corrosion resistant".. but how resistant? All fixing have generally some resistance. 

 

We often spend lots of time designing fixings and connections so we need to know the right fixings are getting used and we can have some data on their corrision resistance as that gives us confidence. 

 

In my specifications I often ask for a screw fixing corrosion resistance of Service Class 2 (SC2). I've copied an explanation from Rothoblass which explains it in lay terms: 

 

The reference standard (EN 14592:2022) classifies exposure conditions into service classes and corrosivity classes, helping engineers and builders make informed choices. 

Service class 

The service classes (SC1, SC2, SC3, SC4) describe the timber’s moisture content based on the temperature and humidity conditions of the environment: 

• SC1: elements in indoor environments with low and relatively stable humidity levels. Moisture fluctuations are minimal. 

• SC2: elements in partially covered areas or exposed to moderate humidity. This includes porches or semi-protected structures, where timber can occasionally absorb moisture. 

• SC3: elements exposed to the outdoors or high-humidity contexts. Temperature and humidity fluctuations are significant, and the moisture content in the timber reaches high levels. 

You can find out a bit more here:

 

https://www.rothoblaas.com/blog/timber-screws-corrosion-factors-and-durability

 

[Crofter]

When I started my build, I was getting 25x50 battens that looked like any other treated timber. They were fine. At that size, you expect a few splits especially near the ends, but overall they behaved ok.

 

At some point the supplier switched and began selling me those godawful blue stained battens. Apparently the colour is there so that BCO can glance up at the roof and tick a box as he knows that they are approved battens. Or so I was told. Anyway, they are utterly awful. The blue staining comes off in the rain and stains your hands. And they split at the mere sight of a screw, let alone a nail. 

[SteamyTea]

14 hours ago, Gus Potter said:

For all as a cautionary note. Selecting screws / nails can be a bit of a minefield

And some will be bolts.