batten vs battenless | Ask The Experts Forum

Guest User 9/11/2008	Hi all, I'm getting ready to re-roof my house with stone-coated steel, and have been talking to various roofing contractors. One issue that has come up is whether to install with or without battens. I have heard various claims and counterclaims regarding this choice, including: 1) A battenless installation is more walkable because the gap under the metal is smaller. You can step on it anywhere, whereas with battens, you can only step on the battens without denting the roof. 2) A battenless installation is less wind-resistant, and can't pass ICC/ICBO guidelines for wind resistance. This supposedly has something to do with less of the nail getting into the wood underneath. 3) A battenless installation is prone to leakage, because the nails are typically fired in from a nail gun at an angle, and they tend to miss the underlying wood and skip along the underlayment, tearing it. 4) The only advantage of battenless is that it is cheaper for the installer because it is quicker to install. 5) Battenless does not require a drip edge, batten does. 6) Battenless is not as energy-efficient as batten, because the roofing touches the deck at points, and elsewhere has a narrower gap than with battens. The two guys that are pushing the different installation techniques have different products -- could it be that battenless is more appropriate for one product than the other, or are the considerations the same for any steel shake? Anyway, I'm not sure how to evaluate all the charges and denials I'm hearing. Can I get some input from you experts? By the way, my home has a normal pitch, and the old roof (wood shake) has to come off. Thanks	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/12026/find/
Todd Miller Isaiah Industries, Inc. 9/11/2008	There are some stone coated products which must be installed on battens and some which cannot be installed on battens. There are battenless systems with good wind ratings.	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/12027/find/
Guest User 9/12/2008	So there are no inherent advantages or disadvantages of battenless systems in general, it just depends on the specific product?	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/12028/find/
Todd Miller Isaiah Industries, Inc. 9/15/2008	Products that are mounted on vertical battens and then horizontal battens followed by the metal panels can have active eave to ridge ventilation beneath them which may be beneficial but, no, other than that, no inherent differences or advantages.	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/12029/find/

Find a Contractor

Get Started Today

Take the first step to increasing the value of your home with a great looking, durable, fire resistant and energy efficient metal roof. Browse our list of qualified MRA Member Roofing Contractors in your area for a free consultation and estimate.

Search Now