Vertical strips of wood nailed directly over the roof decking and underlayment, running parallel to the slope from ridge to eave. Horizontal battens are then nailed across them to hold the actual roof covering, like tiles or metal panels. This grid creates a continuous drainage plane and ventilation cavity, allowing any trapped moisture to escape and air to circulate under the roof.
Heard on the job
We need to install the counter battens over the breathable membrane before we start laying out the horizontal grid for the clay tiles.
Insider tip
Counter battens are essential in cold climates to maintain a cold roof deck, which prevents snow from melting and forming ice dams at the eaves.
Also heard as
- counterbatten