Cladding Battens

Cladding battens and substructure timber

Cladding battens are the timbers fixed to the wall before the boards go on. They hold the cladding off the wall and leave a ventilated cavity behind it, so air can circulate and moisture can escape, and they give every board a straight, solid line to fix into. That applies to timber and composite cladding alike, and it is key to a long lasting installation. We stock timber for every kind of cladding frame, from slim battens to heavy structural sections.

Cladding batten sizes and species

Pick the section by the job. Slimmer sections make the batten layer on a wall, and the heavier sections suit frames, posts and structures the cladding is fixed to:

• Hardwood battens: planed 65×42 mm and 90×45 mm sections in Durability Class 1 hardwood, for a batten layer built to last.
• Yellow balau: a deep, planed 190×45 mm section in Durability Class 1 hardwood, for heavier frames that need the same durability.
• Douglas fir: sawn 70×50 mm and 100×50 mm sections, a strong softwood for everyday cladding frames, plus a heavy 200×70 mm section for structural frames behind cladding.
• Oak: heavy 150×70 mm and 200×70 mm sections, for structural frames behind cladding.
• Ecowood: kiln dried softwood at 95×45 mm, with consistent quality from piece to piece, for an everyday batten layer.
• MicroShades: treated softwood at 100×44 mm and 150×44 mm, supplied with the protective finish already applied, for a batten layer that needs little attention.

Choose the length on the product page; longer battens mean fewer joints on a long wall.

Choosing battens for your cladding

For composite cladding, each range’s installation manual sets out its batten spacing and fixing pattern, so check it before you order. For timber cladding, follow the fixing guidance for your boards. Either way, the battens must leave a clear cavity behind the boards. Hardwood and MicroShades battens need the least attention, while softwoods such as Douglas fir and Ecowood give you longer lengths for fewer joints.

For battens that form the visible face of a slatted wall or screen, rather than sitting behind it, see our timber battens. The same heavy sections are also sold as timber joists for decks and frames.

Fixing and looking after cladding battens

• Set out: mark the batten lines to the spacing in your cladding’s installation guide.
• Fix: fix the battens to the wall, keeping them straight and plumb so the boards run true.
• Seal the cuts: on any species that is not Durability Class 1, seal cut ends and notches as you go, and on MicroShades reseal cut ends with a touch up sealer.
• Clad: fix the boards, then finish corners and ends with our cladding accessories.

Sealed cut ends help a softwood batten stay sound behind the boards, so most customers keep a tin from our oils and stains range on hand while cutting.

Cladding battens in Dublin and across Ireland

Every batten and substructure timber on this page is stocked in our Dublin warehouse, delivered across Ireland with your cladding. To compare boards, trims and finishes, see our full cladding range.