The batten/purlin system allows you to select main roof battens plus secondary or intermediate battens where building codes require them - usually as fall barriers for installers.
🧾 Selecting Battens and Purlins
Click the Batten 1 or Batten2 buttons to access the list of available batten/purlin materials. Each button provides access to the material options to set primary battens (Batten 1) and occasionally, an intermediate batten (Batten 2) for your project.
To insert the selected batten type, select the Insert/Modify cell that opens a comprehensive set out dialog. Battens/purlins can be inserted and quantified on both metal and tile roof categories.
The tile roof category is primarily for roofers installing metal tiles/shingles. Clay and concrete tilers typically build timber batten costs into an all-inclusive price and do not use this method to cost battens.
🔧 Batten Spacing Configuration
Select the [Insert/Modify] cell to set the batten spacing and layout.
The batten spacing dialog provides comprehensive control over batten placement on your job:
Battens inserted as specified:
Note: the display of the battens (solid or dashed line/colour/weight etc) is controlled with the System Preferences > Set Line Style option.
Options | Description |
Main Spacing | Define the primary batten spacing across the roof plane |
Top/Bottom Spacing | Set specific spacing near ridge and eave lines to meet building code requirements |
Left/Right Spacing | Configure edge spacing for cyclonic or hurricane-prone areas |
Intermediate Spacing | Set spacing between pre-set battens - either fixed spacing or evenly distributed up to maximum spacing |
Direction Control | Space battens from top (ridge line) down or bottom (eave) up |
🔧 Other Batten Options
Battens applied to hips and valleys according to spacing settings:
Options | Description |
Apply to straight verandahs | Toggle to include battens on straight verandahs in this job |
Apply to bullnose verandahs | Toggle to include battens on bullnose verandahs in this job |
Apply to Ridges | Places battens along ridge lines at specified spacing from the ridge |
Apply to Hips | Places battens along hip lines at specified spacing from the hip |
Apply to Aprons | Applies battens to apron lines |
Apply to Valleys | Applies battens to valley lines |
🛠 Dividing Battens at Frame Members
Many batten/purlin configurations require splitting at roof frame members (rafters or trusses), particularly in portal frame commercial structures. This is a function often used with additional structural members when using Zones functions for metal roofing retrofit projects.
Purlin Modify Options |
|
Insert Rafter/Truss Line | Creates reference lines parallel to required rafter lines when none exist |
Delete All Rafter/Truss Lines | Removes reference lines after batten division is complete |
Divide at Rafter Line | Divides battens at specified frame member locations |
Divide All at Rafter Line | Divides all battens on the roof plane at frame members |
Merge Batten Line | Fixes incorrectly divided battens by merging them |
Delete Batten Line | Completely removes specific battens/purlins from the model |
🔧 Batten Management Controls
Batten Options |
|
Apply All | Applies battens/purlins using current spacing definitions |
Delete All | Removes all battens/purlins from the model |
Delete | Removes selected battens only |
Apply Selected | Applies battens to specific walls using current settings for wall-by-wall modification |
Change Batten | Switches to different batten material |
🔧 Settings Management
Save Spacings | Saves current settings for different roof systems |
Load Spacings | Loads predefined spacing settings into current job |
Continue | Returns to the Flashing dialog to continue roof trim setup |
Once configured, battens are drawn on the model according to your specifications. Select Continue to return to the Select/Generate Roof Batten/Trim dialog.
💡 Special Applications
This process can be used to design and estimate retro-fit batten systems such as RoofHugger™, which is described in detail in the Appendix.