Under what roofing materials a continuous crate is installed: device features. What is lathing Lathing is solid and sparse


In the construction of any house, there are moments when it is impossible to cope without a professional. Fortunately, in the case of installing the crate, it is quite possible to do with your own hands and those skills that you already have. The main thing is to understand well the structure of the crate, what it is for, the principles of its installation and additional processing.

What is the crate for?

Before we talk about the lathing, you need to have a good understanding of the structure of the roof.

Roof: terminological subtleties

The roof is the covering of any building. It protects the interior of the house from precipitation, wind, temperature changes. The roof consists of two or more slopes - inclined planes, in turn, consisting of a rafter structure and a lathing. If there are two slopes, then their horizontal closure is called a ridge, and the edge of the slope protruding above the wall is called an overhang.

The gable roof rafter system is ready for the sheathing

Rafters - a supporting structure, which consists of:

  • vertical racks;
  • inclined struts;
  • rafter legs.

Sheathing - solid or lattice flooring, attached to the rafter legs.


The horizontally oriented lathing is sewn onto the rafters

Roofing is a "pie" consisting of a roof covering attached to the lathing and underlying layers of insulation, wind and steam protection.

The roof is cold (the attic is insulated) and warm (insulation, hydro and vapor barrier are laid under the crate). The latter, in particular, is used for residential attics.


A roofing pie in its most complete configuration requires a complex structure of the sheathing

If you have an attic, you can do without thermal insulation with a roof covering, waterproofing is always required.

Purpose of the crate

The crate performs the following functions:

  • serves as the basis for fastening the roof;
  • naturally strengthens the shape of the slopes and the structure of the roof as a whole and helps to maintain its geometry for many years;
  • perceives and evenly transfers to the rafters the load from the roofing cake (up to 50 kg / m2);
  • with the help of a counter-grill, it prevents the formation of condensation at the border of the cold and warm layers of the roofing cake in the case of a heated attic.

Condensation on the inner side of the roof causes rotting of the battens, rafters, getting wet and thus worsensheat insulating qualities of insulation.

Types of construction and material of the crate

The structure (type of laying) and the material of the battens are selected depending on the following factors:

  • material and weight of the roofing;
  • climate (it affects the type of roofing, and hence the structure of the sheathing);
  • step of rafter legs;
  • the slope of the roof slope.

Crate construction

There are two classifications of battens - by the type of stacking and the number of layers.

By type of styling

According to the type of laying, the crate is divided into two types.


By the number of layers

By the number of layers, the crate is divided into three varieties.


A hydro-barrier to protect the insulation from condensation is created with the help of waterproofing materials - a micro-perforated under-roof film, roofing glassine or roofing felt, which are placed on the rafters with horizontal sheets, starting from the bottom of the overhang.

Video: waterproofing (membrane, wind protection), counter-lattice and do-it-yourself lathing for metal tiles

Sheathing material

Different materials or combinations of materials are suitable for different types of battens.

Shields

Shield materials are convenient in that they have a perfectly flat surface and allow you to immediately cover a significant area. The following products are usually used for roofing.


The long side of the backboard is laid parallel to the ridge, the backboards themselves are staggered. The edges are attached to the rafters along the entire length with nails or self-tapping screws every 15 centimeters. There should be a gap of 3-7 mm between the sheets to compensate for linear expansion in heat.


Single-layer OSB lathing is easy if the pitch of the rafters matches the size of the boards

Here are some auxiliary data.

Table: range of sizes of chipboard, fiberboard, ORP boards

Table: the dependence of the thickness of the shield on the step of the rafter legs

Advantages of panel crate:

  • ease of installation of slabs already raised on the roof;
  • suitability for soft roofing materials;
  • relative cheapness.
  • the difficulty of climbing to the roof;
  • low resistance to mold and mildew (requires special processing);
  • deformability from changes in humidity (requires dry weather during installation).

Board and timber

The most commonly used material for lathing. Conifers with a moisture content of no more than 20% are preferable. Depending on the conditions, an edged or grooved board is used. Lumber wider than 15 centimeters should not be used, since it is much more susceptible to warping. Boards with a gap between them of 3-5 mm (with a solid crate) and with a pre-calculated step (with a sparse crate) are attached to the rafters with nails, the length of which should be equal to twice the thickness of the crate.


Board for solid sheathing should not have defects - knots and cracks

Table: the dependence of the required thickness of the board on the step of the rafter legs

If the rafter step is more than 80 centimeters, instead of a board, it is better to use a bar with a section of 50x50 mm or more. A bar of 30x50 mm is usually used for the counter lattice.


For counter-lathing and lathing, a bar with a section of 30x50 mm and 50x70 mm, respectively, is used

The tree must be dried (damp warps when it dries and nails fall out) and pre-treated with an antiseptic and fire retardants.

Sometimes, in order to save money, a croaker is allowed on the crate - with the flat side up.

Advantages of the board when creating a crate:

  • ease of lifting to the roof;
  • environmental friendliness;
  • affordability.
  • difficulty in laying (requires some skills);
  • fire hazard (requires special treatment);
  • low resistance to mold, fungi, insects, rodents (requires special processing);
  • the tendency to deformations from changes in humidity (although less than that of panels, it requires careful roofing and dry weather during installation).

Video: board crate

Metal for lathing

Structures with a risk of fire or with a metal frame of load-bearing walls (industrial buildings, garages) are covered with a crate made of a metal profile. It is also used on buildings of other types, if the length of their slopes is more than 6 meters.


For a metal rafter system, it is logical to use a crate made of a metal profile

Only a sparse lathing can be metal.

Metal elements for lathing are classified according to:

  • type - a pipe of round or square section, the so-called hat profile, corner;
  • material - from galvanized, painted or stainless steel;
  • section;
  • length;
  • method of staining.

The metal crate is fastened with self-tapping screws or welding (if the rafter system is also made of metal). Most often, a hat profile is used for its manufacture.


The hat profile lathing can be used on almost any roof shape

Pros of metal crate:

  • dimensional accuracy;
  • easy scalability (profiles are simply overlapped);
  • high bearing capacity (strength is twice as high as that of wood);
  • the possibility of using for roofs of a large area with long slopes;
  • suitability for production facilities;
  • high corrosion resistance;
  • absolute resistance to deformation from moisture drops;
  • fire resistance;
  • absolute resistance to mold, fungi, rodents, insects;
  • installation and dismantling works are possible in any weather conditions;
  • almost unlimited service life.
  • the complexity of installation (requires skills in working with metal and / or welding);
  • relatively high price.

How much is the crate

I found it difficult to calculate the average figures for the cost of the material in our study. There are too many variables: the section of the board and timber and their number depend on the structure of the sheathing, material and roof area. There are many calculators on the net: when you enter all the data, we get the price. I recommend the website calculator StroyDay - in my opinion, it is the most balanced and complete.


Using the calculator from the StroyDay website, you can calculate both sparse and solid crate

In the same way, I can only give only average figures for the cost of the work of professional craftsmen in terms of per square meter.

Table: the cost of work on the installation of the crate

Tools and materials for the installation of battens

For the manufacture of the crate, we need the following materials.

  1. Selected cross-section timber without knots.
  2. And / or edged board with a minimum of knots.
  3. And / or boards of plywood, OSB, chipboard, fiberboard.
  4. Or a metal hat profile of the selected section.
  5. Nails, screws, rubber or metal washers.

In addition, you will need a standard set of tools.


We build different lathing for different roofing materials

Let's dwell on some types of roofing in more detail.

Sheathing for a soft roof

Roll and piece material (bitumen shingles) belongs to the soft roof.

Lathing for roll roofing material

For soft roll covering materials - roofing material, metal insulation, polymer-bitumen materials, polymer membranes - a continuous single-layer or two-layer flooring is required, preferably from shields.


This sheathing for a soft roof is made correctly

The heads of the nails must be sunk, the knots in the boards must be chipped off. On the slot wider than a centimeter, strips of tin should be filled. In places where the covering is bent, the sharp edge of the shield, timber or board should be rounded with a plane or even sheathed with a strip of roofing sheet.


Roofing material is easy to lay on a solid board crate

It is necessary to lay the roof on dry days so that the wood of the flooring goes under the roof in a dry state.

Sheathing for bituminous shingles

Bituminous shingles, despite the name, also refer to a soft roof. It is made of fiberglass (base), bitumen and stone granulate. Here, too, only a solid double or single crate made of any material is applicable. It is important to make a perfectly flat surface.


Bituminous shingles must also be laid on a solid base.

Sheathing for seam roofing

Seam roofing is made of metal sheets or rolls: polymer-coated steel, copper, aluminum or zinc, connected by the so-called seam. Folds are single and double, each of which, in turn, can be recumbent or standing. As a rule, horizontal seams are sealed with reclining seams, and vertical seams with standing seams.


Different types of folds are used in different situations and provide different degrees of tightness of the joints

Now it is rare, but it still happens that the roof is covered with traditional galvanized iron, and the folds are made by the master roofer manually with a mallet.


Do-it-yourself galvanized iron roof can only be made by a professional

But much more often special roofing sheets are used - paintings measuring 0.55x8 m with ready-made self-locking folds.

Ideally, a seam roof is laid on a solid crate covered with hydro and vapor barrier. The requirements for a continuous crate are the same as in the case of laying a soft roof, only the presence of cracks is not so scary. It cannot be avoided even in the case of a small, up to 15 o, slope of the slope, and for complex architectural solutions of the roof. In other cases, you can save on a solid crate.


Self-locking folds are an ingenious invention, they reliably connect the paintings with the usual pressure on the seam

When using a sparse sheathing, it is important to correctly determine its step and adhere to it, otherwise the roofing metal will bend. The most reasonable step is about 20 centimeters. A beam of 50x50 mm, a board of 32x100 mm or a metal profile are used. A hydro-barrier with a counter grill is required under the metal coating.

The lathing is mounted from the overhang; in the areas of overhangs, joints and intersections, it is recommended to make continuous sections of boards. Due to the possible corrosion of the metal, it is especially important to pre-treat the wood with an antiseptic or even paint it. In any case, you need to drown and paint over the nail heads.

I will share my observation. I changed the roof of my house that was laid back in 1926. The builders then used a slab for the lathing with a pitch of about fifty centimeters - of course, without counter-lattice and waterproofing, and on the roof there was thick non-galvanized iron. Thanks to this, and also - the large slope of the roof and regular painting, it is satisfactorily preserved from the outside. But when these sheets were removed from the roof, we saw that they were deeply rusted from the inside. Moreover, the rust went in stripes - in those places where the slab of the crate did not adhere to the iron and the air of the attic room affected the metal. From which I drew the right conclusions: I replaced not only the iron, but also the crate - with a solid one, with a well-designed hydro-barrier.

Sheathing for metal tiles

Metal roofing is a cross between slate and coated metal sheet. Under it, they make both a continuous crate and a sparse one - with a step equal to the step of the metal tile wave. It is also obligatory to install the hydro-barrier and counter-grill.


Typical sizes of sheets of metal tiles are convenient in that it is easy to determine the required sheathing step for them

Table: some sizes of metal sheets

The step of the sparse crate should exactly correspond to the step of the wave of a typical metal tile - 350-400 millimeters. It is enough to use a beam with a section of 40x40 mm or an edged board 25x100 mm.


The step of the lathing under the metal tile is easy to calculate by the distance between the ridges of the metal tile

In the areas of overhangs, joints and intersections of the roof, a continuous flooring is needed so that when fixing the additional elements of the metal tile, the self-tapping screws do not fall past the timber into the air.


In the area of ​​the ridge, the sparse crate gives way to a solid

Lathing for slate and ondulin

Slate (German Schiefer - slate) is a generalized name for facing wall and roofing building materials, most often this word is understood as asbestos-cement or slate slate.

Wikipedia

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A8%D0%B8%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%80

Slate can be wavy and flat. Although the slate itself is fragile, the corrugated material is much stronger due to the stiffening ribs, therefore it is used much more often. It is subdivided into two types in terms of height and wave pitch: 40/150 mm and 54/200 mm.


Slate sheets differ in the number and size of waves

Table: dimensions of slate sheets depending on the height and step of the wave

Under the slate, the crate is most often built from a bar, always perpendicular to the rafters. For small sheets (1200 × 680 mm), the pitch of the lathing is about 50 cm, and the cross-section of the timber is 50x50 mm. For unified sheets (1750 × 1125 cm), the pitch is about 80 cm, and the cross-section of the timber is 75x75 mm.

The sheet should lie on at least three beams, often it is placed on four. To achieve a uniform load, tight contact of sheets with the flooring and with each other in the place of overlaps, it is necessary to use beams of different heights: with a three-beam support, even beams should be 3 millimeters thicker than odd ones, with a four-beam support - the second and third beams are respectively 2 and 4 millimeters higher main. The eaves beams are made 6 mm higher. In this case, either a beam of different sections is used, or its height is changed with the help of a lining of roofing material or chips. In the areas of overhangs, joints and intersections of slopes, it is recommended to make continuous sections of boards.


For slate lathing, bars of different heights are used

All these laws also work for the crate for ondulin (euro slate). Ondulin, first made in 1944 in France, is similar to slate, but colored, four times lighter, and does not contain harmful asbestos. You just need to change the pitch of the crate to fit the size of the ondulin sheet, equal to 2000x950x3 mm:


Sheathing for tiles

Sheathing for tiles is the pinnacle of qualifications for a roofing master. Shingles are one of the most ancient roofing materials, practically not subject to wear and tear.


The quality and service life of ceramic tiles has been proven over centuries of operation.

I grew up in a house on earth. There was a barn near the gate, which was covered with ceramic tiles by my grandfather. As far back as I can remember, the tiles have always remained unchanged. Moreover, when the barn was demolished, I sold this tile, it was carefully disassembled and taken away. Presumably, she continues to delight the new owner, although she is more than a hundred years old.

Now the tiles are:

  • ceramic;
  • cement-sand;
  • polymer-cement;
  • metal.

The disadvantages of traditional ceramic tiles are fragility, heaviness, high price. Cement-sand is cheaper, but has the same problems. Therefore, they created polymer-sand tiles from molten polymer and sand.

The length of one shard is summed up from the lengths of the working part, overhang and spike. The spike of the previous element is covered by the overhang of the next one.


The lathing for the tiles must be laid very precisely so that the joints of the elements are on the boards

For shingles, a sparse lathing of 50x50 mm timber is needed, for heavier ceramic and cement-sandy - 60x60 mm. A hydro-barrier and a counter-lath or a kind of double structure are required when the sparse lathing lies on a continuous deck with a hydro-barrier.


In most cases, the lathing and counter-lathing under the tiles are laid in the standard way on the waterproofing

The main subtlety is the calculation of the pitch of the lathing, equal to the covering length of the tiles, and the most accurate embodiment of these calculations in practice. The ramp should be covered with an integer number of shards in length and width. There are many tile sizes, so the required lathing pitch varies between 15 and 40 centimeters. The ridge beams are placed indented from the ends of the rafters so that the tiles of the ridge rows do not close. The slot will be closed with a ridge tile. In the areas of overhangs, joints and intersections of slopes, you need to make continuous sections of boards.


Ceramic roof tiles require special care in laying.

The speed of sub-shingling battens will be greatly increased if you make a template with a length equal to the covering length of the shingles.


Using a template for lathing under the tiles will greatly facilitate the life of the master.

Shingle lathing

Shingles, also known as shingles and shingles, are flat roofing plates made of wood. We can say that these are wooden tiles.


Shingle roofing needs a sparse, but frequent lathing

Since it is lighter than real tiles, the timber for laying the lathing is thinner: 40 × 40 or 50 × 50 mm. The step is calculated not only depending on the size of the shingle, but also on the number of its layers. More often, a double lathing of the same type is used as for ordinary tiles.


The number of layers of shingle roof dictates the step of the lathing

Table: the step of the crate depending on the parameters of the shingles and the number of layers

Lathing for spotlights

In order to avoid rotting of rafters, loss of thermal insulation qualities of the insulation from getting wet and penetration into the roof of rodents, the lower side of the rafter overhang must be closed. Traditionally, this was done with plywood, tin, clapboard, the crate for which is also quite traditional, and its step is determined visually.


The lathing under the overhang sheathing with clapboard or tin is made according to the usual scenario

But lining, plywood and sheet metal do not provide adequate ventilation. Now there is a great replacement - perforated panels or soffits that protect and ventilate the under-roof space.


Soffits installed under the overhang visibly decorate the house

Soffits are:

  • vinyl frost-resistant - bright and durable;
  • steel with a polymer coating - also durable, but fade in the sun;
  • aluminum;
  • copper - with the longest service life.

The soffits are already equipped with mounting profiles: a J-profile for fastening (the soffits are inserted into them) and an H-profile for joining the seams of the soffits.


The use of profiles for installing spotlights greatly facilitates the work

Therefore, the construction of the lathing is reduced to the installation of two guides from a bar for these profiles.


Profiles for connecting soffits ensure their aesthetic connection at the corners

Antiseptic for wooden lathing

Even if the roof is flawless and does not allow water to pass through, the wood in the roofing cake and rafter system is exposed to the adverse effects of humidity and temperature changes, which provoke the formation of fungi and mold. Mice and woodworms happily settle in the roofing pie. The tree is fire hazardous.

To avoid this, high-quality impregnation is needed. It must withstand all these dangers and penetrate deeply into the structure of wood, do not contain substances harmful to humans (arsenic, copper sulfate), dissolve well in water, and do not wash off for a long time.

In our climatic conditions and the conditions of a particular house, you need to choose what is more important - resistance to moisture or fire. The wood is impregnated only once. And the first line-up will be the main one in action. The coatings applied in the second and third stages will work weaker.

There are two methods of applying antiseptics.


An antiseptic is a protection against fungus (fungicide), microbes (biocide), insects (insecticide) in one bottle. The composition of a good antiseptic must be completely harmless to humans. In antiseptics for external parts, a coloring alkyd resin is included.

I can safely advise the water-based antiseptic "Senezh". It comes in different series for different designs - "Ultra", "Bio", "Thor", "Sauna". We processed rafters, floor beams, battens with the Ultra variety. "Senezh" is easily applied with a spray gun. With a small consumption of funds, only slightly exceeding the declared one (250-300 g / m 3), the impregnation by eye turned out to be of high quality and even decorated the wood. The manufacturer promises biosecurity up to 35 years and the effect of "healing" already affected wood. About ten years have passed, and there is no reason to complain yet.

I did some marketing research. It showed that apart from "Senezh", Pinotex Impra and Pinotex Ultra products made in Estonia are popular, as they are highly effective and have a decorative effect. But unlike "Senezh" they cannot be used for wood already affected by microorganisms. And the domestic remedy "Drevoteks" protects against weathering and the sun, gives a beautiful appearance to the product, but has restrictions on the moisture content of the lumber: it cannot be applied if the moisture content is more than 20%.

Table: comparative characteristics and prices of antiseptic impregnations

Photo gallery: several types of antiseptics

"Drevoteks" is inferior to "Senezh" both in terms of functions and efficiency
Pinotex Ultra is considered a rather expensive but high-quality antiseptic with a wide spectrum of action.
"Senezh Ultram" is the most affordable domestic antiseptic
"Senezh Bio" can be used not only for roofing, but also when laying wooden parts in the ground
Pinotex Impra is used for impregnating hidden structures

Video: wood treatment with an antiseptic

You have carefully understood the principles of construction and material of the lathing, made the right choice, deepened your knowledge in accordance with the selected technology. Now you can start building a roof with your own hands. You will succeed and you can be proud of yourself.

When installing a roof, one of the mandatory elements is the lathing. What kind of structure is this, and what nuances should be considered during its construction?

First of all, you need to understand what is a crate? This term in construction is understood as a structure made of a set of boards or beams, which are fixed on the rafters, and, moreover, they are located perpendicular to the rafter legs.

It is the crate that takes the direct load exerted by the roofing material, transferring it to the rafters, and then to the supporting structures.

Various materials are used for construction:

  • Bar;
  • Boards - regular or grooved;
  • Plywood.

Possible types of lathing

Depending on the selected roofing material, one of two types of battens is used, these are:

  • Sparse, which can have a different spacing of elements. This type is used when laying metal tiles, slate, ceramic tiles.
  • Solid. This type is made of boards, the spacing of which does not exceed a centimeter, or from plywood. This variety is chosen if the roof is supposed to be covered with soft tiles, flat slate or roll materials. In addition, the solid lathing must be installed in difficult places of the roof - at the place of the chimney outlet, at the intersection of the slopes (in the valleys, in the gutters, on the ridge, etc.), along the eaves of the roof.

According to the construction method, the crate is divided into:

  • Single layer. In this case, the elements are laid horizontally on the rafters, the boards are placed parallel to the ridge.
  • Two-layer. This option involves the creation of a second layer, laying on the first. The second layer can be formed from beams or a plank, which is laid in the direction from the ridge to the overhang. Sometimes the beams are laid diagonally on the first slope.

As a rule, before laying the sheathing, waterproofing is laid on top of the rafter system. It can be the most common roofing material or modern membrane materials. The hydro-barrier is attached to the rafters using a construction stapler.

How to build a crate for roll materials?

As already mentioned, if it is planned to use roll materials, then a continuous crate should be built. It is best to use a grooved board as a material for its construction.

The first row of boards is laid in a discharge, and the second is formed very tightly, filling the boards one by one.

For the device of the second layer of lathing for metal tiles, wooden slats are used, which are laid at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the first layer of the lathing.

Building tips:

  • Boards that will be used for construction are treated with an antiseptic.
  • After finishing the laying of the boards, make sure that the coating does not have sags, bumps and protruding nail heads.
  • The completed lathing should not bend under the weight of a person walking along the roof.
  • To perform the flooring, boards with a width of 100-150 mm and a thickness of at least 250 mm are used. It is not recommended to use boards with a larger width.
  • In no case, you can not use insufficiently dried material.
  • When laying the boards, you must try to arrange the joints of the boards on the rafters in a checkerboard pattern.
  • Nails should be placed closer to the edges of the boards, and, preferably, the heads of the fastener should be sunk into the wood.

How to build a roof tile lathing?


The design of the lathing for laying metal tiles

Consider how the lathing is made for laying such a popular material as metal tiles. In this case, the frame is set in the form of a lattice.

For construction, bars with a cross section of 50 to 50 mm are used.

The pitch of the bars is chosen depending on the selected type of metal tile. For example, if you plan to lay metal tiles of the Monterrey type, then the pitch of the boards should be 350 mm.

But the distance between the first two (from the eaves) boards of the sheathing is made less (200-250 mm).

Advice! If a crate is being built for metal tiles, then a solid calibrated board should be chosen as a building material.

How to build steel roofing battens?


The structure of the lathing for laying steel roofing

Steel is a popular roofing material. Let's consider how to make a crate for laying this roof option.

In this case, it is possible to make a sparse lathing from bars or boards 50 mm thick, or a solid one, which is built from boards with a thickness of 30 mm.

Steel roofing sheets are laid on a flat crate; there should be no protrusions and depressions on it, because even a slight deflection of the sheet can lead to a weakening of the folded joints.

How to make a sheathing for soft tiles?

For this type of roofing, an even and smooth coating is necessary, it is important to prevent the material from bending and rubbing. Consider how to make a crate in this case.

Construction begins with the installation of a lattice frame made of bars. The second layer, which is laid over the assembled grating, is made of roofing plywood.

Advice! Roofing plywood must be treated with a special waterproofing mixture before installation.

How to make slate crate?


Sheathing design

When using slate, you can make a single or double crate. In the first case, the boards are laid parallel to the ridge and fixed on the rafters.

If ordinary corrugated slate is used, then the pitch of the bars should be 0.5 meters, and the section of the used timber should be 50 by 50 mm.

Advice! When a crate for slate is being built, it must be borne in mind that each sheet must be supported by three bars. In this case, even bars in a row should be somewhat thicker than odd ones. The difference in thickness should be 30 mm. In this case, it will be possible to ensure a tighter overlap of the slate sheets and uniformity of the load on the sheets.

conclusions

Thus, the manufacture of lathing is not a very difficult process, however, the quality of laying the roofing material depends on how well it is carried out.

It is extremely important to choose quality material for construction. So, for example, if raw boards are taken, the fasteners will soon loosen, because the boards will change in size as they dry.

And when using low quality material (with numerous knots), the constructed structure will not be able to withstand the snow load.

In the construction of any house, there are moments when it is impossible to cope without a professional. Fortunately, in the case of installing the crate, it is quite possible to do with your own hands and those skills that you already have. The main thing is to understand well the structure of the crate, what it is for, the principles of its installation and additional processing.

What is the crate for?

Before we talk about the lathing, you need to have a good understanding of the structure of the roof.

Roof: terminological subtleties

The roof is the covering of any building. It protects the interior of the house from precipitation, wind, temperature changes. The roof consists of two or more slopes - inclined planes, in turn, consisting of a rafter structure and a lathing. If there are two slopes, then their horizontal closure is called a ridge, and the edge of the slope protruding above the wall is called an overhang.

The gable roof rafter system is ready for the sheathing

Rafters - a supporting structure, which consists of:

  • vertical racks;
  • inclined struts;
  • rafter legs.

Sheathing - solid or lattice flooring, attached to the rafter legs.

The horizontally oriented lathing is sewn onto the rafters

Roofing is a "pie" consisting of a roof covering attached to the lathing and underlying layers of insulation, wind and steam protection.

The roof is cold (the attic is insulated) and warm (insulation, hydro and vapor barrier are laid under the crate). The latter, in particular, is used for residential attics.

A roofing pie in its most complete configuration requires a complex structure of the sheathing

If you have an attic, you can do without thermal insulation with a roof covering, waterproofing is always required.

Purpose of the crate

The crate performs the following functions:

  • serves as the basis for fastening the roof;
  • naturally strengthens the shape of the slopes and the structure of the roof as a whole and helps to maintain its geometry for many years;
  • perceives and evenly transfers to the rafters the load from the roofing cake (up to 50 kg / m2);
  • with the help of a counter-grill, it prevents the formation of condensation at the border of the cold and warm layers of the roofing cake in the case of a heated attic.

Condensation on the inner side of the roof causes rotting of the battens, rafters, getting wet and thus worsensheat insulating qualities of insulation.

Types of construction and material of the crate

The structure (type of laying) and the material of the battens are selected depending on the following factors:

  • material and weight of the roofing;
  • climate (it affects the type of roofing, and hence the structure of the sheathing);
  • step of rafter legs;
  • the slope of the roof slope.

Crate construction

There are two classifications of battens - by the type of stacking and the number of layers.

By type of styling

According to the type of laying, the crate is divided into two types.


By the number of layers

By the number of layers, the crate is divided into three varieties.

  1. Single-layer - a single sheathing layer (solid or sparse) is placed horizontally on the rafters, parallel to the ridge.

    One-layer solid sheathing is placed on the rafters parallel to the ridge

  2. Two-layer - the bottom layer is laid as in the first case, but with a larger step (50-100 centimeters). Shields or boards are laid on these bars from the ridge to the overhang - at an angle of 45 ° to the sparse lathing bar.

    The first layer of a two-layer lathing is made sparse, the second - solid, less often - vice versa

  3. The presence of a third element - a counter-lattice, which is laid on top of the waterproofing material on the rafters and serves as the basis for the rarefied part of the two-layer structure located above - depends on the presence of insulation, hydro and vapor protection in the roofing cake.

    The counter grill is placed on top of the hydro-barrier to create a ventilation gap

A hydro-barrier to protect the insulation from condensation is created with the help of waterproofing materials - a micro-perforated under-roof film, roofing glassine or roofing felt, which are placed on the rafters with horizontal sheets, starting from the bottom of the overhang.

Video: waterproofing (membrane, wind protection), counter-lattice and do-it-yourself lathing for metal tiles

Sheathing material

Different materials or combinations of materials are suitable for different types of battens.

Shields

Shield materials are convenient in that they have a perfectly flat surface and allow you to immediately cover a significant area. The following products are usually used for roofing.

  • Fiberboard - fibreboard, made of wood fibers by the wet method without binders or dry - with binder resins;

    Fiberboard as a second layer is only suitable for laying on a continuous covering

  • Chipboard - chipboard, made by hot pressing of wood chips and phenol-formaldehyde resins;

    The use of chipboard will not be the best solution for a continuous crate due to its main drawback: a porous plate swells from moisture

  • OSB - oriented strand board, pressed from oriented flat chips with phenol-formaldehyde resins, contains up to 95% wood. For solid sheathing, it is used more often than other sheet materials;

    OSB is the best option for lathing, as it resists moisture and deformation well

  • FSF - plywood with increased moisture resistance, made of birch, pine or beech veneer with phenol-formaldehyde resins.

    Smooth and impact-resistant FSF plywood will be a good base for any roof

The long side of the backboard is laid parallel to the ridge, the backboards themselves are staggered. The edges are attached to the rafters along the entire length with nails or self-tapping screws every 15 centimeters. There should be a gap of 3-7 mm between the sheets to compensate for linear expansion in heat.

Single-layer OSB lathing is easy if the pitch of the rafters matches the size of the boards

Here are some auxiliary data.

Table: range of sizes of chipboard, fiberboard, ORP boards

Table: the dependence of the thickness of the shield on the step of the rafter legs

Advantages of panel crate:

  • ease of installation of slabs already raised on the roof;
  • suitability for soft roofing materials;
  • relative cheapness.
  • the difficulty of climbing to the roof;
  • low resistance to mold and mildew (requires special processing);
  • deformability from changes in humidity (requires dry weather during installation).

Board and timber

The most commonly used material for lathing. Conifers with a moisture content of no more than 20% are preferable. Depending on the conditions, an edged or grooved board is used. Lumber wider than 15 centimeters should not be used, since it is much more susceptible to warping. Boards with a gap between them of 3-5 mm (with a solid crate) and with a pre-calculated step (with a sparse crate) are attached to the rafters with nails, the length of which should be equal to twice the thickness of the crate.

Board for solid sheathing should not have defects - knots and cracks

Table: the dependence of the required thickness of the board on the step of the rafter legs

If the rafter step is more than 80 centimeters, instead of a board, it is better to use a bar with a section of 50x50 mm or more. A bar of 30x50 mm is usually used for the counter lattice.

For counter-lathing and lathing, a bar with a section of 30x50 mm and 50x70 mm, respectively, is used

The tree must be dried (damp warps when it dries and nails fall out) and pre-treated with an antiseptic and fire retardants.

Sometimes, in order to save money, a croaker is allowed on the crate - with the flat side up.

Advantages of the board when creating a crate:

  • ease of lifting to the roof;
  • environmental friendliness;
  • affordability.
  • difficulty in laying (requires some skills);
  • fire hazard (requires special treatment);
  • low resistance to mold, fungi, insects, rodents (requires special processing);
  • the tendency to deformations from changes in humidity (although less than that of panels, it requires careful roofing and dry weather during installation).

Video: board crate

Metal for lathing

Structures with a risk of fire or with a metal frame of load-bearing walls (industrial buildings, garages) are covered with a crate made of a metal profile. It is also used on buildings of other types, if the length of their slopes is more than 6 meters.

For a metal rafter system, it is logical to use a crate made of a metal profile

Only a sparse lathing can be metal.

Metal elements for lathing are classified according to:

  • type - a pipe of round or square section, the so-called hat profile, corner;
  • material - from galvanized, painted or stainless steel;
  • section;
  • length;
  • method of staining.

The metal crate is fastened with self-tapping screws or welding (if the rafter system is also made of metal). Most often, a hat profile is used for its manufacture.

The hat profile lathing can be used on almost any roof shape

Pros of metal crate:

  • dimensional accuracy;
  • easy scalability (profiles are simply overlapped);
  • high bearing capacity (strength is twice as high as that of wood);
  • the possibility of using for roofs of a large area with long slopes;
  • suitability for production facilities;
  • high corrosion resistance;
  • absolute resistance to deformation from moisture drops;
  • fire resistance;
  • absolute resistance to mold, fungi, rodents, insects;
  • installation and dismantling works are possible in any weather conditions;
  • almost unlimited service life.
  • the complexity of installation (requires skills in working with metal and / or welding);
  • relatively high price.

How much is the crate

I found it difficult to calculate the average figures for the cost of the material in our study. There are too many variables: the section of the board and timber and their number depend on the structure of the sheathing, material and roof area. There are many calculators on the net: when you enter all the data, we get the price. I recommend the website calculator StroyDay - in my opinion, it is the most balanced and complete.

Using the calculator from the StroyDay website, you can calculate both sparse and solid crate

In the same way, I can only give only average figures for the cost of the work of professional craftsmen in terms of per square meter.

Table: the cost of work on the installation of the crate

Tools and materials for the installation of battens

For the manufacture of the crate, we need the following materials.

  1. Selected cross-section timber without knots.
  2. And / or edged board with a minimum of knots.
  3. And / or boards of plywood, OSB, chipboard, fiberboard.
  4. Or a metal hat profile of the selected section.
  5. Nails, screws, rubber or metal washers.

In addition, you will need a standard set of tools.


We build different lathing for different roofing materials

Let's dwell on some types of roofing in more detail.

Sheathing for a soft roof

Roll and piece material (bitumen shingles) belongs to the soft roof.

Lathing for roll roofing material

For soft roll covering materials - roofing material, metal insulation, polymer-bitumen materials, polymer membranes - a continuous single-layer or two-layer flooring is required, preferably from shields.

This sheathing for a soft roof is made correctly

The heads of the nails must be sunk, the knots in the boards must be chipped off. On the slot wider than a centimeter, strips of tin should be filled. In places where the covering is bent, the sharp edge of the shield, timber or board should be rounded with a plane or even sheathed with a strip of roofing sheet.

Roofing material is easy to lay on a solid board crate

It is necessary to lay the roof on dry days so that the wood of the flooring goes under the roof in a dry state.

Sheathing for bituminous shingles

Bituminous shingles, despite the name, also refer to a soft roof. It is made of fiberglass (base), bitumen and stone granulate. Here, too, only a solid double or single crate made of any material is applicable. It is important to make a perfectly flat surface.

Bituminous shingles must also be laid on a solid base.

Sheathing for seam roofing

Seam roofing is made of metal sheets or rolls: polymer-coated steel, copper, aluminum or zinc, connected by the so-called seam. Folds are single and double, each of which, in turn, can be recumbent or standing. As a rule, horizontal seams are sealed with reclining seams, and vertical seams with standing seams.

Different types of folds are used in different situations and provide different degrees of tightness of the joints

Now it is rare, but it still happens that the roof is covered with traditional galvanized iron, and the folds are made by the master roofer manually with a mallet.

Do-it-yourself galvanized iron roof can only be made by a professional

But much more often special roofing sheets are used - paintings measuring 0.55x8 m with ready-made self-locking folds.

Ideally, a seam roof is laid on a solid crate covered with hydro and vapor barrier. The requirements for a continuous crate are the same as in the case of laying a soft roof, only the presence of cracks is not so scary. It cannot be avoided even in the case of a small, up to 15 o, slope of the slope, and for complex architectural solutions of the roof. In other cases, you can save on a solid crate.

Self-locking folds are an ingenious invention, they reliably connect the paintings with the usual pressure on the seam

When using a sparse sheathing, it is important to correctly determine its step and adhere to it, otherwise the roofing metal will bend. The most reasonable step is about 20 centimeters. A beam of 50x50 mm, a board of 32x100 mm or a metal profile are used. A hydro-barrier with a counter grill is required under the metal coating.

The lathing is mounted from the overhang; in the areas of overhangs, joints and intersections, it is recommended to make continuous sections of boards. Due to the possible corrosion of the metal, it is especially important to pre-treat the wood with an antiseptic or even paint it. In any case, you need to drown and paint over the nail heads.

I will share my observation. I changed the roof of my house that was laid back in 1926. The builders then used a slab for the lathing with a pitch of about fifty centimeters - of course, without counter-lattice and waterproofing, and on the roof there was thick non-galvanized iron. Thanks to this, and also - the large slope of the roof and regular painting, it is satisfactorily preserved from the outside. But when these sheets were removed from the roof, we saw that they were deeply rusted from the inside. Moreover, the rust went in stripes - in those places where the slab of the crate did not adhere to the iron and the air of the attic room affected the metal. From which I drew the right conclusions: I replaced not only the iron, but also the crate - with a solid one, with a well-designed hydro-barrier.

Sheathing for metal tiles

Metal roofing is a cross between slate and coated metal sheet. Under it, they make both a continuous crate and a sparse one - with a step equal to the step of the metal tile wave. It is also obligatory to install the hydro-barrier and counter-grill.

Typical sizes of sheets of metal tiles are convenient in that it is easy to determine the required sheathing step for them

Table: some sizes of metal sheets

The step of the sparse crate should exactly correspond to the step of the wave of a typical metal tile - 350-400 millimeters. It is enough to use a beam with a section of 40x40 mm or an edged board 25x100 mm.

The step of the lathing under the metal tile is easy to calculate by the distance between the ridges of the metal tile

In the areas of overhangs, joints and intersections of the roof, a continuous flooring is needed so that when fixing the additional elements of the metal tile, the self-tapping screws do not fall past the timber into the air.

In the area of ​​the ridge, the sparse crate gives way to a solid

Lathing for slate and ondulin

Slate (German Schiefer - slate) is a generalized name for facing wall and roofing building materials, most often this word is understood as asbestos-cement or slate slate.

Wikipedia

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A8%D0%B8%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%80

Slate can be wavy and flat. Although the slate itself is fragile, the corrugated material is much stronger due to the stiffening ribs, therefore it is used much more often. It is subdivided into two types in terms of height and wave pitch: 40/150 mm and 54/200 mm.

Slate sheets differ in the number and size of waves

Table: dimensions of slate sheets depending on the height and step of the wave

Under the slate, the crate is most often built from a bar, always perpendicular to the rafters. For small sheets (1200 × 680 mm), the pitch of the lathing is about 50 cm, and the cross-section of the timber is 50x50 mm. For unified sheets (1750 × 1125 cm), the pitch is about 80 cm, and the cross-section of the timber is 75x75 mm.

The sheet should lie on at least three beams, often it is placed on four. To achieve a uniform load, tight contact of sheets with the flooring and with each other in the place of overlaps, it is necessary to use beams of different heights: with a three-beam support, even beams should be 3 millimeters thicker than odd ones, with a four-beam support - the second and third beams are respectively 2 and 4 millimeters higher main. The eaves beams are made 6 mm higher. In this case, either a beam of different sections is used, or its height is changed with the help of a lining of roofing material or chips. In the areas of overhangs, joints and intersections of slopes, it is recommended to make continuous sections of boards.

For slate lathing, bars of different heights are used

All these laws also work for the crate for ondulin (euro slate). Ondulin, first made in 1944 in France, is similar to slate, but colored, four times lighter, and does not contain harmful asbestos. You just need to change the pitch of the crate to fit the size of the ondulin sheet, equal to 2000x950x3 mm:


Sheathing for tiles

Sheathing for tiles is the pinnacle of qualifications for a roofing master. Shingles are one of the most ancient roofing materials, practically not subject to wear and tear.

The quality and service life of ceramic tiles has been proven over centuries of operation.

I grew up in a house on earth. There was a barn near the gate, which was covered with ceramic tiles by my grandfather. As far back as I can remember, the tiles have always remained unchanged. Moreover, when the barn was demolished, I sold this tile, it was carefully disassembled and taken away. Presumably, she continues to delight the new owner, although she is more than a hundred years old.

Now the tiles are:

  • ceramic;
  • cement-sand;
  • polymer-cement;
  • metal.

The disadvantages of traditional ceramic tiles are fragility, heaviness, high price. Cement-sand is cheaper, but has the same problems. Therefore, they created polymer-sand tiles from molten polymer and sand.

The length of one shard is summed up from the lengths of the working part, overhang and spike. The spike of the previous element is covered by the overhang of the next one.

The lathing for the tiles must be laid very precisely so that the joints of the elements are on the boards

For shingles, a sparse lathing of 50x50 mm timber is needed, for heavier ceramic and cement-sandy - 60x60 mm. A hydro-barrier and a counter-lath or a kind of double structure are required when the sparse lathing lies on a continuous deck with a hydro-barrier.

In most cases, the lathing and counter-lathing under the tiles are laid in the standard way on the waterproofing

The main subtlety is the calculation of the pitch of the lathing, equal to the covering length of the tiles, and the most accurate embodiment of these calculations in practice. The ramp should be covered with an integer number of shards in length and width. There are many tile sizes, so the required lathing pitch varies between 15 and 40 centimeters. The ridge beams are placed indented from the ends of the rafters so that the tiles of the ridge rows do not close. The slot will be closed with a ridge tile. In the areas of overhangs, joints and intersections of slopes, you need to make continuous sections of boards.

Ceramic roof tiles require special care in laying.

The speed of sub-shingling battens will be greatly increased if you make a template with a length equal to the covering length of the shingles.

Using a template for lathing under the tiles will greatly facilitate the life of the master.

Shingle lathing

Shingles, also known as shingles and shingles, are flat roofing plates made of wood. We can say that these are wooden tiles.

Shingle roofing needs a sparse, but frequent lathing

Since it is lighter than real tiles, the timber for laying the lathing is thinner: 40 × 40 or 50 × 50 mm. The step is calculated not only depending on the size of the shingle, but also on the number of its layers. More often, a double lathing of the same type is used as for ordinary tiles.

600 2 290 3 200 700 2 340 3 230

Lathing for spotlights

In order to avoid rotting of rafters, loss of thermal insulation qualities of the insulation from getting wet and penetration into the roof of rodents, the lower side of the rafter overhang must be closed. Traditionally, this was done with plywood, tin, clapboard, the crate for which is also quite traditional, and its step is determined visually.

The lathing under the overhang sheathing with clapboard or tin is made according to the usual scenario

But lining, plywood and sheet metal do not provide adequate ventilation. Now there is a great replacement - perforated panels or soffits that protect and ventilate the under-roof space.

Soffits installed under the overhang visibly decorate the house

Soffits are:

  • vinyl frost-resistant - bright and durable;
  • steel with a polymer coating - also durable, but fade in the sun;
  • aluminum;
  • copper - with the longest service life.

The soffits are already equipped with mounting profiles: a J-profile for fastening (the soffits are inserted into them) and an H-profile for joining the seams of the soffits.

The use of profiles for installing spotlights greatly facilitates the work

Therefore, the construction of the lathing is reduced to the installation of two guides from a bar for these profiles.

Profiles for connecting soffits ensure their aesthetic connection at the corners

Antiseptic for wooden lathing

Even if the roof is flawless and does not allow water to pass through, the wood in the roofing cake and rafter system is exposed to the adverse effects of humidity and temperature changes, which provoke the formation of fungi and mold. Mice and woodworms happily settle in the roofing pie. The tree is fire hazardous.

To avoid this, high-quality impregnation is needed. It must withstand all these dangers and penetrate deeply into the structure of wood, do not contain substances harmful to humans (arsenic, copper sulfate), dissolve well in water, and do not wash off for a long time.

In our climatic conditions and the conditions of a particular house, you need to choose what is more important - resistance to moisture or fire. The wood is impregnated only once. And the first line-up will be the main one in action. The coatings applied in the second and third stages will work weaker.

There are two methods of applying antiseptics.


An antiseptic is a protection against fungus (fungicide), microbes (biocide), insects (insecticide) in one bottle. The composition of a good antiseptic must be completely harmless to humans. In antiseptics for external parts, a coloring alkyd resin is included.

I can safely advise the water-based antiseptic "Senezh". It comes in different series for different designs - "Ultra", "Bio", "Thor", "Sauna". We processed rafters, floor beams, battens with the Ultra variety. "Senezh" is easily applied with a spray gun. With a small consumption of funds, only slightly exceeding the declared one (250-300 g / m 3), the impregnation by eye turned out to be of high quality and even decorated the wood. The manufacturer promises biosecurity up to 35 years and the effect of "healing" already affected wood. About ten years have passed, and there is no reason to complain yet.

I did some marketing research. It showed that apart from "Senezh", Pinotex Impra and Pinotex Ultra products made in Estonia are popular, as they are highly effective and have a decorative effect. But unlike "Senezh" they cannot be used for wood already affected by microorganisms. And the domestic remedy "Drevoteks" protects against weathering and the sun, gives a beautiful appearance to the product, but has restrictions on the moisture content of the lumber: it cannot be applied if the moisture content is more than 20%.

Table: comparative characteristics and prices of antiseptic impregnations

NameSpecificationsPackage quantity, lAverage price per liter, rubles
Protects against fungus, rot and mildew, weathering, UV rays9 420
Protects deep layers of wood from soil moisture, mildew, blue stain and rot10 520
Protects against rot, mildew, blue stains and wood borers indoors and outdoors10 60
"Senezh Bio"Protects against decay, mold, blue stains and wood borers in contact with humans and animals and outdoors in particularly harsh conditions10 78
Forms a weather and UV resistant elastic coating10 230

Photo gallery: several types of antiseptics

"Drevoteks" is inferior to "Senezh" both in terms of functions and efficiency
Pinotex Ultra is considered a rather expensive but high-quality antiseptic with a wide spectrum of action.
"Senezh Ultram" is the most affordable domestic antiseptic
"Senezh Bio" can be used not only for roofing, but also when laying wooden parts in the ground
Pinotex Impra is used for impregnating hidden structures

Video: wood treatment with an antiseptic

You have carefully understood the principles of construction and material of the lathing, made the right choice, deepened your knowledge in accordance with the selected technology. Now you can start building a roof with your own hands. You will succeed and you can be proud of yourself.

A rafter system is a complex device made up of many interconnected elements that provide support for roof slopes. This is, perhaps, the most difficult structural unit of any structure in design and installation. In order for the frame to be strong, reliable and able to withstand intense loads, it is necessary to correctly calculate and determine the number, size and mutual distance between its elements. The lathing of the roof, despite its external simplicity, plays an important role in distributing the weight of the roofing cake between the supporting supports. In this article we will tell you what a crate is, as well as how to do it yourself.

Roof lathing is a simple structure consisting of small section slats, fixed perpendicular to the rafter legs of the frame. This specific decking can be made of wood or metal, varying the distance between the elements depending on the slope and structure of the roof, as well as the type of roofing material chosen. The lathing in the structure of the rafter frame performs the following functions:

  • Load distribution from the roofing cake. Each square meter of the roof, together with the snow mass, can weigh more than 300 kg, so it is important to evenly distribute this weight between the rafters so that the roof does not deform.
  • Shaping the rays. A deck of planks, plywood or slats, laid across the rafters, serves as the base on which the roof covering is laid and fixed. Extra support is especially important for soft materials and heavy surfaces.
  • For fastening roof coverings. Correctly chosen pitch of the lathing allows you to evenly fix the roofing material with the help of fasteners, so that it can withstand a greater wind load.

Important! A correctly calculated lathing allows you to strengthen those places of the rafter frame that are subject to increased loads, for example, valleys, areas where gutters or snow holders are attached.

Materials (edit)

Many inexperienced builders are wondering how to properly make a crate with their own hands, and, most importantly, from what. The fact is that it must be strong, reliable, durable, but at the same time light, so that it does not overly burden the structure. Depending on the method of arrangement for the manufacture of the lathing, they use:


Professional roofers consider it advisable to install a metal profile lathing, which is more expensive only if the length of the roof slope exceeds 6 meters, and the waterproofing coating is heavy.

Arrangement methods

There are three main parameters of the deck structure, on which the installation of the roofing should be done: the pitch of the sheathing, as well as the size of the section of its elements and the material used for its arrangement. However, there is one more characteristic, the choice of which depends on the composition of the roofing cake. The lathing device can be:

  • Single layer. A single-layer lathing consists of only one tier of slats, which are fixed across the rafter legs with a step predetermined during the calculation. The difference between this option is that a gap is not formed between the wooden frame and the roofing, in which air circulates. Therefore, this design is used when installing "cold" type roofs.
  • Two-layer. The two-layer structure consists of two tiers of slats: a counter-lattice fixed along the rafter legs and directly the lathing itself, located across them. Such a device makes it possible to form a ventilation gap between the wooden frame elements and the top coating of the roof, which protects them from contact with condensate and atmospheric moisture. Therefore, this design option is used when installing a "warm" roof, which includes insulation.

Remember that a waterproofing film must be placed between the crate and the rafter legs, which protects the roof frame from contact with water. The waterproofing is cut into strips and then fixed with a construction stapler in strips overlapping across the rafter legs. If desired, the joints between the strips can be glued with adhesive tape.

Views

Before making a do-it-yourself roof lathing, you need to calculate the total weight of the roofing cake, taking into account the maximum possible snow load in winter. These calculations will help to determine the required bearing capacity of the flooring, and based on this factor, you can choose the size of the section of its elements and the distance between them. Metal or wooden lathing can be as follows:

  1. Solid. Solid decking is installed if the roof covering used to cover the roof is of the soft type. Since it is not able to keep its shape on its own, it requires a solid base made of moisture-resistant plywood or OSB, the distance between the sheets during installation should not exceed 1 cm.
  2. Lattice. A lattice or standard is called a crate if the distance between its elements is 25-45 cm. It is made of edged or unedged boards, timber and is suitable for installing most sheet roofing materials, as it provides a good level of support.
  3. Sparse. A sparse lathing is considered if the distance between adjacent slats exceeds 50 cm. Usually it is made of a metal profile welded between, since it must have a large bearing capacity. With the help of a thin base, roofs with a large area are covered, as well as when installing heavy roofing materials in order to reduce the weight of the structure.

Please note that the type of flooring used to fasten the roofing is influenced not only by the material from which it is made, but also by the pitch of the sheathing. The heavier the roof and the flatter the slopes, the smaller the distance between adjacent slats should be.

Criterias of choice

The choice of the lathing is based on a competent calculation that takes into account all the features of the roof structure. These calculations help to find the optimal material for its manufacture, the required section and the distance between its elements. The choice of design is influenced by the following criteria:

  • The angle of inclination of the roof slopes. The greater the slope, the less snow accumulates on the roof surface, which means there is less load on the rafter frame, due to which it is possible to increase the step between the elements of the sheathing.
  • Roofing type. If the material has a rigid shape and does not deform during operation, then a rarefied or lattice lathing is used for its installation, since it requires minimal support. On the other hand, soft surfaces are laid on a solid base.
  • Climatic conditions. If construction is carried out in a region with snowy winters, then the crate should be reinforced with additional elements so that it is able to withstand the additional load during snowfalls.

Remember that the installation of the battens is carried out after installing the rafter pairs, when their upper ribs are aligned with the building level and are in the same plane, otherwise the roof will turn out to be curved.

Video instruction

One of the most important stages in roofing is the lathing device. It is she who plays the role of the basis for the roof covering, which is mounted on the rafter system. In addition, the lathing protects the room from condensation, thanks to the ventilation duct created between the roof covering. A vapor barrier from the inside and waterproofing from the outside will completely eliminate the ingress of moisture. Despite the fact that the supporting structure of the roof is rafters, the lathing plays an essential role. If the installation of the lathing is performed or selected incorrectly, the consequences will be serious. This includes deformation, collapse of roofs, violation of insulating layers.

Then the question arises, how to properly make the base for the roofing material? Let's find out what types of battens exist, what is needed for the work, and how to do everything with our own hands.

Varieties of crate

We learned that the lathing is a kind of backing or base for roofing material. Since the materials are different, then the base for them needs an appropriate one. For example, the difference between a soft roof and a regular one is clearly visible. The first option is a flexible and soft coating that does not hold its shape. But the usual elements (slate, corrugated board, metal tile) are tough, keep their shape and are durable. For these types of coatings, there are different types of battens. There are two types of them:


The first option is a crate, which is made of boards, with a certain pitch, which on average can be 200–550 mm. It is suitable for tough materials with a large area that hold their shape. Since each material has its own wave, which changes with a certain step, then the crate must be made, starting from this wave. In this case, the board for the lathing should be of high quality, with a section of 45-50 mm. Self-tapping screws or nails are used to fix them. The slats are packed perpendicular to the rafters.

As for the solid roof, it is suitable for soft roofs. The base under it should not have gaps, as the flooring will sag. Instead of ramming the bars at a distance from each other, they are fixed close to each other. And in order for the vapor barrier and waterproofing to function correctly, a small gap must be left between the boards for air circulation (no more than 1 cm). For the base, you can use flat boards, plywood or OSB.

Note! These types of lathing can be done in one layer, or in two. It is preferable to arrange two layers. For example, under plywood or OSB, you can make a base from boards with a step, and a counter-lattice is arranged under a regular crate.

If you take a responsible approach to doing the work, then everything can be successfully done independently. But in order to perform the installation qualitatively, one desire is not enough. You need to get the right tool.

Tools and materials

The basis for the substrate will be wooden elements: beams, boards and boards. Since wood is a finicky material, it must be coated with an antiseptic agent against moisture, decay and rodents. Elements should not be deformed or defective. Permissible moisture content of raw materials - no more than 20%. So, the crate will last a long time without breakdowns.

Note! Vapor barrier and waterproofing are integral parts of the roofing pie, which also need to be purchased and used in advance.

Now let's deal with the tools. You will not need anything supernatural, so it will not be difficult to do everything yourself. For roof lathing, you need to have:

  1. Building level.
  2. Tape measure and pencil.
  3. A hacksaw for wood.
  4. Hammer.
  5. Bulgarian.
  6. Chipping (cord).
  7. Screwdriver or drill.
  8. Fastening materials: nails for roof lathing or self-tapping screws.

If you want your work to be done efficiently and smoothly, make sure you have all of these tools. This is a basic list, but as you go along, you may need something else, all individually.

We make a crate for a soft coating

The device of a solid crate is made in two layers. The first is a base layer from a regular lathing. The slats are stuffed onto the rafters. Their width should be from 100 to 140 mm, with a thickness of 20–37 mm. The step is selected individually. Once the base has been created, the flooring can be done. Here you have 3 options:

  • boards;
  • plywood;

If these are boards, then they are stacked at an angle of 45˚. The recommended width is 60–70 mm, with a thickness of 20 mm. Nails are used for fixing. Hammer them in so as to deepen the caps a little. The joints of the boards must be on the rafters. The vapor barrier should be located at the bottom of the rafters.

Note! You need to do the work from the bottom up, in the direction of the ridge.

When you use plywood or OSB, it is better to arrive on the prepared base in a checkerboard pattern. Then the waterproofing improves. Leave a 3 mm gap between the boards. As for fixing, the connection of the plates on the rafter leg must be fixed with nails every 15 cm.On the side edges, the step is 10 cm, and at the bottom - 30 cm.

In more detail about the device of this roof sheathing, you will learn from this video:

Sparse lathing

This option is simpler and cheaper. After all, much less material is required. There is nothing complicated in this work. After all, the previous version included a kind of this crate, expressed in the substrate for the flooring. Therefore, it will not be difficult to make it.

For work you will need boards for lathing and for counter-lathing. First, you need to spread the waterproofing on the rafters, moving from the bottom up. The overlap should be 100–150 mm. On top of the film along the rafters, you need to nail the slats of the counter-lattice, with a section of 50 × 50 mm. And already on them, perpendicularly, the bars of the usual crate are stuffed. The step is selected separately based on the type of roofing material. It is important that the pitch of the sheathing matches the profile wave. Usually, this figure is indicated in the documentation for the roofing material. Read it and use this information.

To make everything even, you will need a level, tape measure, and skip. At one end of the rafter leg, secure a nail and tie a rope. Run it across the stack at the end, level it and fix it on the other side. So, you get a perfectly straight line for fixing the lathing.