Timber Battens

Batten profiles and sizes

42 × 42 mm DAR is the standard square batten for slatted screens, batten walls and ceilings. Bevelled 30 × 40 × 50 mm reads as an angled blade, so a screen changes with the viewing angle. Arched 35 × 42 mm has a half-round face for a softer line on ceilings and feature walls. All three are Yellow Balau, a dense South-East Asian hardwood with a straight grain and a pale honey colour, in set lengths from 1.0 m to 3.0 m in 300 mm steps, from $8.20 per metre.

For a darker batten, Merbau 42 × 19 mm, 42 × 42 mm and 70 × 19 mm are kiln-dried Select Grade, Class 1 durable above ground and accepted for bushfire areas up to BAL-29. Yellow Balau is not on the AS 3959 bushfire-resisting list, so use Merbau where a BAL rating applies. If you would rather never oil a batten, NewTechWood composite battens come in 56 × 30 mm by 5.4 m in four colours.

Timber batten ceilings and walls

Inside, battens go on over plasterboard or a painted backing, fixed through to the studs or ceiling joists, or to a furring rail where the joists run the wrong way. A 42 mm batten with a 42 mm gap is the usual rhythm for a ceiling; closer spacing reads as texture, wider spacing reads as individual slats. Paint the backing black or charcoal before you fix the battens and the shadow line does most of the work. A bevelled batten adds movement to a long wall; the arched profile suits a curved ceiling.

Batten screens and fences

For a privacy screen or fence extension, fix 42 × 42 mm battens to 90 × 45 mm rails at 450 to 600 mm centres, with a spacer block to keep the gaps even. Pre-drill the hardwood, keep fixings at least 12 mm from the ends, and use stainless steel within 1 km of the coast or 1 m of a pool. If you would rather skip the assembly, our ready-made hardwood screen panels are 900 mm wide in 2.1 m and 2.4 m heights, built from 19 × 42 mm Balau battens on a frame.

Battens for cladding

Behind external cladding, the batten is structural rather than decorative: ventilated cavity battens 50 × 35 × 3600 mm, Weathertex MGP10 ventilated battens and James Hardie cavity battens hold the cladding off the wrap so the wall can drain and dry. They live with our cladding accessories.

Finishing and ordering

Oil every face and every cut end before fixing, then recoat once a year, or let the battens weather to silver-grey. We stock CUTEK CD50, Intergrain Universal Timber Oil and Sceney’s Timber Decking Oil. Bring the wall or ceiling size in, or call (03) 9465 9875, and we will work out the batten count and lengths with the least waste.

Questions we get asked about timber battens

What spacing should timber ceiling battens have?

A gap equal to the batten width, 42 mm for a 42 x 42 batten, is the usual rhythm. Closer spacing reads as texture from across the room; wider spacing reads as individual slats.

How do I fix battens to a wall?

Adhesive plus concealed screws into the studs, with the hardwood pre-drilled and fixings kept 12 mm from the ends. Paint the backing wall dark first so the shadow line does the work.

Can these battens be used outside?

Yes. Oil every face and cut end before fixing and use stainless steel fixings near the coast or a pool. For a bushfire-rated screen use the Merbau battens, which are accepted to BAL-29.

How much do timber battens cost?

The hardwood profiles are from $8.20 per metre, Merbau 42 x 19 from $4.61 per 1.8 m length, and NewTechWood composite battens $55 per 5.4 m board.