Ready to hire?
Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a jobNeed some tips or advice?
Ask a questionRoofing
Is it ok to you 19mm battens if it’s a small repair
hannah 12/01/2026 - 8.14 AM
We’ve had a leak fixed in our 80s bungalow roof and the roofer has used 25mm batten instead of replacing the 19mm batten. He says it’s regulation and he couldn’t use anything else. It’s made a mess of the tiles which now sit higher and have gaps. I understand it’s still possible to by 19mm battens so would it have been ok to use them?
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
9 Answers
All Type Roofing and guttering
Rating: 4.4 out of 5
For pitched roofing where the battens are a structural component supporting tiles or slates, the minimum required size is generally 25mm x 50mm.
According to BS 5534, roofing battens must be at least 25mm thick to provide sufficient strength and ensure durability and safety.
Answered2 December 2025
1
Clyde roofing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Requirement for new tiled roofs is 25mm tile batten but when repairing existing it’s like for like or the tiles won’t be seated properly
Answered2 December 2025
1
R Bailey
Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Unless you use the correct batten sizes and gauges the tiles will kick up amd won’t sit properly.
Answered2 December 2025
1
Anonymous user
Yes absolutely what the guy has said about regulations is not true you want to be using the same batterns that are already fitted to the rafters so if they are 29mm then to replace any will need to be replaced with the same ideally.
Answered2 December 2025
0
Homeshield Roofing & Building
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
It is 25mm bs but when you are doing repair tiles will kick up if your not using like for like, and yes you can get 19mm batten from a timber yards,
Answered3 December 2025
0
Cannon Builders
Rating: 4.9 out of 5
He should have used the same size batten, using thicker batten would definitely raise the slates or tiles, which would look like a pigs ear ! And could let water in?
Answered3 December 2025
0
Anonymous user
Repairing existing it’s like for like materials so you will be fine to use 19mm.
Answered9 December 2025
0
Stainmore Carpentry
Rating: 5 out of 5
Personally should be like for like.
If its existing then you follow suite. He probably guessed and didn't want to lose money on materials
Answered10 December 2025
0
DMS Roofing
No reviews yet
100% should have used the same as the existing batten , what he has done will cause leaks
Answered12 January 2026
0