Once a roof is finished, you'll never see the battens and underlay again — but they're doing essential work every day after that, and getting them right matters more than people realise. Here's why Back to Back Roofing Worcester takes this stage seriously.
What Battens and Underlay Actually Do
Underlay is a breathable membrane fitted beneath the tiles, acting as a secondary barrier against wind-driven rain and providing a safety net if any individual tile fails. Battens are the horizontal timber strips fixed on top of the underlay that the tiles actually hang from.
Why New Materials Matter During a Re-Roof
- Old underlay degrades over time and loses its effectiveness
- Modern breathable membranes perform significantly better than older felt
- Battens can warp, rot or work loose over years of exposure
- Reusing old materials undermines the whole point of a full re-roof
What Good Underlay and Battens Look Like
- Breathable membrane appropriate for the roof type and ventilation strategy
- Correctly spaced battens matched to the specific tile or slate gauge
- Proper fixing that won't work loose over time
- Correct lapping and detailing at joints, valleys and edges
How We Handle This Stage
- Fit appropriate breathable underlay. Matched to the roof's ventilation needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Install battens correctly spaced. Precisely matched to your specific tile or slate gauge.
- Ensure secure fixing throughout. So nothing works loose over years of weather exposure.
- Detail joints and valleys properly. Since this is where underlay failures most commonly cause problems.
Why This Stage Deserves Proper Attention
- Directly affects how weathertight the finished roof genuinely is
- A secondary barrier that matters if any tile is ever damaged
- Poor batten spacing can affect how securely tiles sit
- Getting this stage right protects the investment in the whole re-roof
Want a re-roof done properly from the ground up, not just new tiles on old foundations? That's how we work as standard.
View New Roofing Installations →Why Choose Back to Back Roofing Worcester
We're a domestic and commercial roofing team based right here in Worcester, on Rose Avenue in WR4, so we know the area and can get to you quickly. Every job comes with clear pricing before work starts and workmanship you can rely on.