What is the purpose of a cavity batten?

Answer 1

A cavity batten is a spacer that allows a face fixed cladding to be set off the wall structure. This is usually done to allow the drainage of any moisture that penetrates the cladding, so that it does not get into the structure and insulation underneath. The cavity batten is fixed over the building wrap.

Cavity battens are often made of timber but can also be fibre cement, steel, aluminium or plastic. The material needs to be one that can cope with a damp environment, so some types of timber require treatment.

Cavity battens are not usually structural, so the fixings for the cladding need to be long enough to penetrate through the cavity batten and well into the structure behind.

Cavity battens must not be continuous in the horizontal direction unless they are sloped and stop well short of vertical battens, or have drainage routes through them so that moisture will not build up.