Counter battens are wooden strips that are installed vertically over pitched roofs where horizontal tiling battens are attached. They are used to allow rain to run off the tiles and away from the roof.
Most tile manufactures allow direct nailing but not on roofs with a slope greater than 7:12, or on roofs with cold climates where it gets icey.
Roofing battens are mainly made from wood but you can get metal, plastic or composite also. Some combine two materials to get the effect they need.
Single lap installations should use 38mm x 25mm batten for 450mm joists and 50mm x 25mm for batten for 600mm joists. Concrete slates require 38mm x 25mm batten for 450mm joist spans.
Yes, roofing battens will rot but only at the edges of the roof such as chimneys or verges.
Battens Should be fixed to rafters set at centres no more than 600mm apart, they should be at least 1.2 meters long.
Yes, roofing battens are structural. They are also extremely important structural functions in a roof.
Roofing battens are different colours because the manufactures need to know that it has met necessary standards. The colour is not important, what is important is if it has the BS5534 stamp.
Battens are laid in-between rafters to secure the roofing felt.
Yes, they are treated to be in accordance with BS 8417. Different manufactures use different treatments.