Wall battens, How to install them.
Battens are used in all sorts of things from stagecraft to sailing and, of course, construction; this guide explains how to apply wooden battens to a wall to create a cavity and extra support for your wall.
The steps to follow
- Cut and prepare the number of battens you plan to install on the wall. The average thickness of a batten should be 5 x 2.5 cm (2 x 1 in) and should be 15 cm (6 in) shorter than the wall.
- Before you fix the battens, apply a coat of wood preservative on them and let them dry.
- Position the first vertical batten on the far left of the wall, and set the bottom at 10 cm (4 in) above the floor, then mark a line.
- Use the glue to fix the batten to the wall in the marked out position.
- Next, secure it to the wall by fixing 4 nails along the batten.
- While you install these vertical battens, use a spirit level to check their straightness and adjust them if necessary.
- Measure the distance between one vertical batten to the next. Cut horizontal battens based on this measurement and apply a coat of wood preservative to them.
- Locate and mark the midpoint of the vertical batten.
- Apply glue to a horizontal batten and place it right at the marked spot.
- Use a spirit level to check if the horizontal batten is straight.
- Secure two nails along the horizontal batten.
- Secure a horizontal batten across the tops and bottoms of the vertical battens.
- Follow steps 9 to 11 to finish fixing the horizontal battens.