Plaster ceiling - should I use battens?

[frankk]

Hi,

I'm adding a rumpus room and it will have a trussed roof. Should I space the trusses at 450mm and fix the ceiling plaster directly to the underside of the trusses?

Alternatively, should I be using battens on 600mm spaced trusses rather than fix the plaster directly to the trusses?

Thanks,
Frank

[rod@plasterbrok]

Hi you have several alternatives.

If you have a tile roof your trusses will be 600 if only iron roofing trusses can be 900 .

Provided the bottom cord of the truss is straight you can fix ceiling board direct to the trusses if they are at 600 C.

If the trusses are 900 apart use metal battens at 450 centers and use standard board.

You would not need to put your trusses at 450. Timber is too expensive.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Rod Dyson

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

What Rod said: battens are much cheaper than trusses. I believe the Rondo ceiling battens will span up to 1.2m, although I trust your roof will be better supported than that!

It's also a lot easier to pack out battens for a level ceiling, once you discover the tradies haven't set the trusses level.

[rod@plasterbrok]

28mm and 16mm furring channel will span 1200 centers, not Rondo battens.

Battens are part no 304 (spans 900)
Furring channel pt 129 (spans 1200)

Just to avoid confusion.

Cheers Rod

[frankk]

Hi Guys,

Thanks. I will be using timber trusses, and maximum spacing will be 600mm.

I just wasn't sure whether to fix plaster directly to the trusses (in case of future movement, etc...) or if the job would be better by attaching battens.

Thanks,
Frank

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

28mm and 16mm furring channel will span 1200 centers, not Rondo battens.

Battens are part no 304 (spans 900)
Furring channel pt 129 (spans 1200)

Just to avoid confusion.

I stand corrected. I should know better than to post in the wee hours when the brain has already gone to sleep.

[rod@plasterbrok]

Frank my personal choice is to use battens, however it is industry standard to fix directly to trusses at 600 centers. Use screws rather than clouts, (less chance of getting popped nails). If you use nails, only use ring shank nails on pine trusses.

From a structual point of view fixing to the trusses is ok.

From an asthetic point of view if the trusses are not straight you should consider battens.

I don't believe you can buzz 10mm off the bottom cord of a truss to straighten the ceiling . Some one might like to comment on that.

Cheers Rod Dyson