First establish whether a given covering suits the roof at all, and only then compare its appearance and the cost of the whole solution. Check the pitch and the method of water drainage, because a material intended for a steep roof cannot always be used on a nearly flat slope. The minimum fall follows from the product documentation and may depend on longitudinal joints, skylights and other details. Also examine the loads, the type of support and the fire, thermal and acoustic requirements. Once these conditions are clear, the list of sensible coverings quickly narrows.

Choose a course where you will lay a section of covering and form a detail yourself, not merely watch a finished roof. Check how much time you spend at the workstation and how many people share one roof model. The programme should combine understanding the roof as a layered system with practice: water flow, ventilation and critical junctions. Also ask about training materials, tools and the instructor's assessment of your work. Training organises skills but does not replace design or site experience.

Roof battens provide direct support and fixing points for the covering, so their layout must be decided before installation rather than corrected during the work. Instead of generic recommendations, check the spacing required by the instructions for the specific product and the cross-section determined by structural conditions. The first batten at the eaves is especially important, as it governs support for the start of the sheet and drainage into the gutter. Counter-battens, running along the slope, serve a different purpose and help create the ventilation space. Before fixing the whole framework, it is worth trialling a section of covering with the eaves components.

The way beams are connected depends primarily on the forces, geometry and location within the structure. Joining two lengths is different from connecting a rafter to a support. It is worth checking what forces the node must transfer and whether the joint matches the structural drawing. Cross-section, timber grade and moisture conditions must be considered. Merely butting two beam ends together does not restore continuity. Load capacity is determined by the whole detail, not by a number of random screws. That is why a carpenter needs a design, not just a photo from a neighbouring site.