You may already be acquainted with board and batten siding, even if you weren’t quite sure what to call it. This style often graces Pinterest boards, Instagram feeds, and design magazines, and you may have even noticed it on the exteriors of homes in your own neighborhood.
While currently trending, board and batten siding boasts a history spanning nearly two centuries, which is part of what makes it so appealing to homeowners.
Defining Board and Batten Siding
Originating as a more efficient alternative to log cabins in the United States, board and batten siding became popular around the mid-19th century. Its design drew inspiration from Nordic European structures.
Traditional board and batten siding features wide vertical planks (boards) fastened together with thin vertical strips (battens) to cover the seams. Pioneers and farmers used sawmills to cut the long boards, with battens ensuring the structure was as airtight as possible. Its affordability, easy assembly, and energy efficiency made it a favorite for constructing barns.
Today, the style still uses wide panels as primary siding, but the batten strips are often decorative, allowing for creativity in home design.
Advantages of Board and Batten Siding
When choosing siding, board and batten emerge as a distinguished and versatile option, offering several benefits:
Aesthetic Appeal: This siding adds a sense of traditional warmth and rustic charm, with its vertical lines creating a striking texture that complements both farmhouse and modern architectural styles.
Durability: Made from high-quality materials like fiber cement, board and batten siding is highly durable and can endure severe weather, including rain, snow, and UV rays, ensuring long-lasting protection.
Design Versatility: Modern iterations offer creative flexibility. With options for wider panels and decorative battens, you can play with spacing, colors, and profiles to achieve a unique look.
Low Maintenance: Unlike wood, fiber cement versions require minimal upkeep. Resistant to rot, pests, and weather, it lets you enjoy your home without constant maintenance.
Longevity: The robust construction ensures lasting beauty and protection, with the ability to resist warping, cracking, and shrinking.
Increased Property Value: Investing in this style can enhance your home’s curb appeal and value, making it more attractive on the real estate market.
Costs of Board and Batten Siding
Considering installation costs of board and batten siding is essential. Expenses include materials and labor, with the cost of materials greatly influencing the total.
Materials and Installation Costs
Homeowners typically spend between $10.50 and $13.90 per square foot for professional installation, materials included. For a 2,000-square-foot house, this translates to $21,000 to $27,800. Note that the growing popularity of this style has driven material costs up by about 10% annually.
Impact of Material Choices
Material costs vary widely. Depending on whether you choose wood, fiber cement, metal, vinyl, or engineered wood, expenses can range from $0.75 to $10 or more per square foot. Additional components like flashing, moisture-resistant barriers, trim pieces, caulk, and possibly paint or stain should also be factored in.
Labor and Customizations
Labor costs are another consideration. Some materials, like vinyl, come in specific sheet sizes that may need custom cuts to fit your home’s exterior. Extra work such as removing or replacing existing siding will also add to labor costs.
Utilizing Board and Batten Siding
For a personalized aesthetic, you can adjust batten spacing and incorporate various materials. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or a homeowner embarking on a new project, knowing how to install and use board and batten siding is key to achieving your desired look.
For instance, in designing a modern farmhouse with board and batten siding, wider spacing can create an elegant, modern aesthetic. Conversely, tight batten spacing in a dark color can result in a highly modern, textured appearance.
Mathieson suggests using tighter spacing in gable details to give the look and feel of an applied grate. To avoid an overly specific farmhouse aesthetic, she recommends combining it with another siding profile like Hardie® Plank lap siding for a more modern and generally appealing design.
Inspiring Board and Batten Siding Ideas
Explore creative board and batten ideas and color schemes, playing with spacing and complementary materials, to achieve stunning exteriors that blend tradition and modernity. The design possibilities with board and batten siding can significantly elevate your home’s curb appeal.
Achieving the Look with Hardie® Products
Traditionally made of wood, modern solutions now include fiber cement siding, which offers the same aesthetic with enhanced durability and lower maintenance. Hardie® fiber cement siding withstands the elements and is available with an authentic woodgrain finish.
To achieve the look, use Hardie® Panel vertical siding as your base material. Select from various colors and textures to match your personal taste, and complete the design with Hardie® Trim Boards batten strips, which are 3/4-inch thick and decorative.
Triangle Home Repair and Paint is here to help you design your space. Our Hover software can help you visualize your home with a variety of new finishes.
The final design is limited only by your imagination. Board and batten siding remains a classic style that can keep your home’s curb appeal timeless for years.
