The refreshing look of board-and-batten siding is trending, and for good reason. It perfectly complements the modern farmhouse, modernizes country-style homes, and adds a rustic chic flair to traditional houses. Its versatility in application means you can cover your whole home in it or use it to accent architectural features to add interest to your exterior.
Why Board-and-Batten Siding Is Trending
Board-and-Batten Siding Defined
The classic look of board-and-batten is achieved by installing wide vertical planks (boards) and covering the joints between them with thin vertical strips (battens). The decorative appeal of this siding style adds visual interest to your modern home and offers a great aesthetic to enjoy for years to come.
The History of Board-and-Batten Siding in America
Board-and-batten siding dates back to the mid-nineteenth century when it was implemented for practical reasons: to seal a building well in order to make it more energy-efficient.
Board-and-batten siding originated in Scandinavia and northern European countries where it protected homes from severe weather. When it came to America, it covered barns and sheds to make them airtight.
Board-and-batten siding was used in homes from the Arts and Crafts movement that emerged in the late nineteenth century. This movement emphasized handcrafted elements and natural materials within home construction. In addition to Arts and Crafts homes, board-and-batten siding was popular in the Gothic Revival period, an attractive style that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century.
Versatile Options in Applying Board-and-Batten Siding
The customization of board-and-batten siding is based on your style preferences and your home’s architecture.
- You can cover your entire home with this siding style.
- Consider using board-and-batten siding on the second floor’s exterior while covering the first floor with horizontal lap siding.
- Highlight your gables with board-and-batten siding while installing horizontal siding on the remainder of your home.
- Combine board-and-batten siding with your stone or brick exterior.
- The width of your boards and battens can be determined based on the look you would like to achieve.
Material Options for Board-and-Batten Siding
This popular siding style was first achieved with wood, and only wood. But wood siding requires tedious upkeep. To attain the board-and-batten look without the high maintenance wood requires, consider using a different material.
- Fiber cement: Made of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, this durable material can mimic the look of wood, yet only needs minimal maintenance over the years. James Hardie is the most popular fiber cement material, and its track record for durability and longevity make it a wise choice. HardiePanels are used for the vertical (board) portion of board-and-batten siding while HardieTrim is used to cover the seams (as battens) and add texture to the look.
- Vinyl: Cost-effective vinyl siding can be used to create the board-and-batten look. It comes in multiple colors so you can customize it to your style preferences.
Maintenance and Repairs for Board-and-Batten Siding
The maintenance on your siding will be directly impacted by the material you choose.
- James Hardie fiber cement: This low-maintenance material requires almost no maintenance. Simply wash it once or twice a year with a garden hose and medium bristle nylon brush to remove dirt or debris. Use mild detergent for stubborn stains.
- Vinyl: Clean your vinyl siding with soap and water. To avoid moisture damage, be careful not to get water behind the seams of your vinyl.
- Wood: Seal your wood siding every other year to ensure it doesn’t soak up moisture and incur costly damage.
- Metal: Long-lasting metal siding needs to be cleaned annually to remove unwanted dirt and keep it looking pristine.
Repairs are simple to make when you have board-and-batten siding installed. If a board becomes damaged, have it removed and replaced. The boards are easily accessible due to the installation process.
Ready to Spruce up Your Home with Board-and-Batten Siding?
Once you fall in love with the look of board-and-batten siding, it’s just a matter of finding an experienced contractor (like us!) to install it with perfection. James Hardie recognizes our experienced team at Porter Family Exteriors as an Elite Preferred contractor. To maintain this status, we’ve earned a high number of homeowners’ recommendations through GuildQuality, a leading third-party surveyor in the home improvement industry.
Don’t miss out on our expert siding installation. Take a moment to discover how our replacement siding services can bring your siding dreams to life!
