Board and batten siding is a popular design style that can suit many architectural styles. This article will provide you with everything you need to know about the farmhouse board and batten siding design, including its history, materials, architectural styles, and cost.
What is Board and Batten Siding?
Board and batten, or board-and-batten siding, is a type of exterior siding or interior paneling that has alternating wide boards and narrow wooden strips, called “battens.” The boards are usually one foot wide, and the battens are usually about 1/2-inch wide. The boards may be placed horizontally or vertically to achieve a layered, geometric effect.
Use in Architecture
Board-and-batten siding is often found in informal architectural styles, such as country homes and churches. It was popular during the Victorian era as a pragmatic method of adding architectural detail to Carpenter Gothic structures. Today, you can find board-and-batten siding combined with brick or stone exteriors and also combined with more traditional horizontal siding.
History
Historically, a wooden batten would be placed over a seam between the wide boards, creating a stronger and more energy-efficient siding. Because it was inexpensive and easy to assemble, board and batten was used for structures such as barns and garden sheds. Board-and-batten siding is sometimes called barn siding because many barns in North America are constructed this way. Even today, this type of siding on a house exudes a comfortable informality.
Materials
Board and batten are sold by a number of distributors in an assortment of widths and in a variety of materials such as wood, composite, aluminum, vinyl, steel, insulated, or not. Remember that board and batten is not a construction material, and often the materials used will affect the overall final appearance. Wood choices can include cedar, pine, oak, and redwood. Vinyl is more affordable and will have lower maintenance than wood as it doesn’t need to be painted or stained.
Architectural Styles
Common home designs that use this siding include both farmhouse and country-style homes, as the lines and look of the siding are similar to the appearance of barn siding. Other style homes are picking up on the trend since board and batten is so versatile and can be laid both horizontally and vertically. You will also see this type of siding showing up on the outside of both modern and traditional styles of homes.
Cost
The cost of board and batten will vary depending on the type of material you choose. It can run anywhere from $2 to $12 per each siding piece, costing as much as $15,000 for materials for a 1,500-square-foot house. Take the time to scout around, know what your budget is, and choose a board and batten siding that you like and can afford.
Final Thoughts
Board and batten siding is a versatile, trendy siding design that can add character and interest to a home. Whether you’re building a new home or updating an existing one, board and batten siding can add curb appeal and value to your property. With its layered, geometric effect, farmhouse board and batten siding is a timeless and unique design that can suit many architectural styles.