Wood board and batten siding options

Richmond Va Siding - Wood Board and Batten Siding

Board and Batten Siding for Your Richmond Home

It turns out that the word "board" as used here can be a bit misleading since board and batten can be made of vinyl, fiber cement, steel, or wood. In terms of visual appeal, wood is by far the most popular so we will focus on that type even though others are available.

While beveled wood siding offers horizontal application methods, you can go vertical when you choose board and batten siding. The vertical design uses a knotty or clear cedar boards that are spaced apart using narrower boards, which are the battens, to cover the joints. With this type of siding, there are no set batten or board widths. While this is true, a common combination is one foot by two feet or one foot by three feet. You can also reverse this with the boards installed over your battens, which creates a deeper channel effect to the siding.

The wood used for board and batten siding is made of rough sawn and unseasoned boards or boards that have been surfaced on one side along with two edges, which are commonly used for this design. While the most common sizes are mentioned above, you can find board and batten sizes that range from one foot by two feet to one foot by 12 feet and this is a decision that is generally driven by personal preference and what you want the final product to look like.

Installation of this material should be handled by the professionals, as it can get tricky making sure the board and batten appears uniform.

Board and batten is commonly found on barns across the United States and is frequently called barn siding. It makes a nice weather-tight seal, which will be discussed below in the Pros section, and it also creates a layered look which many homeowners find attractive.

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Pros and Cons of Wood Board and Batten Siding

There are a number of compelling reasons homeowners choose board and batten style siding over the others.

First, it tends to be very long lasting. When installed properly and taken care of, board and batten can last for decades. If longevity is your primary goal, board and batten may be the right choice for you.

This style also offers your home great visual appeal and can add value to the home. This siding has a lot of character and is considered by most to be very attractive on a lot of home styles.

Board and batten can be installed a lot of different ways, unlike other types of siding. It can be installed vertically or horizontally, but can also be installed both of these ways since the battens are placed between the boards. It doesn't matter which way the boards are going, battens can be cut and placed over the seams. So you can achieve lots of different looks with this.

Additionally the pieces are relatively small so if you do need to replace some, it is easy and inexpensive to do so.

There are a few, though not many, cons.

It can take awhile to install it since there are a large number of pieces that are involved. It is important to be careful to get it done right and this process cannot be rushed.

The time involved in installation can drive up the cost of installation, which is another con. Again, the process must not be rushed or problems can develop over the years. It is particularly important with this type of siding to do it right the first time.

It you use wood, most people go for the natural rustic look, making it susceptible to rot, decay, and insects. Careful installation reduces this likelihood.

That is about it. If you don't mind some extra expense for the material and extra time to install it, board and batten may be the right solution for you.