[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”10px||10px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”42px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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Many people have heard of board and batten siding, and it is almost impossible to not see examples of it every day, but few would be able to pick it out of a lineup. This classic example of 1800s American architectural design is simple and elegant and there is a reason that the design has lasted for over 200 years!<\/p>\n
Today we\u2019re going to look at board and batten siding\u2019s history, discuss some design considerations, and then end with a few modern siding options that will let you add this timeless architectural style to your home<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”32px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n It’s easy to forget how new America is as a nation. The first European settlers arrived in the 1600s and for the next hundred years their focus was on surviving the harsh weather conditions of their new lands. This meant that the structures they lived in were more rough-and-ready than they were elegant or refined. Log cabins and mortared stone structures were easy to make out of local materials and required little finesse.<\/p>\n Log cabins soon gave way to more efficient clapboard housing, with long relatively thin boards forming a somewhat weatherproof exterior. However, the advent of hydro-power and the industrial revolution enabled colonists to take advantage of their old growth forests via powerful sawmills and the architectural landscape began to shift by the 1800s.<\/p>\n The American Gothic Revival saw the incorporation of many elements of old European architecture such as elaborate scroll-work, pinnacles, steeply pointed gables, and the development of board and batten siding. Fast forwarding to today, board and batten has never gone out of style and examples of it can be seen across the nation. Perhaps most famously, board and batten siding plays a starring role in Grant Wood\u2019s famous painting American Gothic<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”36px” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”32px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”8360,8362,8361″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”58%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||8px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” hover_enabled=”0″ border_radii=”off|150px|150px|150px|152px” border_width_all=”5px” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”14px” link_text_color=”#6506cc” text_orientation=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Images from: James Hardie<\/a> and Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”32px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The great news about board and batten is that it looks equally comfortable when accompanied by modern minimalism, or when paired with elaborate designs. Whether you want to take inspiration from the American Gothic Revival or prefer a more subdued farmhouse style, this siding style is able to play nicely with nearly any design element.<\/p>\n In terms of colors, the sky’s the limit. From timeless white to vibrant blues and even pink, board and batten is incredibly flexible.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”32px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n While board and batten used to be made from natural wood, this has fallen out of favor due to wood\u2019s high cost, susceptibility to termites, and demanding upkeep requirements.<\/p>\n Thankfully, homeowners have many options to choose from, and the board and batten style is available across a wide range of budgets. The most common alternatives are fiber cement siding, such as those offered by James Hardie, and vinyl siding. James Hardie siding products offer the curb appeal of natural wood while providing a long lasting and low maintenance ownership experience.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that while less expensive home exterior options may seem like a good value, they are often more costly in the long term. We\u2019ve written an article comparing the lifetime costs of vinyl and Hardie siding<\/a>, and the results may surprise you!<\/p>\n Case in point, James Hardie Board with ColorPlus technology includes a 15 year warranty against fading and a 30 year warranty against hail and termite damage. Few vinyl products are able to offer similar warranties because vinyl simply doesn\u2019t last as long!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”32px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Ultimately, the board and batten style has stood the test of time due to its versatility. Whether you want a rustic look, modern farmhouse, or the elaborate decor of American Gothic Revival, board and batten is a great choice. Today, wood siding has gone out of favor, mostly due to the availability of superior siding materials like James Hardie fiber cement.<\/p>\nA (Very) Brief History of Exterior Siding in America<\/h2>\n
Board and batten siding was appreciated for its ease of construction and weatherproof properties. The wide boards were joined by pieces of narrow vertical siding called battens and produced in a facade that had far fewer gaps than log cabins or clapboard siding.<\/p>\nExamples of Board & Batten<\/h2>\n
How to Work With the Board and Batten Look<\/h2>\n
Comparing Board & Batten Siding Costs<\/h2>\n
The Versatility of Board and Batten Siding<\/h2>\n