If you’re thinking about investing in new siding for your North Carolina or South Carolina home, but you don’t want your home to look exactly like every other house on the block, board and batten siding might be an excellent option for you. You’re not alone, though, if you don’t know much about this siding technique. In this guide, you will find some frequently asked questions about the board and batten style.
What exactly is board and batten siding?
Even if you don’t realize it, you’ve probably seen board and batten siding while reading home decor blogs or magazines recently. It has become quite trendy with the rise of modern farmhouse style. What you may not know, though, is that board and batten is one of the oldest siding tactics in the United States!
About 200 years ago, settlers began using board and batten siding as an option other than constructing log cabins. Generally, vertical planks (the boards) are secured together with thin wooden strips (the battens) to make the structure as airtight as it can be; remember, modern insulation didn’t exist two centuries ago! Today, board and batten siding can be installed horizontally or vertically, and battens are used primarily for aesthetic purposes rather than function.
What home styles is board and batten best for?
You might be wondering if the board and batten look will work on your specific house. Although this style is traditionally used on farmhouses and Victorian homes, modern iterations work on nearly any type of residence. This is because today’s installers work with homeowners to create board and batten designs that are entirely customized.
You might, for example, decide to use some vertical panels and some horizontal ones for a contemporary look. For a more traditional aesthetic, stick with vertical boards on every exterior wall. Some homeowners who want truly unique homes even choose multiple siding colors. If you aren’t sure exactly what look you want, there are dozens of examples online.
What material is board and batten siding made from?
Board and batten siding isn’t made from a single material. Originally, it was crafted from wood because that was the only option available to people in that era. Nowadays, though, you can get the board and batten look with wood siding, fiber cement siding, and even vinyl siding. The choice is yours!
How expensive is board and batten siding?
The amount you will end up paying for your new board and batten style siding is dependent upon a variety of factors. The material you choose will, of course, play a major role. Basic vinyl siding is, for instance, almost always less expensive than wood and fiber cement. Labor costs could also significantly impact your final bill. Because board and batten installation is a specialty, it may come with labor surcharges.
At Hatch Homes, we love working on all types of siding jobs, including board and batten projects. To learn more about our services throughout North Carolina and South Carolina, give our office a call. We look forward to learning more about your upcoming exterior remodeling project!