Add Board and Batten to Your Home's Exterior
Board and batten is one of those home exterior updates that feels both familiar and fresh. The wide boards and narrow battens create a strong vertical rhythm that suits a modern farmhouse style, a cottage, or a traditional home. Done carefully, this siding installation can improve curb appeal, protect wall surfaces, and give your house a more finished, welcoming presence. This guide walks through planning, preparation, installation, finishing, and common mistakes. The approach applies whether you are working with wood, fiber cement, engineered wood, or composite boards. Plan Your Board and Batten Layout Good results start with a careful layout. Board and batten patterns can vary widely, so choose a spacing that fits your home’s proportions. Wider spacing can make a small house feel busy, while narrow spacing may overwhelm a large facade. Measure the wall sections you plan to cover and mark the locations of windows, doors, corners, and trim before ordering material. Think about boa...