Board and Batten: Everything You Need to Know

Board and batten, or board-and-batten, is a siding and paneling style that uses narrow strips of wood placed over the joints of wide boards for a geometric, layered effect. This type of traditional siding or paneling exudes a comfortable informality typically seen on farmhouses, other country-style homes, and countryside churches. You can see modern and more formal homes with board and batten interior paneling, as well. Learn more about board-and-batten siding, paneling, and whether it's the right look for your home.

What Is Board and Batten?

Board and batten typically describes a type of exterior siding or interior paneling with alternating wide boards and narrow wooden strips, called "battens." Board and batten is often confused with shiplap, wainscoting, and other types of siding or paneling systems. Traditional board and batten is distinctive because the boards are usually 1 foot wide and battens are 1/2 inch wide but widths do vary based on the desired look. Board and batten can be installed vertically or horizontally.

There are three ways to use board and batten:

• Exterior siding: Board-and-batten siding is often combined with brick or stone exteriors on modern and traditional home styles.
• Exterior shutters: This style of shutter is rustic. The battens are used as horizontal braces for an informal look.
• Interior paneling: Board and batten can be used as a type of wainscoting to design a half-wall treatment, create one accent wall, or cover all the walls and the ceiling of a room.

Historical Uses

Traditionally, a wooden batten would be placed over the vertical seam between the wider boards, creating a stronger, more energy-efficient siding. Because it was inexpensive and easy to assemble, the board and batten method was used as siding 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.

It was popular during the Victorian era as a pragmatic method of adding architectural detail to Carpenter Gothic structures.

Board-and-Batten Material Choices

Board and batten come in assorted widths and various materials for siding and paneling, including wood, composite, aluminum, vinyl, and steel. The material can be insulated. Interior paneling is typically made of wood.

Wood choices include cedar, pine, oak, and redwood. Vinyl board and batten pieces are affordable, will have lower maintenance than wood, and the material doesn't need to be painted or stained.

Board and Batten Costs

The cost of board and batten varies depending on the type of material you choose and where you plan to install the material.

For exterior siding, prices can run between $4,000 and $14,000. Depending on the type of material, you may pay from $3 to $21 per square foot for materials and installation of board-and-batten siding.

For interior board-and-batten paneling, expect to pay between $7 and $20 per square foot for materials and labor.