Install Board and Batten Siding - Bear Creek Lumber (2024)

FAQs

Do you need furring strips for board and batten siding? ›

Board-and-batten can be installed onto solid plywood or OSB sheathing, though if your sheathing is not solid, you will need to first attach horizontal furring strips. In general, you can expect to spend about a day installing 800 square feet of siding if you have a helping hand.

Board and batten siding is installed vertically, with the wider boards being installed first, and the battens installed over the joint between the boards. By covering the joint, rainwater is directed straight down and cannot pool up and soak into the surface of the siding.

The average cost of board and batten siding is $2.50 to $12.50 per square foot. That equates to $10,500 on average for a 1,600-square-foot home. Your actual cost will depend mostly on the size of your home and the type of siding material you select.

Board and batten siding is typically made from high-quality woods, such as cedar, redwood, or pine, which are known for their natural resistance to rot, decay, and insects. This makes board and batten siding a durable option that can withstand the elements and maintain its beauty for many years.

Can plywood be used for board and batten siding? Yes! Plywood is a popular material used for board and batten siding because it's a dimensionally stable wood and relatively inexpensive. It's usually recommended that the board and batten is installed onto solid plywood or OSB sheathing.

Try your best to get the boards to line up with the studs. However, it's not necessary. If you hardboard covering your textured walls, also ensure the boards cover up the seams.

You will need at least 1-3/4” screws for the wide boards and at least 2-3/4” for the narrow battens. Boards should be screwed 2” from both the top and the bottom and then at least every 2' vertically. Nails are not recommended for exterior wood siding!

Measure wall width to determine the spacing of your battens or vertical slats. Most traditional batten is placed between 8” to 12” apart. The placement of our battens will be 8” apart. To determine the length of the battens for our 5' tall wall, we subtracted 5-1/2” for the baseboard and 3-1/2” for the top trim.

Fiber cement is the cheapest material for board and batten siding. It costs around $0.75 to $5 per square foot only. Fiber cement is a mixture of three different materials. Essentially, it is made by combining wood cellulose, sand, and cement.

Should I caulk board and batten siding? ›

Is caulk required for board and batten siding installation? Caulking should be applied to board and batten siding. Caulking contributes to the professional appearance of your board and batten siding.

Traditional batten spacing was dictated by the width of the boards being used. If the boards were 12-inches wide, then that was the batten spacing. If the boards were 8-inches wide, then the battens were installed 8 inches apart.

The most common arrangement uses 1x10 boards and 1x2 or 1x3 batten. You can also use 1x8 or 1x12 boards and 1x4 battens. To seal out moisture, the boards should be in sound condition and free of open knots, and the battens should lap at least 3/4 inch onto the boards on both sides.

First you'll need to determine the height of your board and batten wall. You should generally work in thirds, so since I wanted mine as high as possible, I chose to go 2/3 the way up my 8' wall, so about 5'3.3".

No, since board and batten siding is made of wood and relatively complex to install, it's typically more expensive than horizontal vinyl siding. Board and batten can range anywhere between $5 and $12 per square foot while horizontal vinyl siding usually costs between $2 and $6 per square foot.

Furring strips are vertical strips of wood that offset the siding from the house sheathing. Furring strips even out the surface and allows airflow. You will need one vertical furring strip every 16 inches, for the entire length of the wall. Use partial furring strips over and under windows and over doors.

Since they help in moisture management by providing additional ventilation and drainage, furring strips are a valuable part of the exterior makeup of the home. Ventilation is crucial for water management because it can do severe damage when water lingers.

Battens almost always refer to pieces that cover gaps in siding. Furring always refers to something that creates a space or evens out the space between two layers.

Furring strips are not necessary if installing horizontally. We recommend installing furring strips into the studs horizontally every 24 inches. The furring strips create a secure base for the shiplap since they are nailed directly to the studs.