I've been seeing board-and-batten increasingly more often in newer construction. It remains to be seen whether it's here to stay or if it will go the way of pocket doors and grooving pits. Aside from it being aesthetically pleasing, the vertical orientation helps protect from water intrusion (think pipes in a rainstorm). However, it's up against some stiff competition. Nothing says 'Americana' and echoes Norman Rockwell more than traditional lap siding. In the grand scheme of architecture, I can see board-and-batten being an alternative rather than the mainstream form of siding. I do think that we have Joanna Gaines to thank for bringing board-and-batten into the spotlight.
Board-and-batten is more than a passing trend but rather an historic faccant technique that has trended in and out of popularity and, after the "modern farmhouse trend," continues to be an enduring design option when paired properly; in my region, I continue to see this trend listed in resale listings for architectural appeal, although this trend's farmhouse trend has eased from the early 2020s, ICT. Technically, board-and-batten siding is vertical siding consisting of wide boards secured by narrow battens to close gaps, traditionally of wood, but now available in wood, fiber cement, composite, and vinyl types, which influence durability, fire-resistance, water-resistance, and maintenance requirements, respectively, depending on composition. As to work of this type, advantages include strong vertical lines, easy repair of damaged clapboard, and high visual flexibility, but disadvantageous attributes include regular paint/maintenance for wood species to check for rot/bugs, seams having to be flashed properly to keep water out, so in Florida, I prefer fiber cement/vinyl for hurricane/water resistance. Joanna Gaines and Fixer Upper have obviously brought this look into the mainstream, but whether this product has staying power lies in its materials and assembly, not in the trend.
I've designed hundreds of residential projects over 30 years in Columbus, and board and batten has been in my design vocabulary long before the farmhouse trend hit. What I'm seeing now is different--clients want it in non-traditional applications, like mixing it with horizontal siding or using it as strategic accent walls rather than whole-home coverage. From a design longevity perspective, board and batten works because it adds verticality and shadow lines that photograph well and create genuine architectural interest. We used it on several BIA Parade of Homes entries that won awards, and those homes still look fresh years later. The key is proportion--battens spaced too closely look busy, too far apart looks cheap. Here's what I tell clients during schematic design: if you're doing board and batten, commit to it on prominent elevations only and pair it with complementary materials. We did a craftsman renovation where we used it on gable ends while keeping lap siding on the main walls, and it gave the home exactly the character boost it needed without breaking the budget. That project is over eight years old and still turns heads in the neighborhood. The real test of any design element is whether it improves your home's architecture or fights it. Board and batten works on modern farmhouses, contemporary designs, and traditional homes when applied thoughtfully. That versatility is why I think it's here to stay beyond any single designer's influence.
I've been a broker and construction manager in Florida for over 20 years, and I'll tell you what I'm seeing with board and batten in the Tampa Bay market right now. We're handling both new construction and renovation projects through Direct Express, and the requests have tripled since 2019--but not for the reason most people think. The longevity question comes down to installation quality, not the style itself. I've watched countless homeowners choose board and batten for accent walls inside their homes, then regret it two years later when the seams start showing because contractors used cheap MDF instead of proper materials. When we spec it for investment properties we're flipping, we only use fiber cement or engineered wood that won't warp in our humidity--standard pine boards fail fast in coastal Florida unless you're prepared to maintain them religiously. Here's what nobody mentions about resale value: homes with board and batten as an interior accent are sitting on the market 8-12 days longer in St. Petersburg right now compared to clean drywall. Buyers see it as something they'll need to rip out, not a feature. Exterior applications hold value better, but only if you're in a neighborhood where modern farmhouse aesthetics actually fit--putting it on a 1960s ranch in Largo looks forced and hurts your comp analysis. My honest take after managing hundreds of rental properties: it's a solid choice for specific applications, but I'm steering clients toward it less often now because the labor costs have jumped 40% since everyone wants it. That premium rarely comes back at closing.
I've been in construction and real estate across Florida for 23+ years, and I can tell you board and batten isn't going anywhere--we're seeing it consistently hold or increase property values in resale situations. At Gomez Roofing, when we're replacing roofs on homes with board and batten siding, those properties typically appraise 4-7% higher than comparable homes with standard lap siding in the same neighborhoods across Broward and Palm Beach counties. Here's what matters from a practical standpoint: board and batten performs exceptionally well in coastal Florida weather. The vertical orientation actually helps water run off faster than horizontal siding, which means less moisture retention and fewer rot issues long-term. We've done roof work on 1920s South Florida homes with original board and batten still intact--that's nearly 100 years in hurricane territory. The real consideration nobody mentions is your roof-to-siding transition point. With board and batten, you need proper flashing details where the battens meet your drip edge, or you'll get water intrusion during heavy rain events. We see this mistake constantly on newer installations where someone went aesthetic-first without thinking through the water management. Get a roofer involved early if you're considering it--the integration matters more than the siding choice itself. Joanna Gaines definitely amplified it, but she was pulling from actual historical architecture that worked. The homes we service that have had board and batten for decades show it has serious staying power beyond any TV trend.
I've been building custom sheds since 1997, and we've used board and batten on hundreds of projects across Utah, Idaho, Iowa, and Nebraska. Here's what I've learned from actually installing it, not just talking about it. Board and batten isn't going anywhere because it solves a real problem: better protection from the elements. We build structures that need to last 30-50 years, and I spec board and batten when customers need maximum weather resistance. The vertical design means snow and rain run straight down instead of sitting on horizontal seams where moisture can work its way in. In our mountain climates with freeze-thaw cycles, that matters more than looks. The biggest con nobody mentions is thermal expansion. LP SmartSide board and batten--which we use almost exclusively--expands and contracts with temperature swings. If your installer doesn't leave proper gaps at the battens, you'll get buckling. I've seen DIY jobs fail within two years because they nailed it tight. Professional installation matters here more than with lap siding, which drives up labor costs about 20-30% on our builds. One concrete example: we built a 12x16 custom shed in northern Utah last winter with LP SmartSide board and batten. Material cost was $847 versus $640 for standard lap siding--about 32% more. But that customer came back this year for a second shed specifically because the first one looked sharp and neighbors kept asking about it. That tells me it's got staying power beyond the farmhouse trend.
I've been in home services for 20 years, and here's what I'm seeing from the operations side that contractors won't tell you: board and batten creates massive HVAC headaches nobody talks about. When homeowners add it to exterior walls without consulting us first, it changes thermal bridging and can trap moisture against your sheathing--I've personally walked jobs in San Antonio where we had to reroute condensate lines because the new siding profile blocked proper drainage. The real issue is what it does to your utility bills. We recently did an energy audit on a Stone Oak home that added board and batten to south-facing walls, and their cooling costs jumped 18% because the installer didn't account for ventilation gaps behind the battens. That trapped heat radiates straight into your living space, forcing your AC to work overtime in Texas summers--exactly the opposite of what you want when we're already seeing 110-degree days. From a mechanical standpoint, it complicates every service call. Those vertical battens mean our electricians need extra time routing exterior outlets and outdoor lighting, and it adds 30-45 minutes to generator installations because we can't mount transfer switches in the standard locations. That's not a dealbreaker, but it's labor cost that adds up--usually $200-400 more per electrical project than smooth siding would require.
I run a hardscaping and landscaping company in the Boston area, and we deal with exterior materials daily on both residential and commercial properties. Board and batten is absolutely here to stay--it's not a trend, it's a refindy of what already worked for 200+ years in New England. Here's what matters for Massachusetts specifically: board and batten handles our freeze-thaw cycles better than most horizontal siding options. Water runs straight down those vertical boards instead of sitting in horizontal seams where it can freeze, expand, and cause damage. We see this same principle with proper drainage in our hardscape installations--vertical orientation is your friend in climates with real winters. The maintenance angle nobody mentions: when a board gets damaged, you replace one vertical piece instead of disrupting an entire horizontal run. I've watched homeowners panic over siding repairs that cascade across a whole wall section. Board and batten isolates problems. That's not trendy, that's just smart building that'll matter long after the farmhouse aesthetic moves on. One warning from dealing with exterior projects in New England weather--if your installer doesn't account for wood expansion and contraction in the battens, you'll have gaps by year two. We see similar issues when hardscape contractors skip proper base prep. The installation quality matters more than the style choice.
I've installed hundreds of roofs across the Houston Metro area over the past five years, and I can tell you board and batten isn't going anywhere soon--but the material choice makes or break it. We're seeing it most often on new builds in Fulshear and Richmond where farmhouse styles dominate, and when clients ask about exterior applications, I always push fiber cement or Hardie board over traditional wood. In our Texas heat and humidity, wood warps within 18 months unless you're repainting every other year. Here's what's interesting from the roofing side: homes with board and batten exteriors need different flashing considerations because the vertical battens create water channels if not installed correctly. I've repaired three roofs in Sugar Land this year where water ran down those channels straight into the soffit because the siding contractor didn't coordinate with the roofer. That's a $4,000+ mistake that could've been avoided with proper planning. The real test for longevity is maintenance cost over time. I tell homeowners to budget an extra $800-1,200 every 3-5 years for repainting or resealing compared to standard lap siding. That number comes from actual callbacks we've tracked on properties where storm damage required us to inspect both roof and siding together. If you're not ready for that upkeep, the initial install cost savings disappear fast. One more thing nobody talks about: insurance adjusters in Texas are starting to note board and batten in their reports because hail damage is harder to spot on vertical surfaces than horizontal siding. I've walked three claims this year where the adjuster initially missed impact marks hiding in the shadow lines between boards.
I run an electrical contracting company in Palm Beach County, and while I'm not a siding installer, I've worked inside hundreds of homes during renovations and new builds over 40+ years. Board and batten isn't a trend--it's a comeback of practical design that solves real problems. What I notice from the electrical side: homes with board and batten exteriors give us cleaner penetration points for exterior lighting, meter bases, and panel installations. Those vertical boards create natural pathways to run conduit without disrupting the siding pattern, and sealing around fixtures is straightforward because you're working with defined board edges instead of fighting horizontal lap joints. The bigger issue nobody mentions is thermal expansion. In South Florida's heat, horizontal siding expands and contracts across its length, which stresses fasteners and creates gaps over time--I've seen this cause problems when we're installing exterior outlets or hurricane-rated fixtures. Vertical boards expand up and down, which puts way less stress on the attachment points we need for electrical boxes and outdoor equipment mounts. One warning from job sites: if your electrician needs to add exterior components later, make sure whoever installs your board and batten uses proper backing behind it. I've opened up gorgeous board and batten walls only to find there's nothing solid to mount a heavy light fixture or EV charger--just thin boards over foam. That's a $600 fix that should've cost $40 during installation.
I've been installing siding in Chicago for over 20 years through HomeBuild, and board and batten isn't going anywhere--but here's the catch most people miss. We're seeing it requested primarily as an **accent feature** combined with other siding materials, not as a full-home solution. Last month alone, three customers in Schaumburg wanted board and batten on their front gables with James Hardie fiber cement lap siding on the rest of the house. The "Joanna Gaines effect" definitely kickstarted the trend around 2016-2017, but what's keeping it alive is that it actually solves a real problem: **it hides imperfections better than horizontal lap siding**. On older Chicago homes with settling issues or uneven walls, the vertical lines are forgiving in ways that vinyl planks just aren't. We've used LP SmartSide board and batten on several bungalows where traditional siding would have required extensive wall prep that would've blown the budget. Here's what kills board and batten projects in our climate: **cheap installation and wrong materials**. Chicago's freeze-thaw cycles destroy improperly gapped boards within three winters. We space fiber cement boards at 1/8" with proper flashing behind every seam, and use caulk rated for -20degF winters. I've repaired two jobs this year from other contractors who used standard wood boards without accounting for expansion--the paint cracked within 18 months and moisture got behind the battens. The pricing reality right now: board and batten runs about **30-40% more in labor costs** than standard lap siding because every vertical board needs individual cutting and fastening. A typical 2,000 sq ft Chicago home in vinyl lap siding costs around $12,000-15,000, but adding board and batten accents to 20% of that house adds $3,000-4,000 to the project. Customers who understand they're paying for architectural detail, not just coverage, tend to stay happy with the choice long-term.
I've been installing roofs across the Berkshires and surrounding Massachusetts for over two decades, and I see board and batten from above more than most people--which tells you a lot about how it actually performs. This isn't a trend that's going away, because it solves a real durability problem that horizontal siding creates. Here's what I notice on every roof job: homes with traditional horizontal siding trap water behind the boards when flashing fails or gutters overflow. I've torn off countless roofs where the top few feet of siding is rotted out because water runs down and sits in those horizontal laps. Board and batten sheds water straight down those vertical channels instead of collecting it--I've inspected 30-year-old board and batten that's bone dry behind the boards while the neighbor's clapboard is holding moisture like a sponge. The installation quality matters more than people realize. When we're replacing roofs on homes with board and batten, the ones that used proper spacers behind the battens (creating an actual drainage plane) are always in better shape than the ones where someone just slapped boards over Tyvek. That airflow gap is what keeps the wood dry and prevents the rot I see eating through flat-mounted siding. One concrete example: last year in Conway, MA, I replaced a roof on a 1890s farmhouse with original board and batten. The siding was still solid after 130+ years because it was built right--ventilated back, proper flashing, vertical orientation. The addition from 1985 with vinyl horizontal siding? We had to rip out the top three rows during the roof work because water had been collecting there for decades. That's not a coincidence.
Through my work in home design and renovation, board and batten siding isn't a fleeting trend, it's that perfect combination of the old made new again. Both on farmhouse builds and contemporary work I've done, its clean vertical lines provide depth and character that you don't find with other types of siding. It may be having a moment, but its origins stretch back hundreds of years, and that history may lend it lasting appeal. It's a type of siding that utilizes wide boards pushed vertically in place with narrow "battens" covering the seams. I've put it in wood, fiber cement and vinyl, all with slightly different texture and feel. The pattern provides architectural interest, and it helps keep out the weather, among the reasons homeowners are constantly requesting it. The number one pro, in my projects is without a doubt the unique look, it gives instant curb appeal and looks fabulous on both new construction homes and remodels. It does well combating wind and moisture too if installed right. The drawback is that it can be more expensive in terms of materials and labor, particularly with wood, which requires routine sealing or painting. Engineered counter materials, on the other hand, require little in the way of maintenance, so they are ultimately a smart investment. As I see it, its momentum is connected to a rising popularity of modern farmhouse and transitional designs that juxtapose rustic warmth and clean lines. I've had clients ask for board and batten because they absolutely love the balance of simplicity and texture it creates. and that adaptability seems to ensure that it's more than just a passing design moment.
Board and batten siding is when narrow, protruding slats (called battens) are used to cover the gaps between the boards in siding. Instead of having boards simply placed next to each other, creating a flat surface with the exception of small divots between the boards, those connecting points protrude outward with battens. This creates a unique visual appearance that a lot of people find very appealing. It's more commonly used in modern homes, especially those that lean into farmhouse or rustic styles. It's also known to help protect the interior of your home against moisture a little bit better, so that's a pro.
Board and batten siding is popular for a reason. I used it on a multi-family renovation and the units rented faster. People just like the look. It needs more upkeep, no question, but for the right property, the higher rent and better curb appeal make the extra work worth it.
After 20 years selling houses, I can tell you board and batten isn't going anywhere. We use it on almost every farmhouse or Craftsman renovation we touch because people genuinely love the look. Sure, Joanna Gaines helped bring it back, but those vertical lines have always worked. They give a house character without being fussy. Just know you'll need to maintain it more than vinyl or fiber cement. But for the right house? Worth it every time.
I do actually think that this is something with longevity. Whether used for siding or for your interiors, one of the best elements of board and batten is that it adds visual intrigue to your home. A lot of new-build homes today are pretty basic and simple in design when you compare them to older homes, which have more unique materials and design elements (wainscoting, detailed trim, etc.). Board and batten is a way to take a simple home design and make it a bit more visually interesting, which in turn can make it seem more valuable.
I've been in Bay Area real estate for twenty years and board and batten is one trend that's actually stuck around. Buyers love that clean, modern farmhouse look, but it costs more than standard lap siding. We've used it on some run-down houses and the curb appeal gets way better, though the higher sale price doesn't always cover the extra work. My advice is to use it if it fits the neighborhood, but don't expect Joanna Gaines-style magic in every market.
Image-Guided Surgeon (IR) • Founder, GigHz • Creator of RadReport AI, Repit.org & Guide.MD • Med-Tech Consulting & Device Development at GigHz
Answered 5 months ago
Board and batten siding has been around for well over a century—it's hardly new—but its recent comeback owes a lot to the "modern farmhouse" aesthetic popularized by designers like Joanna Gaines. What's changed is how and where it's being used. Originally, board and batten was a practical solution—wide boards covered by narrow battens to seal the seams. Today, it's a design statement. You'll see it on everything from suburban remodels to luxury new builds, sometimes as an accent wall and sometimes as the full exterior treatment. From a developer's standpoint, it comes down to knowing your market and material grade. In mid-range homes, fiber cement or engineered wood versions can deliver that clean vertical look at reasonable cost with solid durability. But in higher-end properties, we tend to move toward large-panel concrete, natural stone veneer, or metal cladding—materials that carry more weight visually and age better over time. Batten siding, if used, becomes an accent rather than the main finish. Pros: timeless style, texture, relatively easy installation, and broad material options (wood, composite, fiber cement). Cons: maintenance—especially for natural wood in humid or coastal regions—and potential fading or warping if improperly installed. Will it last as a trend? Likely yes, but in a more restrained form. The look has evolved beyond farmhouse into modern minimalism and even commercial design. It's versatile enough to adapt—so it's not going away, but how it's used will mature with the market. —Pouyan Golshani, MD | Interventional Radiologist & Real Estate Investor | https://gighz.com
Some may consider Board and Batten Siding as a "Flash In The Pan," but in reality, this style of siding has been around for so long that its roots date back to classic American architecture. It can be used as a siding style to fit many different design styles and is not limited to modern farmhouse alone. To describe what is involved in using Board and Batten, you would place a large vertical piece of wood on your structure's sheathing, then cover the gaps between boards with smaller vertical pieces of wood. When done correctly, the result will be a unique, multi-layered, textured look for your home, breaking up the monotony of single-layer horizontal or vertical siding and providing a visually appealing feature that today's homebuyers find very refreshing and impactful. Board and batten offers numerous benefits, including extreme longevity. When installed vertically, it provides a clean path for water to drain, thereby eliminating potential areas where moisture could collect. It also causes the viewer's eyes to follow the lines upward, creating the illusion that a house is taller than it actually is and giving it a grander appearance. However, one downside of this style is that the initial installation cost will be slightly higher, and maintaining the many layers and seams in this type of siding can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. The increased popularity of board and batten has been partially attributed to television personalities such as Joanna Gaines, who have featured it regularly on their shows. Nevertheless, the continued interest in this type of siding is primarily due to the long-lasting, weather-resistant historical aspects and the clean, custom look it can provide a house, which ensures its continued use into the future.