Farmhouse Board and Batten Siding: Explore Its Modern Appeal

If you’re working on your own modern farmhouse project, whether it’s a remodel or a new custom home, you’re probably kicking around different siding options and wondering what is best.

Our recommendation? While there are many styles to choose from, you can’t go wrong with farmhouse board and batten siding. With a timeless look that is both traditional and modern at the same time, it’s the perfect complement to the modern farmhouse style. 

Want to learn more? Read below to explore the appeal of farmhouse board and batten siding and why you should consider steel board and batten for your home.

What Siding Is Best for a Farmhouse-Style Home?

Farmhouse board and batten siding tops trend lists these days as the best option — and that’s because there is so much you can do with it. Basic board and batten siding is an old siding style, dating back to early American pioneer towns and their sawmills, which often milled long boards that were easiest to use as vertical siding. However, those long, clean lines that make this siding style notable can also create a look that mixes traditional with modern.

Beyond the basics, you can also mix things up by trying the following:

• Use mixed board and batten widths to create more visual interest.
• Create an accent wall using board and batten siding to contrast another type of siding.
• Use lap or clapboard siding on lower walls, then use board and batten siding on your home’s second or third stories to draw attention to tall gables.
• Mix two or even three types of siding (like board and batten, lap siding, and log siding) creatively to highlight your home’s entryway, a porch, or other architectural details.

Why Is Board and Batten Popular for Modern Farmhouses?

There are two key reasons why board and batten is such a popular choice for homes in the modern farmhouse style. It has a lot to offer in terms of architectural interest, and it’s a type of siding that lends itself well to a variety of colors.

How Board and Batten Adds Architectural Interest

Board and batten siding can add architectural interest to your farmhouse design in the following ways:

• Vertical lines help to draw the eye upward, which makes it a great way to accentuate peaks in your home’s design and make them seem taller.
• Since most siding styles, from brick to shiplap and shingle, are horizontal in nature, board and batten’s vertical design tends to stand out and catch the eye as something different and unique.
• You can use board and batten siding to create a sleek look with smoothly painted boards, or you can choose board and batten in natural wood shades like TruLog’s TruGrain and HD Wood Grain colors if you prefer a more rustic texture. 

Trending Colors for Board and Batten

When it comes to trending colors, there are lots of different options to choose from:

• Neutrals: White board and batten siding is among the trendiest choices, but shades of gray, off-white, and tan are also popular.
• Earth tones: Natural shades like browns, rusty reds, greens, and blues are popular exterior siding choices that can add a lot of character to your farmhouse design.
• Bold colors: Among new homes, black, dark blue, and dark green are trending as eye-catching colors that create an upscale, modern look.
• Contrasting colors: Many of today’s modern home designs rely on stark contrast to create visual appeal. Think white board and batten siding paired with black trim and a black metal roof, or light brown siding paired with a roof and trim in a dark chocolate shade. 

Is Board and Batten Siding Expensive?

Board and batten siding can be expensive — but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, if you choose the right building materials from the right supplier, board and batten siding can be relatively inexpensive both as a short-term investment and as a low-maintenance option for the long term that won’t require much in the way of upkeep costs.

Here’s a breakdown of costs for different siding materials:

• Fiber cement siding: $1.25 to $15 per square foot
• Vinyl siding: $3 to $8 per square foot
• Metal siding: $1 to $20 per square foot (with TruLog steel board and batten siding at $4.25 to $7.25 per square foot)
• Wood siding: $1 to $21 per square foot

That’s the cost of the materials. You’ll also need to consider installation costs (or the costs to purchase tools if you’re planning this as a DIY project) and long-term maintenance costs.

When it comes to installation, you’ll pay more for materials that require each individual board and batten to be cut and fastened. This includes wood and fiber cement products like James Hardie board. Panel products like vinyl siding or TruLog steel siding require fewer tools and labor hours to install.

As far as maintenance costs are concerned, TruLog steel siding wins, hands down. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty because it should last a lifetime with virtually no maintenance. No repainting, no repairing cracked or rotted boards, and no replacement due to the colors fading under sunlight exposure. 

Meanwhile:

• Vinyl siding is also relatively low maintenance — but it’s prone to cracking and warping, which can lead to high replacement costs. 
• Fiber cement siding needs to be repainted every few years.
• Wood not only needs to be repainted every few years, but it’s also particularly susceptible to damage from moisture, pests, and the elements.

Can You Get Farmhouse Board and Batten Siding in Steel?

Yes, you can absolutely get farmhouse board and batten siding made from steel. In fact, if you examined the cost breakdowns above, you’ve likely already discovered that steel farmhouse board and batten siding is likely your best option. That’s because it features comparable pricing to other materials — and a lifespan plus durability that those other materials can’t match.

TruLog steel siding will last between 40 and 70 years or more, whereas the next best contender, fiber cement, will last between 30 and 50 years. Steel is impervious to moisture and won’t suffer pest damage, and it comes with both a Class 4 impact rating and a Class A fire rating, which are the highest ratings available for siding materials. Expect TruLog steel board and batten siding to last for decades while staying true to color and requiring virtually no maintenance.

It’s also easy to install. Since TruLog siding is a panel product, you can hang it in larger sections with minimal cutting and fastening required. This is a job that many homeowners can DIY since it only requires a few simple tools and a few easy steps.

Get Farmhouse Board and Batten Siding From TruLog

Farmhouse board and batten siding is trending because it’s a beautifully timeless look. It can be both classic and modern at the same time, and it works well by itself or when paired with other types of siding.

On top of that, TruLog offers steel board and batten siding in a great selection of stylish shades. It’s incredibly durable, easy to install, and with a limited lifetime warranty, will give your home lasting good looks. 

To learn more about our board and batten siding, download the free catalog.