Installing Board and Batten Siding: Tips and FAQs

If you are considering installing board and batten siding the old fashioned way, it’s good to know that there’s an easier option that can save a lot of time, money, and hassle – both during the installation process and in the future! With smarter designs, tools, and materials, installing board and batten siding can be an easier skill to master.

Not sure about installing board and batten siding to begin with? This guide provides everything you need to know, including how to avoid old mistakes and how to create a board and batten exterior that is fit to perform – and look great – for many years to come.

How-To Guide: Installing Board and Batten Siding

You may be familiar with the look of board and batten siding, but do you know how this style was actually constructed in times past? Installing board and batten siding the old way was nothing short of tedious, frustrating, and incredibly time-intensive. It also required more materials and created excess waste, since individual battens would need to be secured in place with additional screws along every vertical seam. Once installed, it then required painting.

The original way of installing board and batten was originally used for farmhouses, cottages, and rustic homes, often in rural areas. It involved getting long milled planks, lining them up vertically along the exterior, and securing a thin strip (the batten) along the seams to help cover the gaps. Though it seems rudimentary now, this technique was actually considered an improvement from traditional log cabin construction, which had relied on irregular, often mis-shapen logs.

Modern builders rarely recommend this old-fashioned technique for installing board and batten siding today. Sadly, however, there are still many folks who rely on this outdated technique because they simply aren’t aware of the modern material alternatives that are available.

No one wants to ditch the look of board and batten, because it’s an awesome style, but getting up to speed with the modern way of installing board and batten siding is essential if you want to have a long-lasting exterior with a lot less work.

Modern Materials Make Installing Board and Batten Siding a Breeze

Board and batten is still a wildly popular siding style – and for good reason! It’s stylish yet familiar, and depending on the design and colors, board and batten siding can create a modern feel or a rustic vibe. There are plenty of possibilities!

Modern alternatives draw inspiration from the traditional charm of board and batten, to recreate authentic wood grain patterns and showcase charming color choices, like Ponderosa Pine, Dark Walnut and Farmhouse White., The real advantage is found in its durability and ease of installation.

Crafted from high-quality steel, TruLog board and batten is fabricated in 9-inch panels, meaning the ‘board’ and the ‘batten’ are manufactured as a single piece of siding. 

The panels are designed to lock into each other, which hides the screws and provides a seamless finished look – not to mention that it helps workers line up the siding panels quickly and easily. You can imagine how this dramatically speeds up the task of installing board and batten siding!

In addition to simplifying the process of installing board and batten siding, there are other advantages of using TruLog instead of traditional wood. The seamless design, for example, enhances the weather resistance and durability of the structure. Plus, there’s a corrosion-resistant barrier and UV protectant coating built into the siding, that makes it ultra-strong and long-lasting.

Tools Needed for Installation

Here are a few items to gather before installing board and batten siding:

  • Utility knife and/or metal snips
  • Circular saw or miter saw with ferrous blade
  • Nail gun
  • Chalk line
  • Drill
  • Tape Measure
  • Caulk

Step-by-Step Instructions

After prepping the site, taking appropriate safety measures, and getting the board and batten panels ready, it’s time to start the installation process:

  1. When installing board and batten siding, it’s important to start with the edges. Get the windows and doors framed and ready.
  2. Next, line up the first panel with the edging and use screws to secure it in place on the nailing strip. The second panel will fit over the edge of the first one, disguising the nailing strip. Because of the smart design, it will lock securely into place, so you’ll know when it’s in the right spot.
  3. Continue installing the board and batten from left to right (or vice versa, depending on where you started).
  4. When you come to an obstacle, like a door or window, measure the panel against the area in question, and remove that section of siding using metal snips.
  5. Once finished, install trim over the ends and around the windows and doors to create a finished appearance. This can be done by drilling a small pilot hole through the panels where you want to place the trim.
  6. Corner pieces will slide down over the trim and lock into place to cover the end of the trim sections. Use a screw in the bottom to hold it, and touch up the trim nails with a dab of paint to blend in with the rest of the surface.

FAQ Troubleshooting: Installing Board and Batten Siding

Q: How do I cut steel board and batten?

A: Steel siding and trim can be cut with metal snips. Trim can then be bent around it to create a seamless edge.

Q: Why is steel recommended over pine?

A. Steel provides many advantages, including easier installation, better fire safety, and better long-term resistance to the elements.

Q: Does installing board and batten siding require a professional?

A. Professional expertise is always an advantage on construction sites, but TruLog board and batten siding is specifically designed for simple and easy installation. Because of the intuitive lock-in design, most folks find installing board and batten siding very straightforward.

Find the Best Board and Batten with TruLog Siding

Board and batten is a truly unique and timeless aesthetic, perfected with high-strength steel from TruLog. Contact our experts today to explore beautiful board and batten siding in a wide variety of authentic colors!

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