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Board and batten siding is a fairly popular feature, especially when it comes to country-style homes. This type of siding is available in a wide range of materials, including vinyl, wood, and steel. Many homeowners prefer board and batten when choosing an exterior siding option due to being affordable and practical. Aside from a multitude of different materials, there are also multiple designs available for board and batten siding to customize the appearance of your home and increase curb appeal. If you’re specifically interested in re-siding your home using vinyl board and batten, this article will help you figure out whether it would be a suitable option.
Short Answer: Yes, board and batten siding does come in vinyl in a lot of different colors and textures.
For a more in depth answer, let’s take a closer look at the features of vinyl board and batten siding:
1. Durability
Vinyl board and batten siding can last for a fairly long time because it’s designed to be insect-proof and almost completely weatherproof. It’s not vulnerable to rot like wood board and batten siding while offering an average lifespan of at least 25 years. It can take some extreme weather events to truly damage vinyl board and batten siding. When taking into account its cost, this type of siding appears very attractive even when compared with other board and batten materials.
2. Maintenance
Compared to other board and batten siding options, vinyl stands out due to its exceptionally low maintenance. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to keep this type of siding in top shape. The most important aspect is to do some occasional checks for damage, especially after experiencing a more severe weather event. Vinyl board and batten siding shows some vulnerability to damage from powerful storms and extremely cold temperatures.
3. Appearance
In terms of aesthetics, vinyl board and batten siding is highly recommended if you find regular vinyl siding too plain and uninteresting. If you’re looking for a way to make your home stand out from the rest, any board and batten siding style can work well. It’s sometimes called barn siding because the design was commonly used for the siding of barns in the past. Anyone looking to add a charming visual effect to their house should try vinyl board and batten siding.
When it comes to color options, vinyl board and batten siding provides a decent variety. Light neutrals like beige and gray tend to be the most popular due to their timeless visual appeal. However, more colorful siding styles are also worth considering to add some distinctive flair to your home. Those that include patterned designs are a bit rarer and can cost significantly more than classic white siding.
4. Installation
Installing vinyl board and batten siding isn’t particularly harder than other materials. It’s worth mentioning that board and batten designs tend to be more complex than regular vinyl siding. You need to pay attention when laying out sheets of siding to create the characteristic pattern. As a consequence, installing this type of siding requires the services of a professional and cannot be typically handled as a DIY project.
When it comes to installation options, you can either opt for horizontal or vertical vinyl board and batten siding. Horizontal installation is usually the standard choice while the vertical style is considered more expensive and labor-intensive. Opting for a vertical installation comes with some notable benefits. Water won’t accumulate under overlapping sheets of siding ensuring superior durability. Vertical board and batten siding is also considered more attractive because it makes the impression of a larger home.
5. Cost
Considering all the popular material choices for board and batten siding, it’s safe to say that vinyl is the cheapest option. It’s not just the material itself that’s more reasonably priced per square foot, but the labor costs tend to be lower as well. That being said, vinyl board and batten siding tends to be more expensive compared to standard vinyl siding. There are more steps involved in the installation process which drive the cost up. Keep in mind that the thickness and grade of the siding will have a considerable influence on the final price.
