Board Batten Siding Barn

The boards run vertically with narrow strips to seal the cracks that form as the wood dries and shrinks.

Board batten siding barn.

Board and batten siding is sometimes called barn siding because many barns in north america are constructed this way. Traditionally board and batten siding starts with wide vertical planks boards which are then joined together by thin vertical strips battens to cover the seams. Board and batten siding often called board and batt or barn siding has been used for centuries. So what exactly is board and batten siding.

Even today this type of siding on a house exudes a comfortable informality. Board and batten siding consists of wide boards laid vertically with narrower strips of wood called battens covering the gaps. It is a type of rustic wood siding often found in more rural areas on country homes barns and other outbuildings. Board and batten siding is often called board and batt or barn siding.

This added batten gives the siding some depth and dimensions as it catches shadows. The early builders might not have understood exactly why wood moved but they knew how to compensate for it. Board and batten shutters which use the batten as a horizontal brace are also considered less formal and more provincial than louvered shutters. Board and batten siding is very similar to the plain barn siding shown above but board and batten has the addition of a narrow strip of wood called a batten covering the joints where vertical boards meet.

Barns and houses with board and batten siding were inspired by nordic european buildings and gained popularity in america sometime around the middle of the 19th century.