Perhaps the most common board-and-batten arrangement uses 1x10 boards and 1x2 or 1x3 batten. You can also use 1x8 or 1x12 boards and 1x4 battens. To seal out moisture, the boards should be in sound condition and free of any open knots—the battens themselves should lap at least 3/4 inch onto the boards on both sides. Cedar is a good lumber of choice because it’s soft; harder wood, such as pressure-treated pine, will not seal as well and is more likely to crack after installation. Board-and-batten can be installed onto solid plywood or OSB sheathing, though if your sheathing is not solid, you will need to first attach horizontal furring strips. In general, you can expect to spend about a day installing 800 square feet of siding if you have a helping hand. Before you begin, cover the sheathing with building wrap and install trim boards and flashings. You should also make sure you’re comfortable measuring, laying out a job, driving nails, and cutting with a power saw before you take on this task. In some areas, it’s common to attach vertical 1x2 furring strips before installing board-and-batten siding. If your sheathing is not solid plywood or OSB, these strips are needed to provide a nailing surface. Attach strips around windows and doors, then lay out and attach horizontal strips every 16 inches. Nail the strips to framing members. Furring strips bring the siding out from the sheathing 3/4 inch. As a result, you may need to rip-cut and attach wood extenders onto your window and doorjambs so there will not be a gap between the trim and the jambs.
