karoc
Well-known member
I know traditionally, the battens are 12 inches on center. But my studs are 16 inches on center, what do y’all think about putting the battens 16 inches on center instead of 12 inches on center thanks in advance.
Board Batten?
- Thread starter karoc
- Start date
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
You're going to need more than just the studs to fasten to. If you could somehow find an economical source of 16" boards you'd still be stuck nailing them on the very edge of the boards to catch the stud yet leave enough room for expansion/contraction. Might as well just install strapping or sheathing and not waste your time trying to hit the studs.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
You need sheathing or furring strips running horizontally either way.
Old buildings and barns with board and batten siding were timber framed with horizontal member to nail to. As barns transitioned to ballon framing with vertical members they either put up lap siding hopefully or unfortunately car siding.
It will be fine, and best if you use sheet material for the base covering, then add decorative battens. 48" wide sheets will hit right on your studs. In the old days, you would likely have had some solid wood sheathing or horizontal boards to attach to. With either of those you could use all the random width boards you needed to use - and then battens that were just for function to cover the gaps.
After posting I see Firebrick beat me to it.
After posting I see Firebrick beat me to it.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
I think these days most people go for a board and batten look - instead of individual boards, they have a conventional stud construction building and they use 4x8 sheets of plywood with decorative battens nails on top. In that case, the spacing of the battens doesn't really matter, the plywood provides a good nailing surface so they don't have to be aligned with the studs.
billconner
Well-known member
Natty Bumppo
Well-known member
You have to run some kind of horizontal nailers or girts around your structure. Then you can sheath with whatever size boards you want. 12" boards look great on a big house or barn, but smaller structures look better with 1x10's. Or, like some others said, sheath with plywood first, the add your board and batten.
These are 1x12's on a 25x35 pole barn, with 2" batten strips.
CraigStu
Well-known member
WE just watched the show Maine Cabin Masters build a cabin using wood sawn from the trees cut down to clear the space for the cabin. The wood varied in width because they didn't want to waste trees cutting it to specific sizes. Battens covered the joints and of course they we at various widths. It may not be for everyone but we thought that the overall look was just fine.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Or sheath with something like 4x8 LP SmartSide and then add battens directly to it.
Nice building BTW.
Wow. That is very nice. All the details look really well done.
Stuart: You hit nail on head, thats how I should have said it. It’s the look, I’m using 4’x8’ smart siding, then put the 1x2 strips either 12”OC or 16” OC. I think that 12” looks to busy, so I’m going go with 16” OC. I do have Zip sheathing but I just want hit studs that’s 16” OC. I’ve done drive by looking at houses done both ways. So 16” it is. Sorry guys for confusion, I should have provided more info. Thanks for all input
billconner
Well-known member
Thank you. Probably spent more time drawing than building.
You guys are serious carpenters, all look fantastic. Myself I cheated using LP Smart Siding, which I use GRK trim screws to hold in place. It took lot time so that I could hit studs 16” OC. I know it’s not traditional B&B but I’m going with it. This is back side of house, front will look same. Thanks for sharing y’all opinions and providing pics of inspiration.
billconner
Well-known member
It will be wonderful! Has been the great thing about this country - freedom! Enjoy your work.
CraigStu
Well-known member
I have no experience w/ the LP siding so a question. Would it be possible to rip 1.5-2inch strips from a sheet to use as battens? Thinking using the same material as the siding could be beneficial from a warping/bending of the strips point of view. In a past house we had the wall under the front porch done w/ 3/8" Azek sheet and battens ripped from it. Worked out great.
billconner
Well-known member
I'd be concerned about those cut edges sucking in water.
I think LP is also concerned. The installation instructions for their siding and trim stuff recommends no ripping. And if it is tripped it must be primed and painted, preferably before installation.
But, I have ripped some but it was the thick stuff used for trim, 5/4 lumber replacement. It has a much higher resin to wood flake ratio. Really hard , heavy and dense. The 'sawdust' from ripping has almost no visible wood component, just a fine white powder.h
I worked on a crew building a house back in the '69/70 that was real board and batten. Would be prohibitively expensive today. Vertical red cedar 1x12s, nailed to blocking between the studs, but only 2 nails close together in the center of the board, none on the edges. Then the battens, 1x2 (full 2"), nailed with one nail at each blocking location, between the 1x12s. So no chance of the wide boards splitting as the dry out in the sun.
This was done over the really common, tar coated cellotex sheathing of the day that had its seams sealed with roofing cement. Without that base the real board and batten leaks air in a big way.
CraigStu
Well-known member
I didn't realize the stuff was so ... sensitive? So cancel that idea. Thanks guys for setting me straight.
All edges will need to be primed, I did rip all my battens in half from 1x4 which I pained edges with oil base primer. I also primed the top and bottom of panels and edges where I did cut out for windows. Not big deal using rattle cans. So I was prepared for that task. You can see some of white paint on edges. No second thoughts here
Stu watch this video, it’s one of many on YouTube.
Stu watch this video, it’s one of many on YouTube.
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mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Its much better than commodity osb. Stuff holds up great
Guys to continue with this, I thought I would share my big mistake on B&B for back porch. Since I was just about finish already I decided to leave it. Still looks good but I have more screw holes to fill. Anyway I installed 4x8 smart panels on front porch but this time I allowed for my 6” wide trim so when I put those battens on it cover screw holes.
One things I like doing is right before I install a batten I would roll on thick coat paint to act as glue for extra holding power along with GRK trim screws. Yes it takes lot longer, but time well spent. These battens I split a 1x6 in middle and treated the edge and back with SW’s primer months ago, so finally getting them off floor.
One things I like doing is right before I install a batten I would roll on thick coat paint to act as glue for extra holding power along with GRK trim screws. Yes it takes lot longer, but time well spent. These battens I split a 1x6 in middle and treated the edge and back with SW’s primer months ago, so finally getting them off floor.
