Board & Batten Siding in Massachusetts
Vertical boards and battens for a farmhouse or modern exterior. Full exterior re-sides only. Licensed MA HIC #192348, insured, in business since 2006.
About Board & Batten Siding
Board-and-batten is one of the most striking siding profiles you can put on a home — wide vertical boards run floor to eave, and narrow battens cover the seams between them, creating bold vertical lines and deep shadow play that reads beautifully from the curb. At Alfa Construction, we install board-and-batten in fiber cement using HardiePanel with HardieTrim battens, in engineered wood with LP SmartSide, and in vinyl, matching the material to your home, your exposure, and your budget. Vertical siding is unforgiving of shortcuts: the panels need proper furring and a flat plane to sit against, the fastening schedule has to follow the manufacturer's spec so the boards stay put through expansion and contraction, and every horizontal break, window head, and base condition needs flashing that sheds water down the face rather than trapping it behind the battens. We handle all of it — substrate prep, a continuous weather-resistant barrier, correct batten spacing for the look you want, and clean terminations at corners and trim. Many of our board-and-batten projects pair vertical panels on gables and accent walls with horizontal lap on the main body, a combination that gives a home real architectural depth. Whether you are chasing the modern-farmhouse aesthetic that has taken over New England streets or replacing tired cladding with something with genuine presence, we deliver a board-and-batten exterior that protects your home and turns heads. Every project comes with a detailed warranty and our commitment to your complete satisfaction.
Problems we see on Massachusetts homes
- Flat, featureless siding that leaves your home looking dated and lacking the vertical drama and curb appeal you want
- DIY or poorly installed board-and-batten where battens are crooked, unevenly spaced, or already pulling away from the boards
- Water staining and rot behind vertical panels because the original installer skipped proper furring, flashing, and a weather barrier
- A failed attempt to mix vertical and horizontal siding that looks disjointed instead of intentional and architectural
- Vertical boards that have warped, cupped, or buckled because they were fastened wrong and could not move with the seasons
How a full re-side fixes them
- Fiber cement board-and-batten using HardiePanel with HardieTrim battens — the most durable option, fire-resistant and dimensionally stable through Massachusetts freeze-thaw cycles
- Engineered wood board-and-batten with LP SmartSide, delivering a deep, authentic farmhouse texture with treated-strand resistance to moisture and impact
- Vinyl board-and-batten panels for homeowners who want the vertical look with the lowest maintenance and no painting
- Full-home re-sides that strip the old cladding to the sheathing, correct the substrate, and rebuild the wall with proper furring before any vertical panel goes up
- Mixed-profile designs that pair board-and-batten on gables and accent walls with horizontal lap on the body for genuine architectural depth
Our board & batten process
- Step 1
Free Exterior Inspection & Design Consultation
We inspect your current siding and the substrate beneath it, check for hidden moisture damage, and talk through the board-and-batten look you want — board width, batten spacing, and whether to run vertical panels across the whole home or just gables and accents. You receive a detailed written estimate covering materials, labor, timeline, and warranty.
- Step 2
Material & Layout Selection
We help you choose between fiber cement HardiePanel, engineered wood LP SmartSide, and vinyl for your vertical siding, and we bring samples so you can see colors and textures against your roof, trim, and landscape. We lay out batten spacing and panel breaks in advance so the finished rhythm looks deliberate, not improvised.
- Step 3
Removal, Substrate Prep & Furring
Our crew removes the old siding, disposes of debris, and inspects the sheathing. Any rot or structural issue is replaced, and we install a continuous weather-resistant barrier. Because vertical panels demand a flat, properly backed plane, we install furring and blocking where needed so every board and batten has solid, correctly spaced fastening behind it.
- Step 4
Vertical Panel & Batten Installation
We hang the wide boards plumb and true, following the manufacturer's fastening schedule so the panels can expand and contract without buckling. Battens are set at consistent spacing over every seam, and we flash every window head, horizontal break, and base condition so water sheds down the face instead of getting trapped behind the vertical lines.
- Step 5
Final Inspection & Warranty
We inspect every board, batten, and termination, seal all penetrations, and confirm the flashing and ventilation are doing their job. We walk you through the finished exterior, explain maintenance recommendations for your chosen material, and provide warranty documentation covering both the materials and our labor.
What you get
- Dramatic vertical curb appeal that gives your home the farmhouse or modern-farmhouse presence flat siding can never match
- Superior weather protection from board-and-batten installed with proper furring, flashing, and a continuous moisture barrier
- Long-term durability from fiber cement and engineered wood that resist rot, insects, and warping for decades in New England weather
- Increased property value, since a correctly executed board-and-batten exterior reads as a premium, design-forward upgrade
- Reduced maintenance compared to old wood vertical siding, with modern materials that hold paint and shrug off moisture
What homeowners wrote on Google
“I hired Alfa to install new siding on my home after a very disappointing experience with a previous contractor, and I honestly cannot thank them enough. From start to finish, the entire team was courteous, professional, and respectful—not just to our property, but to our family as well. The crew was highly knowledgeable and took the time to explain each step of the process, ensuring we felt informed and comfortable throughout the project. The quality of their work exceeded my expectations, and the results speak for themselves. I’m truly grateful for their dedication and craftsmanship. I won’t hesitate to hire them again in the future, and I’ll gladly recommend Alfa to anyone in need of the services they offer.”
“I wish I could give them 10 stars! Fabio and his crew did an amazing job with many aspects of our new home construction, Hardie siding, trim, Trex decking, painting, etc. His crew was professional and talented. Fabio worked tirelessly to ensure that the job was completed timely and within budget. I can't say enough good things about our experience with Fabio and his team!”
“Excellent, guys very clean, and from the first day to the last day I am so happy it the job.”
Board & Batten questions
What exactly is board-and-batten siding?
Board-and-batten is a vertical siding style in which wide boards or panels run up the wall and narrow strips called battens are installed over the seams between them. The result is strong vertical lines and deep shadow play that creates the farmhouse and modern-farmhouse look so popular across Massachusetts. We install it in fiber cement using HardiePanel with HardieTrim battens, in engineered wood with LP SmartSide, and in vinyl, depending on your home and budget.
Which material is best for board-and-batten in Massachusetts?
For most Massachusetts homes we recommend fiber cement HardiePanel with HardieTrim battens, because it is dimensionally stable through freeze-thaw cycles, non-combustible, and holds paint exceptionally well. Engineered wood LP SmartSide is an excellent alternative when you want a deeper, more authentic wood texture, and vinyl board-and-batten is the lowest-maintenance and lowest-cost option. We help you choose based on your home, your exposure, and your long-term goals.
Can you mix board-and-batten with horizontal siding?
Yes, and it is one of the most effective ways to add architectural depth. A very common design runs board-and-batten on the gables and accent walls while horizontal lap covers the main body, which gives the home distinct sections and real visual interest. We plan the transitions, flashing, and trim details up front so the two profiles read as one intentional design rather than a mismatch.
Why does vertical board-and-batten need special installation?
Vertical panels do not sit on the wall the same way horizontal lap does, so they require proper furring and blocking to create a flat, well-backed plane with fastening in the right places. They also need a careful flashing strategy at every window head, horizontal break, and base, because gravity pulls water straight down the vertical seams. When furring, fastening, and flashing are done correctly, board-and-batten stays flat and dry for decades; when they are skipped, the boards warp and water gets behind them.
Do you take on small board-and-batten jobs or patch work?
No. Alfa Construction specializes exclusively in complete full-home siding installation and replacement, including full board-and-batten re-sides. We strip the old cladding to the sheathing, correct any moisture or rot, install a proper weather-resistant barrier and furring, and rebuild the exterior with vertical panels and battens. We do not take patch jobs, single-panel swaps, or partial sections. If your home needs a full board-and-batten exterior, that is exactly what we do — and we do it right.
Where we install
We install board & batten across MetroWest, Worcester County and Norfolk County.
See the full service areaGet your free Board & Batten estimate
Tell us about the house. Fabio calls you back the same day, walks the property and sends an itemized written estimate within 24 hours.
- Estimate
- Free, itemized, in writing
- License
- MA HIC #192348
- Experience
- Since 2006
- Languages
- English & Portuguese
Prefer to talk? Call (508) 590-9193