Board & Batten Siding History

Definition

• A board-and-batten exterior consists of wide boards and narrow strips of wood called battens. The boards are set vertically rather than horizontally, and the battens are used to cover the joints between the boards.

Origin

• The board-and-batten vertical siding design originated in Norway and Sweden. It can still be found on Norwegian churches constructed during the Middle Ages. The siding was used to protect log and timber structures from weathering.

American Roots

• The use of board and batten became popular in America in the 1840s and 1850s. It was heavily promoted by renowned architects such as Andrew Jackson Downing and Lewis Allen and became one of the architectural elements associated with Gothic Revival style.

Gothic Revival Style

• Gothic Revival architecture, built between 1849 and 1890, incorporated medieval elements such as steep gables, board-and-batten siding and arched windows into its design. Grant Wood's "American Gothic" painting clearly exemplifies this type of architectural style.