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2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 98

Board and batten (board ’n bat) is another popular choice for vertical siding. Again, apply horizontal
nailing strips if sheathing is less than 5/8” thick. Nail each board at the top and bottom with a galvanized
8d nail. See Figure 6-8. Wider boards need two nails at the top and bottom, spaced 1” each side of the
center line. Close spacing prevents splitting as the boards shrink. Cover the 1/2” gap between boards
with the batten, secured with 12d finishing nails. Be careful to miss the underboard when nailing batts.
Use only corrosion-resistant nails. Figure 6-8 shows two variations of board and batt siding.

Wood siding can also be installed diagonally. Add 15 percent to the labor estimate and allow 5 percent
more waste of materials.

Panel Siding
If existing siding is uneven, panel siding (plywood, hardboard or particleboard) is the best choice. Panel
siding tends to smooth out any unevenness in the existing surface. And panel siding is probably the
easiest to install. It can be applied over nearly any surface.

If you use plywood, it’s best to select a plywood siding product that’s specifically made for use as
siding. Ordinary exterior grade plywood will work, but it doesn’t look as nice. Hardboard used for siding
must be tempered. Most panel siding products are sold in both 4’ x 8’ and 4’ x 9’ sheets.
Rough-textured plywood (such as Texture 1-11) soaks up water-repellent preservative stain better than
smooth-finish plywood. Smooth plywood can be stained, but the finish isn’t as durable as saw-texture
plywood. Fiber-overlaid plywood (usually called MDO, for medium-density overlay) is particularly good if
you plan to paint the surface. The resin-treated fiber overlay presents a very smooth surface that both
bonds securely to paint and minimizes expansion and contraction due to moisture changes.