Bored and Beaten Part 1
How to Choose Board Siding That Stands Out — and Stands Up
If you’re thinking about new exterior board siding or plan to replace your current siding? Here’s what you need to know.
Exterior cladding on homes was originally wood, brick, and stone. These materials weren’t chosen for their charm, but for availability and ability to withstand weather. Siding— as in protective outer skin applied over a structural frame—only came into play with timber framing.
In both the UK and US, early homes often had horizontal wooden planks (lap siding) or vertical boards with thin strips (called battens) nailed over the gaps to keep out drafts, a method known as board and batten. Not to be confused with ‘bored and beaten,’ which is probably how installers feel by day three.
Despite bricks becoming more affordable during industrialization, siding held strong, due to its simplicity and abundance. Aluminum made a splash in the post-WWII housing boom, looking clean and futuristic…until it dented. Then came vinyl in the 1960s, which promised a nearly maintenance-free future.
