How to Install Board and Batten

The computer room is right off our kitchen and is the hub of our home. It is where the kids do their homework and is also my home office. It was also one of the most chaotic, neglected and unappealing rooms in our home. The room was in need for a makeover. Ever since we installed board and batten in our downstairs powder room, I was hooked with this classic architectural feature. Today I want to show you How to Install Board and Batten with decorative trim. This project will walk you through basic board and batten installation and also show how to add trim to give it an extra special appearance.


But first things, first… let’s take a look at the awful Before Pictures!
Below are pictures of what my computer room looked like before hand. Yuck. It’s a total disaster. Piles of papers, completely unorganized, unfinished, a dump-and-stash zone, and not a room that you want to spend any amount of time in. Embarrassing! I had lost total control of the room. Time for a change! Let’s clean this mess up and install board and batten.

Before starting any project, make sure you have all your safety gear and tools in working order. Follow all your power tools’ manufacturer recommendations and safety precautions. I used all of the 3M Tekk Protection products you see below for this board and batten project and when I Installed Hardwood Floors, and when using any project that involves power tools.


To Install Board and Batten with Decorative Trim you will need the following:

• Air compressor and nail gun
• Nail gun nails: 2 inch and finishing nails
• Pre-primed 1” x 2.5” x 8’ boards
• Vinyl cove molding
• 3M Tekk Safety Eyewear
• 3M Tekk Sanding & Fiberglass Respirator
• 3M Tekk Ear Protection
• 3M Pro Grade Sanding Sponge- Extra fine grit
• Paintable Caulk
• White semi-gloss latex paint
• Paint brush and roller

Head out to your hardware store and gather your supplies. To secure my boards together safely for the trip home in my truck, I wrapped several board of trim together with 3M Scotch Blue tape. I keep a roll in my truck’s glove compartment. It really comes in handy for situations like this.



Decide on your desired height. I chose 3/4 the height of my wall. Have someone help you hold your 1” x 2.5” x 8’ boards to your desired height. Make sure the boards are perfectly level with your level tool and nail to the wall with 2 inch nails. Continue all the way around the room. Once that first step is done, then go ahead and paint everything (walls and baseboard) below the horizontal board in semi-gloss white paint.

 

Time to install your vertical boards. Decide how wide you would like your boards to be placed. I chose 16”.  Measure the distance from your level horizontal board above, to the top of the base board below. Cut your boards to that measurement. Make a straight cut across the top and a 50 degree bevel cut on the bottom, leaving a tiny ledge for the board to sit on the baseboards. Only do this bevel cut if you choose to place it above existing baseboards. Or you may also remove your existing baseboards and replace them with straight, plain boards (no decorative beveled trim).

 

Because I wanted my boards 16” apart, I cut a scrap piece of board to that length. This will be your spacer board. Nail your first board to the wall and check for plumb. Use your spacer board and align your next batten board on the other side of your spacer board.  Check for plumb (a level vertical) before nailing with your nail gun.



Continue this process all the way around the room. You can stop at this point if you choose. It took us a very short time to install basic board and batten (approximately a day and a half). This room is 13' x 9' and the board and batten cost just under $300.



But you know I’m just not satisfied with basic…. it’s a compulsion of mine. I need more detail! So let’s not stop there! Let’s add a decorative rectangle! Easy enough. We decided on a 10” rectangle and cut a 10” board as our spacer. This ensures that everything is square (muy-importante & uber-easy!). Cut several boards to 16” lengths. Place one board under your 10” spacer board to align it. Nail it in place with 2 inch nails.



This is how it will look after you have created little rectangles. Feel free to stop at this point (again) if you desire. But if you’re a sucker for detail like me, then keep going! Let’s add some decorative trim to the board and batten.

 

I like to use cove molding to frame out my board and batten. You can use a foam cove molding, wood, or vinyl cove molding like I used here. It is lightweight, strong, less expensive than wood, and already primed! You can find it in the pre-finished decorative molding section at Home Depot. Cut each end of your cove molding on a 45 degree angle, as you would for a picture frame. (The piece pictured on the left is what you want.)

 

 

To ensure that you have perfectly square rectangles, line up the top and bottom trim, back to back to check for exact measurements. Repeat for the side trim and nail inside each board and batten rectangle with your pneumatic nail gun using finishing nails.

 

 

If you want a ledge resting along the top, then cut and nail long lengths of 1 x 2.5” boards to the top. Nail with 2 inch nails. 

 

At this point you can also add additional cove or decorative molding under the ledge with finishing nails (as seen below). Fill in the nail holes with wood putty and sand to a smooth finish when dry with your 3M sanding sponge. Caulk all the inside edges with paintable caulk. This step gives you a very seamless and professional finish.

Paint all the board and batten with the same white semi-gloss paint you used earlier for the walls. If you come paint with me then you better watch out, I’m sure to get paint on you!

 

When it’s finished you will absolutely be amazed at what a difference board and batten makes! I love it! The room is bright and cheerful and a gathering place the whole family enjoys using now.

 

The top ledge is perfect spot to display a few leaning pictures and accessories.

 

I hope I was able to share a bit how to install board and batten and you are now motivated to give it a try! For beginners, I recommend starting with basic board and batten, but if you are more advanced in your DIY skills then try this trimmed out version! The trimmed out version did increase the cost by about $200, so take that into consideration. Remember you will be adding a ton of architectural interest and value to your home.

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Kim  

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This post is a collaboration with 3M DIY. To learn more about safety and preparation, visit 3MDIY.com.