James Hardie board and batten siding is a fiber cement siding style featuring wide vertical boards with narrow battens covering seams.
This architectural design creates classic farmhouse aesthetics with modern durability and weather resistance.
What New England Homeowners Need to Know:
Architectural Style: James Hardie board and batten siding features wide vertical planks with narrow strips covering seams creating traditional farmhouse, rustic, or barn-style aesthetics. This is popular for curb appeal in New England homes.
Fiber Cement Durability: Board and batten styles from James Hardie fiber cement construction offer superior weather resistance, fire safety, and longevity with 30-35 year lifespans.
Investment Value: Fiber cement siding averages $21,500 nationally with 121% ROI at resale, outperforming vinyl siding’s 118% ROI.
Energy Efficiency: Installing insulated fiber cement board and batten siding improves home air tightness by 11% on average with 5.5% energy savings. Keep in mind that up to 25% of your home’s energy is lost through the walls!
Fire Safety: James Hardie fiber cement requires 45% oxygen to sustain combustion. This is compared to normal air’s 21%, making board and batten styles a great upgrade for fire safety.
Color Options: 49% of design experts recommend white board and batten siding for maximum resale value with 65% of homeowners preferring neutral colors like white, off-white, gray, and light shades.
Board and Batten Selection Recommendations:
Top Choice Overall: James Hardie board and batten providing 121% ROI with distinctive architectural character and durability
Best for Modern Farmhouse: Board and batten vertical styling creating authentic farmhouse aesthetics. Meanwhile, this material also offers energy savings and weather protection
Best for Resale Value: White or neutral board and batten colors are recommended by 49% of design experts for maximizing home value and buyer appeal.
Ready to Install Board and Batten Siding?
Professional installation ensures proper board and batten alignment and weatherproofing. Coastal Windows & Exteriors installs James Hardie fiber cement siding with 7,000+ installations across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Serving MA/ME: 236 Cabot St, Beverly, MA 01915 | (978) 818-1503
Serving NH: 288 State Rte 101, Bedford, NH 03110 | (603) 691-2362
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Last Updated: February 2026
Sources:
- The average cost of fiber cement siding in the US is $21,500 (Verified Facts: Siding)
- ROI of fiber cement siding is 121% (Verified Facts: Siding)
- The ROI of vinyl siding is 118% (Verified Facts: Siding)
- Installing insulated siding can improve a home’s air tightness by an average of 11% (https://polymericexteriors.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ISHI_Guide_Update_January_20141.pdf)
- In a study of five home re-siding projects, there was an average energy savings of 5.5% (https://polymericexteriors.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ISHI_Guide_Update_January_20141.pdf)
- Rigid PVC requires 45% oxygen to sustain combustion, higher than the 21% found in normal air (https://polymericexteriors.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ISHI_Guide_Update_January_20141.pdf)
- 49% of design experts recommend whites as the best siding color to sell a home (https://www.fixr.com/articles/home-siding-statistics)
- Roughly 65% of homeowners prefer neutral siding colors (https://www.fixr.com/articles/home-siding-statistics)
