Install Vertical Board-and-Batten Siding

Job Overview

This project qualifies you to install an approved vertical board-and-batten siding system on one prepared wall elevation, or on a separate practice elevation identified by the project specification, using the rainscreen, WRB, flashing, corner, and opening preparation completed in earlier projects. The finished work product is a plumb, balanced, ventilated, and correctly fastened vertical siding elevation ready for the exterior trim installed in Project 14.

You will review the selected board-and-batten system, confirm that the rainscreen and structural fastening support suit vertical cladding, verify WRB, flashing, trim, corners, openings, and base drainage, develop a balanced layout from a centerline or corner reference, transfer vertical control lines, stage and condition the siding, cut and install the first board and every successive board while maintaining the approved joint relationship, fit boards around openings and penetrations, install battens over the joints, install top and bottom closures, and inspect and document the completed elevation.

This project follows Project 11, which established the siding layout and starter and corner components, and Project 10, which installed the rainscreen furring and drainage mat this siding is fastened through. Chapter 12 covers horizontal lap siding as a separate approved cladding system; this project and Chapter 12 install on separate walls or practice elevations unless the approved design specifically includes a transition between the two.

Skills You Will Demonstrate

• BE-073 — Lay out a balanced vertical board-and-batten module from a defined centerline or corner reference and transfer vertical control lines across the elevation.
• BE-074 — Measure, cut, and install vertical siding boards plumb and in the approved starting sequence and reference.
• BE-075 — Maintain the approved open joint, shiplap engagement, or edge relationship and module width across the elevation, including at openings and penetrations.
• BE-076 — Measure, cut, and install battens straight and centered over board joints using the specified independent fastening method.
• BE-077 — Fasten boards and battens without distortion, splitting, or restriction of required movement, while maintaining clearances at roofs, decks, grade, and paving.
• BE-078 — Inspect the completed elevation for plumb, batten centering, spacing, fastening, movement gaps, clearances, and surface condition, and correct deficiencies before closeout.

Where This Skill Fits

The rainscreen fastening support confirmed in Project 10 and the layout and corner components installed in Project 11 only function correctly if the siding installed here maintains their designed drainage gap, ventilation path, and module spacing. The plumb boards and centered battens installed in this project establish the reference surface that Project 14's exterior trim must align with, and any cumulative drift left uncorrected here becomes a visible and functional defect at every window, door, and corner trim installed afterward.

This project uses the same balanced-layout and control-line method taught for horizontal lap siding in Chapter 12, adapted to a vertical orientation. Keeping the two cladding systems on separate elevations, as required by the System-Sequence Control section of this book, allows you to compare their layout, fastening, and joint-maintenance methods without mixing their component schedules.

Scope and Intended Use

This project covers:

• reviewing the selected board-and-batten system's board widths, batten widths, joint coverage, fastening pattern, furring orientation, expansion requirements, and top or bottom ventilation details
• confirming that the rainscreen and structural fastening support are suitable for vertical cladding
• verifying WRB, flashing, trim, corners, openings, and base drainage before siding begins
• developing a balanced board-and-batten layout from a defined centerline or corner reference
• transferring vertical control lines across the elevation
• staging, conditioning, cutting, and installing boards plumb in the approved starting sequence
• fitting boards around windows, doors, vents, utility blocks, and flashings without restricting drainage
• measuring, cutting, and installing battens over board joints with the required coverage and independent fastening
• installing top and bottom closures, screens, trim, or ventilation components required by the system
• inspecting the completed elevation and correcting deficiencies before documentation

This project does not authorize the learner to:

• select the board width, batten width, joint coverage, or fastening pattern independently of the approved board-and-batten system
• begin siding installation before the rainscreen, WRB, flashing, trim, corner, and opening preparation from Projects 2 through 11 have passed inspection
• mix components, fasteners, or details from the Chapter 12 horizontal lap siding system with this vertical board-and-batten system unless the approved design includes a documented transition
• block window head flashing, sill-pan outlets, weep paths, base drainage, or rainscreen ventilation with boards, battens, or fasteners

Any condition where the rainscreen fastening support, WRB, flashing, or opening preparation has not passed inspection, or where the approved module cannot be achieved within the product's permitted range, must stop work in that area until direction is obtained.