How to Install a Board and Batten Wall

Board and batten adds a geometric, layered look to both interior and exterior walls.

This siding and paneling style uses thin strips of wood — or battens — placed over the seams of wide boards.

You can mimic the look of board and batten on an accent wall without installing wide wood boards. Here’s how:

Today's Homeowner Radio Producer Corey Wilson rips a pine board on a table saw. — Because we wanted custom-sized battens, we had to cut them down from larger boards. (3 Echoes Content Studio)

For the battens, rip half-inch by 6-inch pine siding along its length to create battens that are about 2¾-inch wide.

A pine board being ripped by a table saw — We use the same wood for the baseboard but cut it slightly wider to match the existing baseboards. (3 Echoes Content Studio)

Use the same pine siding to frame the top and bottom of the wall. Cut the bottom piece slightly wider — at 3¼ inch — to match the height of the existing baseboards.

Hands using an oscillating saw to trim a baseboard to accommodate a batten for a board and batten wall — By using an oscillating saw, we don’t have to remove the baseboard to cut it. (3 Echoes Content Studio)

Use an oscillating saw to cut the baseboards on the adjacent walls back a half inch so the pine siding can slide in. Then, attach battens in each corner.

Marking a wall with a pencil and measuring tape — We’re spacing the battens 16 inches apart because that’s the typical spacing of wall studs. (3 Echoes Content Studio)

The remaining battens should be spaced on 16-inch centers. Before installing them, mark those dimensions on the wall with a pencil to be sure the spacing works before installing them.

Applying construction adhesive to a pine board for a board and batten wall — Applying construction adhesive ensures the board will stay put in case the finishing nails don’t penetrate a stud. (3 Echoes Content Studio)

Since we can’t be sure we’ll hit studs with every batten, coat the back of each batten with construction adhesive before tacking them in place with 2-inch finish nails.