Board and Batten Siding in Pennsylvania: What You Need to Know

By Appalachian Exteriors

Board and batten has become one of the most popular siding profiles in South Central Pennsylvania — on farmhouses, new builds, and rural properties alike. Here’s what to know before you choose a material.

Drive through Waynesboro, Greencastle, or the rural townships outside Gettysburg and you’ll notice more board and batten siding than you did five years ago. The profile — vertical panels with narrow battens covering the seams — has made a strong comeback on Pennsylvania homes, and for good reason. It suits the landscape, it suits the building stock, and it looks as natural on a 150-year-old farmhouse as it does on a new construction build.

But not all board and batten siding is the same. The material you choose matters as much as the profile, and in Pennsylvania’s climate, that decision has real long-term consequences. Here’s what to think through.

Why board and batten works well on Pennsylvania properties

The vertical profile of board and batten does something that horizontal lap siding doesn’t: it draws the eye upward, making structures look taller and more substantial. On a farmhouse or a home with a steep roofline, that’s a natural fit. On a barn or agricultural building, it’s the traditional profile for a reason — it sheds water effectively and handles the thermal expansion and contraction that Pennsylvania’s four-season climate demands.

It also works across a wide range of architectural styles that are common in this part of the state:

• Traditional Pennsylvania farmhouses and bank barns
• Modern and contemporary new construction
• Craftsman and cottage-style homes
• Rural and semi-rural properties where the vertical profile suits the setting
• Agricultural buildings, pole barns, and outbuildings

If you’re in the Waynesboro or Chambersburg area and considering an exterior update, board and batten is one of the few profiles that works on almost any property type in this region.

Material options — and why it matters more than the profile

The profile is the easy part. The harder decision is what the panels are made of, because that determines how much maintenance you’re signing up for and how long the siding actually lasts.

Wood board and batten

Traditional and authentic, especially on older homes. The downside in Pennsylvania is significant: wood requires regular painting, caulking, and inspection for rot. The humidity along the Appalachian foothills — particularly in the Waynesboro and Greencastle corridor — is hard on wood siding. Moisture gets behind paint, rot follows, and the maintenance cycle is ongoing. For homeowners who want true historical authenticity and are committed to the upkeep, wood is a valid choice. For most homeowners thinking in 20-year terms, it’s a considerable maintenance commitment.

Vinyl board and batten

The most common budget option. Vinyl board and batten is widely available and easy to install. The problems emerge over time: it fades unevenly within 10–15 years, becomes brittle in cold temperatures — a real issue in Pennsylvania winters — and doesn’t hold up to physical impact well. It also can’t be repainted when it fades. For a profile that’s supposed to look clean and substantial, vinyl board and batten tends to look tired faster than the equivalent in other materials.

Fiber cement board and batten

A significant step up from vinyl. Fiber cement holds paint well, resists insects and rot, and has a more substantial appearance. The tradeoffs: it needs repainting on a schedule (typically every 10–15 years), it’s heavy to install, and cut edges need to be carefully sealed against moisture absorption. For homeowners who want a painted finish and are comfortable with periodic repainting, fiber cement is a legitimate option.

Steel board and batten

Steel siding is the material we install at Appalachian Exteriors, and for most properties in South Central Pennsylvania it’s the one that makes the most sense over the long run. Steel board and batten doesn’t rot, doesn’t fade, doesn’t crack in cold temperatures, and holds up to hail and physical impact in a way that vinyl and fiber cement can’t match. It requires no repainting and very little maintenance. The same profile that’s been the standard for agricultural buildings in this region for generations is now being installed on homes — because it works the same way.

Board and batten siding near Gettysburg and Greencastle

If you’re located in Gettysburg or Greencastle, you’ve likely seen an increase in board and batten siding in Gettysburg on both new builds and historic renovations. In Gettysburg, this profile perfectly complements the traditional Adams County farmhouses and rural properties, offering a clean, historic look with modern durability.

In Greencastle and the surrounding townships, board and batten is equally popular for agricultural outbuildings and residential homes alike. Whether you're updating a property near the Maryland line or closer to the borough, steel board and batten provides the substantial, weather-resistant exterior that Franklin County's climate demands.

What does board and batten siding cost in Pennsylvania?

Cost varies by material, square footage, and the complexity of the installation — particularly how much trim work is involved around windows, doors, corners, and rooflines.

• Vinyl: Lowest upfront cost, highest long-term cost when you factor in replacement or repainting that vinyl can’t accommodate
• Fiber cement: Mid-range upfront, plus periodic painting costs over the life of the siding
• Steel: Higher upfront than vinyl, similar range to fiber cement, significantly lower lifetime cost with no painting required

For a specific number on your home, you need an on-site estimate — square footage alone doesn’t account for the variables that drive cost on a real installation. We offer free estimates for all siding projects throughout South Central Pennsylvania.

Board and batten on agricultural buildings

Board and batten steel siding on a barn, pole building, or outbuilding is a different conversation than residential siding — but the profile is the same one that’s been used on agricultural structures in Pennsylvania for over a century. Large panel runs, exposure to livestock and weather, and the need for a product that holds up for decades without attention all point toward steel.

If you have farm buildings near Mercersburg, Orrtanna, Biglerville, or anywhere else in Adams or Franklin County that need new siding, the board and batten steel panel profile is worth considering alongside standard agricultural panel styles. It’s a cleaner look on outbuildings that are visible from the road or adjacent to the main residence.

What to look for in a board and batten installer

Board and batten installation has more detail work than horizontal lap siding. The vertical orientation means every window, door, corner, and transition needs to be handled carefully — both for weather tightness and appearance. A few things worth asking any contractor:

• How do you handle flashing at windows and doors with a vertical panel profile?
• What trim profile do you use at corners and eaves?
• Who is actually doing the installation — the owner, employees, or subcontractors?
• Do you carry a workmanship warranty in addition to the material warranty?

At Appalachian Exteriors, the owner is personally on site as the primary installer for every full siding project. The detail work on board and batten — the trim, the transitions, the flashing — is where the difference between a clean installation and a problematic one shows up. That’s not work we hand off.

Board and batten siding near Waynesboro, Gettysburg, and Chambersburg

We install steel board and batten siding on homes and agricultural properties throughout South Central Pennsylvania. Most of our siding work is in the Waynesboro and Greencastle area (if you need siding in Waynesboro), the Gettysburg and New Oxford corridor, and the communities around Chambersburg and Mercersburg — but we serve properties across the region.

If you’re considering board and batten for your home or outbuildings, we’re happy to come out, look at the property, and give you a straight answer on what makes sense and what it will cost.