Board & batten metal siding has recently gained a lot of attention as a popular trend as it offers both style and durability. Since metal coils are available in many different colors, metal board & batten siding is so full of possibilities that metal manufacturers are coming out with new designs specifically for this up-and-coming profile.
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In this article, we’ll delve into the world of board & batten metal siding, exploring the various material options, color and pattern choices, major metal companies producing them, width recommendations, and portable rollformers available for producing board & batten panels.
New Tech Machinery (NTM) has helped those in the metal roof and wall panel, and seamless gutter industry for over 30 years with portable rollforming machines and equipment. Our customers know through experience that we’re here to help when it comes to supplying rollformers and service. We recently introduced our new board & batten profile in response to customer demand.
Let’s start with metal siding in general, as it’s been gaining in popularity year by year, offering advantages over other types of siding. In 2021, 43.9% of responding contractors were involved in projects that included metal wall panels, and that number is projected to rise to 54.5% in 2023. Moreover, this past year, contractors were more likely to do metal walls than metal roofs. This trend is expected to continue.
While it’s hard to quantify board & batten metal siding’s gain specifically, it stands to reason that given its growing popularity it’s also trending upward.
Dating back to the mid-1800s, board & batten became popular in the U.S. due to its ability to protect against the weather more effectively than the log cabin style that allowed rain to penetrate. Metal board & batten siding mimics the old wood style with its wide panels and overlapping battens. Stylistically, the farmhouse metal board & batten has become a reminder of old country life.
Metal board & batten can produce a classic barn style and even add a modern flair. Barn doors lend an authentic farm look and topped with a standing-seam metal roof, it’s a structure built to last. Board & batten barns are popping up on farms across the Midwest.
The possibilities of metal board & batten for homes are nearly endless. Board & batten siding looks distinguished when combined with stone or brick, or set it next to wood for a natural appearance.
As black-finished homes have increased in popularity over the last few years, metal board & batten siding matches perfectly with modern designs. Combined with large square or angular windows, black board & batten panels create a dramatic visual effect. Additionally, one of the problems with black houses has been the color fading quickly, requiring frequent repainting. With metal, fading isn’t an issue.
New and gentrifying areas are witnessing multilevel homes with large roof decks, balconies, and oversized windows. Metal board and batten panels fit perfectly with this contemporary design. The siding can stand out or seemingly disappear into the overall sleekness of the structure.
This is where modern and rustic combine to create a sleek, elegant cabin. Stone wainscoting, wood beams, and metal board & batten have become popular blends. Wood accents, like fascia boards and under decking, can also complement the board & batten. Metal allows abundant color flexibility, whether an off-white, slate blue, evergreen, or any other shade in the spectrum, so your customer will always have plenty of choices.
Applications for the board & batten industrial and commercial use range from warehouses, events centers, office buildings, and more. Metal B&B can accommodate large structures at an affordable price, requires little to no maintenance, and outlasts nearly any other material. Metal board & batten produce durable structures with an aesthetic appeal, especially where they double as a warehouse and office.
Board & batten metal siding can be crafted from steel or aluminum.
Steel siding provides exceptional strength and durability. It is resistant to most impacts, fire, and extreme weather conditions. Steel siding is generally finished with coatings that offer protection against rust and fading. Without coating, however, it is susceptible to rust, especially in damp and rainy regions, like the Pacific Northwest.
We recommend using insulation with steel for two reasons. First, steel is not a good insulator against cold and heat, so you could be looking at some higher electric bills during the summer and winter months. Second, steel siding doesn’t do much to protect from outside noise.
Aluminum is known for its corrosion resistance. It is an excellent choice for coastal areas or regions with high humidity, as it’s more resistant to rust. The downside to aluminum siding is that it can scratch and dent more easily, particularly if it is a thinner gauge. However, this generally shouldn’t be an issue with thicker gauge material. In fact, most aluminum used today is painted and coated with a protective layer, making it very sturdy. It’s affordable and easier to install than steel because of its light weight.
Panel width may depend on personal taste. Wider panels resemble the classic farmhouse, while narrower panels may make the building appear more textured. Adding striations is also possible with board & batten.
New Tech Machinery’s board & batten panel profile uses 3-5/8″ of material to produce the finished panel, which includes the 2″ wide batten formed into the panel. So for a flat section, or board, of 10”, you’ll need a coil width of approximately 16” or in exact measurements: 12” panel coverage (board and batten) + 5/16” lip + 3/4” batten height + ¾” batten height + 2 1/8” nail flange end = 15 5/8” coil width.
Board & batten metal siding can be customized to suit various architectural styles and personal preferences. Major metal companies offer an extensive array of colors and patterns, allowing homeowners and builders to achieve their desired look. Common color options include neutrals like white, gray, and beige and bold hues such as blue, red, and green. Metallic finishes like copper or bronze are also available for a striking appearance.
In the fall of 2022, Steel Dynamics (SDI) released a digitally printed steel designed to replicate wood that has just started to be installed on buildings. Because it’s digitally rendered, the printed wood grain does not repeat itself, no matter how long the panel. United Steel is the supplier of this new product.
Drexel Metals can custom-match almost any color, something they are known for. Their gloss paint system is well-known in the industry.
Peterson Aluminum offers a great variety of colors and multiple PVDF wood grain and ore finishes.
Sheffield Metals offers steel and aluminum in 50 colors, including weathered colors for a patina, vintage, or rustic look. Sheffield also offers custom color matching.
Check our Review of the Six Best Metal Roofing Coil Suppliers.
Portable rollformers have made producing metal board and batten siding easier on-site. These machines allow for seamless and efficient fabrication, eliminating the need for transportation and reducing costs. Two major portable rollforming manufacturers currently offer board and batten profiles:
Board and Batten:
Materials:
Sizes:
The common traditional width for board & batten is a 10” board with a 2”-3” batten, but some homeowners choose 8” or 12” boards with 2”-4” battens. Commercial buildings tend to have wider boards at 14”-30”
Board & batten metal siding offers a compelling combination of durability, visual appeal, and design flexibility. With a wide range of materials, colors, and patterns available, contractors have many options to offer customers. Plus, with new innovations like Steel Dynamic’s Tru>Steel HD, aesthetic possibilities are just being discovered.
Consideration of width recommendations and striation can further enhance the final look. Additionally, portable rollformers have revolutionized the production process, making it more convenient and cost-effective. As board & batten continues to grow in popularity, fabrication and installation opportunities will also increase. To learn more about NTM’s board & batten profile or any NTM machine, reach out to one of our machine specialists who will be happy to answer all of your questions.
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In today’s Signage 101 post we discuss the difference between a standard aluminum sign and a brushed aluminum sign. We offer both of these types of metal signs and while they are fairly similar in most aspects, but there are a couple of major differences that you should be aware of before deciding to buy one or the other.
In addition to today’s explanation of the differences between the two types of aluminum signs we currently offer more information that can be found on their respective product pages here: aluminum signs and brushed aluminum signs.
First, let’s quickly discuss the similarities between these two types of aluminum signs. Both signs are made from a material known as E-panel. E-panel consists of two thin aluminum sheets with a reinforced plastic core. The plastic core is polyethylene, which is a hard plastic. The plastic core makes both types of metal signs significantly stronger and more durable than your typical aluminum sign that only consists of a thin aluminum sheet. The E-panel aspect can be seen in the pictures below.
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Both types of signs are for all intents and purposes identical in terms of functionality. Both can be used inside and outside. Both signs can be attached or affixed in a variety of ways but are most often posted using drilled holes (an option we provide during the design/checkout process) and some combination of screws and washers. Lastly, both have proven to be a versatile and affordable signage option for a wide variety of businesses and homes.
The more important part of today’s post is to discuss the differences between the two signs. While they are few they are significant.
The first major difference is what both the standard aluminum and brushed aluminum look like in an unprinted state. i.e. What the raw material would look like if you were to order each with nothing printed on it.
The standard aluminum sign does not have the aluminum look (most often described as silver or metallic) that is commonly visualized when aluminum is mentioned. Rather, our standard aluminum signs are manufactured with white paint on both sides. We then print your design onto the white surface. Thus, anywhere your design does not cover on the sign will be white in appearance and not metallic. This can be seen in the pictures below.
Alternatively, the brushed aluminum signs are not printed white and have the metallic look that one would envision for aluminum signs. But rather than a smooth metallic it is brushed in nature. This brushed appearance can be seen below.
For both standard aluminum signs and brushed aluminum signs we will print directly onto the surface of the sign.
Our standard aluminum is 2MM thick (.079 inches). Our brushed metal signs come manufactured at 3MM thick (.12 inches).
Another difference is the ability to print double sided signs with the two different material types. As alluded to above, the standard aluminum signs are manufactured with white on both sides to allow for double sided functionality. Our brushed aluminum signs do not have the capability of being printed on both sides. There is only one “brushed” side on which we will print while the back side of the sign (that in majority of uses won’t be seen) will have a standard metallic appearance. For standard aluminum signs the “Double Sided” option is available to be selected both on the design tool and in the Shopping Cart.
Because we print directly onto the surface of both types of aluminum signs there is one more major difference that needs to be taken into consideration. This difference is how white ink and thus any white part of your design is treated.
For standard aluminum signs because the surface of the sign is white before printing your design, any white element or portion of your original design will come through as white. Our printers will print everything as normal and recognize that the white portion of your sign can simply use the existing white of the sign.
For brushed aluminum signs, white ink is not printed. Because the printers use CMYK colors and the surface is not originally printed white, no white will be included in the actual printing of your design. Any white portion or aspect, no matter how big or small, will not be printed white but rather retain the brushed appearance where it would have been white. This critical difference can be seen below where the original picture is on the left and the printed version on brushed aluminum is on the right.
With the pictures above one can see where the original white instead has a brushed look when printed.
With a clear understanding of the default material appearance of standard and brushed aluminum and how white is treated in the printing process you can rest assured you’ll get the look you’ll want. Whatever your vision, we’re confident that Signs.com will be able to help you achieve it.
Get started on your sign today by jumping over to a product page – aluminum, brushed aluminum – browsing our customizable sign templates, uploading your own file or contacting us for free design help.
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