Layout: batten, board, batten
Board and batten alternates wide boards with narrow battens covering the seams. The layout math: each board plus its batten plus one gap forms a repeating unit across the wall. The calculator finds how many units fit your wall and adjusts gaps so the pattern lands evenly at both ends.
Wood moves — plan the gap
Wide boards shrink and swell across the grain with humidity; a 12-inch pine board can move a quarter inch seasonally. Battens are nailed to only one board so the assembly can slide, and the gap left today closes tomorrow. Acclimate the boards to the wall's climate for a week before installation.
Sources and standards
Where these figures come from
Every formula on this page is implemented from the published reference material below. Where a value depends on a regional code, the calculator lets you override it rather than assuming one jurisdiction.
- Brick Industry Association — brick counts per square foot and mortar coverage rates.
- Vinyl Siding Institute — installation standards and product performance certification.
Figures, formulas and reference tables last verified: 19 September 2026.