Ferndale Siding Board & Batten Siding, Built for Kendall's Conditions
Kendall sits back from the coast, tucked into the wooded country along the Nooksack River corridor northeast of Ferndale, in the shadow of the foothills leading up toward Mount Baker. It's a different exposure than the open coastline gets, but Whatcom County's marine climate still reaches this far inland — long wet winters, heavy tree cover, and stretches of the year where a north-facing wall barely sees direct sun. That combination of shade, moisture, and driving rain is exactly the kind of environment where the wrong siding choice, or a sloppy installation of the right one, shows up fast as moss, staining, and soft trim.
Board and batten is a popular look out here for a reason. The vertical lines suit the rural, wooded lots common around Kendall, and it reads well against the timber and mountain backdrop without looking out of place next to more traditional lap-sided homes closer to town. But board and batten is also less forgiving than horizontal lap siding when it comes to water management — the vertical battens create more seams, more fastening points, and more opportunities for water to find its way behind the cladding if the install isn't done right. On a property like the ones common in Kendall, with shade-heavy lots and a long moss season, that margin for error matters more than it would on an open, sun-exposed site.
Why Kendall's Microclimate Is Harder on Siding Than It Looks
Kendall doesn't get the same salt-laden air that homes right on Bellingham Bay or the outer coast deal with, but it gets its own version of the same problem: persistent dampness. Wooded lots and river-bottom terrain mean less wind and sun to dry a wall out between rain events. Add Whatcom County's typically 150+ days a year with measurable precipitation, and you get siding that can stay damp for days at a stretch during the wet months.
- Extended shade: Tree cover common on Kendall properties slows drying time after rain, which is the single biggest driver of moss and mildew growth on siding and trim.
- Driving rain exposure: Southwest storm systems push rain sideways into walls, not just down onto roofs — vertical board and batten seams need to shed that water, not trap it.
- Moss and organic growth: Shaded, moisture-retentive surfaces in this part of the county support moss and algae growth on siding, trim, and especially on horizontal battens or ledges where debris collects.
- Temperature swings: Cold snaps followed by wet thaws stress any siding material that isn't dimensionally stable, causing warping, cupping, or fastener pop on lower-grade products.
What a Correct Board & Batten Job Actually Involves
Board and batten isn't a different siding material — it's a profile, built up from a base panel or plank layer with vertical battens fastened over the seams. The quality of the job comes down to what's happening behind that visible layer, not just how straight the battens run.
Water management behind the cladding
Every board and batten wall needs a drainage plane — a weather-resistant barrier installed correctly with proper lapping, flashed penetrations, and a rain screen gap where the siding profile calls for one. Battens fastened directly over a base layer without accounting for drainage create a wall that looks finished but traps moisture behind it, which on a shaded Kendall lot can mean rot developing for a year or more before it's visible from outside.
Fastening and seam placement
Battens have to land over real seams and structural framing, not just be spaced evenly for looks. Fastener spacing, type, and depth all affect how the assembly handles the wide moisture swings this area sees between soggy winters and drier summer stretches.
Trim, corners, and penetrations
Window and door trim, outside corners, and any penetration (vents, hose bibs, light fixtures) are where board and batten siding fails first if it's going to fail. Each one needs proper flashing and sealant detailing — not caulk alone — to keep driving rain from tracking behind the wall assembly.
Material selection
We install James Hardie fiber cement exclusively, including Hardie's vertical siding and batten profiles engineered for this kind of install. It's dimensionally stable, doesn't absorb water the way wood-based or wood-composite siding does, and holds its factory finish through the freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycling that's normal for this part of Whatcom County.
Why We Only Install James Hardie for This Application
Board and batten is one of the profiles where material choice matters most, because the vertical seams and battens are unforgiving of moisture problems. We don't install vinyl board and batten, primed wood, cedar, or wood-composite products like LP SmartSide on Kendall homes, and it's worth explaining why.
| Material | How it handles this climate | Long-term concern |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar / primed wood | Traditional look, but absorbs moisture readily | Requires ongoing refinishing; rot risk rises fast in shaded, damp locations like Kendall |
| Wood-composite (e.g. LP SmartSide) | Engineered wood strand core, better than raw lumber | Still wood-based — vulnerable to moisture intrusion at cut edges and seams if the install isn't flawless |
| Vinyl board & batten | Low upfront cost, no repainting | Can warp or become brittle with temperature swings; seams and battens are often decorative, not a true drainage system |
| James Hardie fiber cement | Non-combustible, dimensionally stable, engineered for Pacific Northwest moisture cycling | Requires correct installation to a documented spec — the trade-off is on the installer, not the material |
None of the alternatives are junk products — cedar has real appeal, and engineered wood siding is a meaningful step up from raw lumber. But in a shaded, wet, moss-prone environment like Kendall, moisture is the enemy, and fiber cement simply doesn't feed mold, doesn't swell and shrink the way wood-based products do, and holds its factory-applied ColorPlus finish instead of needing repaint cycles. That's why we standardized on it and stopped installing the alternatives, even when a customer asks for them by name.
Our Process for a Kendall Board & Batten Project
- On-site walkthrough: We look at sun exposure, tree cover, drainage around the foundation, and the condition of the existing wall assembly before quoting anything.
- Tear-off and inspection: Removing the old siding lets us check sheathing, framing, and any existing moisture damage — common on shaded walls that have been carrying wet siding for years.
- Repair and prep: Any soft sheathing or framing gets replaced before anything new goes up. Covering a moisture problem with new siding just delays the failure.
- Weather-resistant barrier and flashing: Properly lapped house wrap, flashed windows and penetrations, and a rain screen gap where the assembly calls for one.
- Hardie installation to spec: Batten and panel layout planned around real seams, correct fastener schedule, and manufacturer-specified clearances at grade, roof lines, and trim.
- Final detailing: Caulking, touch-up, and a walk-through so the homeowner understands what maintenance (if any) the finished job actually needs.
What to Ask Before Hiring Anyone for This Job
Board and batten siding hides its mistakes well for the first year or two, which is exactly why it's worth being careful about who installs it. A few questions worth asking any contractor bidding this kind of project:
- Will you show me the weather-resistant barrier and flashing detail before it's covered up, or only the finished exterior?
- Is there a rain screen gap in the assembly, or are battens going straight over the barrier?
- What's your fastener schedule, and is it the manufacturer's documented spec or a general rule of thumb?
- Who's actually on the crew — is this a local team that does this profile regularly, or a subcontractor new to the area?
- What does the warranty actually cover, and is it backed by the manufacturer or just the installer?
A crew that already works Kendall and the surrounding Ferndale area has seen how these lots actually perform through a wet winter — which walls stay damp longest, where moss shows up first, and what detailing holds up versus what doesn't. That's not something you get from a general contractor working the area for the first time.
Maintenance Reality for Board & Batten in This Area
Even correctly installed, board and batten siding in a shaded, wet environment like Kendall benefits from periodic attention. James Hardie's factory finish resists fading and doesn't require repainting on the schedule wood or composite siding does, but no siding is entirely maintenance-free here.
- Keep vegetation and tree limbs trimmed back from walls to improve airflow and sun exposure, which cuts down on moss growth.
- Rinse siding periodically, especially on shaded elevations, to keep moss and algae from establishing.
- Check caulking at trim, corners, and penetrations every year or two — sealant is the first line of defense and the first thing to wear out.
- Keep gutters and downspouts clear so roof runoff isn't dumping extra water down a wall during heavy rain events.
Get a Straight Answer for Your Kendall Home
Every property around Kendall has its own mix of shade, exposure, and existing wall condition, and that changes what a board and batten install actually needs — not just how it looks when it's done. We'll come look at your home, tell you honestly what we find, and put together a plan built around James Hardie fiber cement, installed to spec for this climate. There's no pressure and no cost to get a real estimate — just fill out the form below and we'll set up a time to take a look.