Anacortes Siding Board & Batten Fits Old Town Anacortes for a Reason
Old Town Anacortes has one of the older, more established housing stocks on Fidalgo Island — a mix of early-1900s cottages, craftsman-style homes, and additions built onto original footprints over the decades. Board and batten siding has always paired well with that character. The vertical lines read as more traditional and less "production-built" than wide lap siding, and it's a natural match for the porches, gables, and simple rooflines common in this part of Anacortes. Homeowners here usually aren't looking to modernize a house out of its neighborhood — they want siding that respects the home's age while actually holding up to the weather it faces every winter.
That second part is where a lot of board and batten jobs go wrong. The look is straightforward. Getting it to perform for 30-plus years in a marine climate is not, and that's the part we focus on.
What Old Town Anacortes Weather Does to Siding
Anacortes sits on Fidalgo Island in Skagit County, right along Guemes Channel, and that proximity to salt water matters more than most homeowners realize until they've owned a house here for a decade. Three things wear on siding in this specific part of town:
Salt Air
Airborne salt corrodes exposed metal fasteners, degrades cheap paint films, and accelerates the breakdown of anything not engineered for coastal exposure. Homes closer to the water take the brunt of it, but Old Town's whole footprint is close enough to feel it, especially on the west- and north-facing walls that catch wind off the channel.
Driving Rain
Pacific Northwest storms don't just fall straight down — wind-driven rain gets pushed sideways into wall assemblies, which is exactly where poor flashing and bad butt joints fail first. Board and batten has more vertical seams than lap siding, and every one of those seams is a potential water path if it isn't detailed correctly.
Moss Season
Old Town's mature tree canopy is part of what gives the neighborhood its character, but it also means shade, damp air, and organic debris sitting against siding for months at a time. Moss and mildew don't just look bad — they hold moisture against the substrate and, over years, that's what actually rots wood-based siding from the outside in.
None of this is unique to board and batten as a style. It's true of any siding in this neighborhood. But board and batten's extra seams and, on many older homes, its original wood substrate make correct material choice and correct installation more important here than they would be somewhere drier and less exposed.
Why We Install Board & Batten in James Hardie, Not Wood or Vinyl
We're a James Hardie-exclusive crew, and board and batten is one of the clearest examples of why. Traditional wood board and batten looks great on day one and needs real upkeep from year one — repainting, caulk maintenance, and constant vigilance against the moss and moisture Old Town's climate produces. Vinyl board and batten profiles exist, but vinyl expands and contracts with temperature swings, can crack in cold snaps, and simply isn't built to the same standard homeowners expect on a historic-character home.
James Hardie's fiber cement system gives us a board and batten look built specifically for this climate:
- Non-combustible core — fiber cement doesn't feed a fire the way wood-based products can.
- Engineered for the Pacific Northwest — Hardie's HZ5 product line is formulated for cold, wet coastal climates like ours, not a one-size-fits-all national spec.
- ColorPlus factory finish — a baked-on finish that resists the fading and chalking that repainted wood or vinyl show first, and holds up better against moss staining than field-applied paint.
- Dimensionally stable — it doesn't swell, cup, or warp with the seasonal moisture swings that make wood board and batten seams open up over time.
- Strong transferable warranty — backed by the manufacturer, not just our own labor guarantee.
We're not going to tell you wood board and batten is worthless — plenty of Old Town homes still wear it well because someone stays on top of the maintenance. We're telling you that's a maintenance commitment we don't think most homeowners actually want to sign up for, and Hardie gets you the same look without it.
What a Correct Board & Batten Job Actually Involves
Board and batten looks simple from the curb — vertical panels with battens covering the seams — which is exactly why it's easy to install badly and have it look fine for a year or two before problems show up. A correct install involves several layers most homeowners never see:
Weather-Resistive Barrier
A properly lapped and sealed weather-resistive barrier goes on before any siding panel. This is the actual water management layer; the siding itself is the first line of defense, not the only one.
Flashing at Every Penetration
Windows, doors, hose bibs, light fixtures, vents — every penetration needs proper flashing integrated with the weather barrier, not just caulk smeared around the edge. In a driving-rain climate, caulk-only details fail years before flashed details do.
Panel and Batten Fastening
James Hardie specifies fastener type, spacing, and placement for board and batten assemblies, and those specs change slightly depending on wind exposure and whether you're fastening into studs or sheathing. Following the manufacturer's fastening schedule is also what keeps the warranty valid — it's not optional detailing, it's a requirement.
Batten Spacing and Alignment
Battens need consistent spacing and true vertical lines, especially on older homes where the wall framing itself may not be perfectly square. Getting this right is what separates a board and batten job that looks crisp for decades from one that looks slightly off the day it's finished.
Clearance and Drainage
Bottom edges need proper clearance from grade, decks, and roof lines so water sheds away from the wall assembly instead of wicking up into it — a detail that matters even more on older Old Town lots where grading and drainage weren't always built to modern standards.
Our Process on an Old Town Anacortes Home
- On-site assessment. We walk the exterior, check the condition of the existing siding and any visible sheathing, and look specifically for moisture damage around windows, roof lines, and lower wall sections where moss and standing water tend to cause problems.
- Substrate check. On older homes, we confirm what's under the existing siding before pricing the job — that affects whether we can install over the existing wall assembly or need to address sheathing issues first.
- Detailed, written estimate. No vague ballpark — we walk through material, labor, flashing and trim work, and timeline so you know what you're paying for.
- Tear-off and prep. Removal of the old siding, repair of any damaged sheathing found underneath, and installation of the weather-resistive barrier and flashing system.
- Board & batten installation. Panels and battens installed to James Hardie's fastening and clearance specifications, with careful attention to consistent reveal and true vertical lines.
- Final walkthrough. We go over the finished exterior with you before calling the job done, not after.
Board & Batten Material Comparison
| Material | Moisture & Rot Resistance | Salt Air / Moss Performance | Maintenance | Fire Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Hardie Fiber Cement | Excellent — will not rot | Engineered coastal formulation; ColorPlus resists moss staining | Occasional wash; no repainting cycle | Non-combustible |
| Cedar / Wood Board & Batten | Vulnerable without consistent upkeep | Absorbs moisture; prone to moss and rot in shaded, damp spots | Repainting/staining every few years | Combustible |
| Vinyl Board & Batten | Won't rot, but can warp or crack | Can become brittle; seams can trap moisture behind panels | Low, but limited repair options if damaged | Combustible |
| LP SmartSide | Engineered wood strand — vulnerable at cut edges and seams if not sealed properly | Moisture-sensitive at exposed edges over time | Moderate; edge sealing and inspection matter | Combustible |
What Affects the Cost of Your Project
| Factor | How It Affects Your Estimate |
|---|---|
| Tear-off vs. new construction | Removing and disposing of existing siding adds labor and dump fees compared to new-build installation |
| Sheathing condition | Rot or moisture damage found on older Old Town homes may need repair before new siding goes on |
| Home size and wall area | More square footage means more material and labor hours |
| Trim and detail complexity | Gables, dormers, and multiple roof lines take more time to flash and trim correctly |
| Access and site conditions | Tight lots, mature landscaping, or limited driveway access can affect staging and labor time |
| Number of stories | Second-story and multi-level walls require additional scaffolding or lift equipment |
Signs Your Current Siding Needs Attention
- Soft or spongy spots when you press on the siding, especially near the bottom edges
- Persistent moss or dark staining that keeps returning after cleaning
- Visible gaps opening up at seams or where battens meet panels
- Paint that's peeling, bubbling, or needing repainting more often than it used to
- Warping, cupping, or bowing boards, particularly on shaded north- or west-facing walls
- Water stains or musty smells on interior walls that back up to exterior siding
Why an Anacortes Crew Matters for This Job
Board and batten on an Old Town home isn't the same job as board and batten on new construction out toward the highway. Older framing, older sheathing, and decades of prior repairs mean every house has its own quirks, and a crew that works this neighborhood regularly has already seen most of them. We know what Skagit County's building department expects for permitting on exterior work, we're used to navigating tight older lots and mature landscaping without tearing up a yard someone's kept for years, and we understand how exposure to Guemes Channel wind and salt air changes what "correctly installed" actually means from one side of a house to the other. A crew that only shows up in Anacortes occasionally is guessing at those details. We're not.
If you're weighing board and batten siding for a home in Old Town Anacortes, we're happy to walk the property, look at what you're currently dealing with, and give you a straight, no-pressure estimate — free, no obligation, and no sales pressure attached. Fill out the form below and we'll get in touch.