Can you use furring strips for board and batten?
James Olson
Updated on April 19, 2026
Yes, you can use furring strips for board and batten. However, you will need to spend a lot more time picking out furring strips that aren't bowed. They also need a lot of sanding to be usable.
What can I use for batten strips?
Cedar is a common choice for exterior board and batten siding, but other acceptable wood species include Cyprus, redwood, locust, white oak, and hemlock.What is a furring strip board and batten?
What are furring strips you ask? Well, they are thin strips of wood generally used in construction and other rough lumber jobs. You can use them in installing doors, installing them under something to keep them away from moisture. They are used all the time.What kind of wood is used for board and batten?
Cedar is a good lumber choice because it is soft; harder wood, such as pressure-treated pine, will not seal as well and is more likely to crack. Board and batten is commonly used in farmhouse style homes, but it also looks well with minimalist, modern, and transitional styles.What is the best material for board and batten?
Yes, vinyl is one of the most popular types of material for board and batten siding. Resistant to harsh weather conditions, vinyl is durable, low-maintenance, and sustainable for years (even decades) to come. It also comes in a selection of beautiful colors to match the exterior of any home.DIY Board and Batten Accent Wall | Wainscoting How to
How thick should wood be for board and batten?
How thick should board and batten be? If you're dealing with a smaller bedroom in a house with 8 ft ceilings, you'll want to use something in the 2.5” to 3.5” width range for the trim work.How thick should battens be?
A true batten is 2-inches in width or smaller, but you can use larger widths by installing trim in place of a batten if you want a thicker appearance.Is board and batten going out of style?
Today, board and batten has been largely removed from it's practical origins. Exterior board and batten still exists, but the most popular use of this design is interior. Entire walls or ceilings can be covered in board and batten, or it can be used as wainscoting.What material is used for battens?
Commonly available batten trim can be made from all natural wood to preservative treated wood to completely man-made products.What is a furring strip used for?
In construction, furring (furring strips) are thin strips of wood or other material to level or raise surfaces of another material to prevent dampness, to make space for insulation, or to level and resurface ceilings or walls.What is the difference between a furring strip and common board?
Common boardsThese boards are a great option for beginning woodworkers because they are still quite inexpensive, but straighter and prettier than furring strips. Common boards are typically made from pine and are considered a soft wood. I use these boards for a lot of woodworking projects and with great results.
How much weight can furring strips hold?
Furring strips may support 50 lbs now, but this is NOT the right type of lumber for supporting live loads. And remember, kids grow... then their weight increases.What are batten strips?
Batten trim or batten molding is a thin strip of trim typically with a rectangular cross-section similar to lath used in lattice, used to cover seams between panels of exterior siding or interior paneling.Can furring strips be used for trim?
Furring strips are not designed for finish trim, but for the under skeleton that walls and ceilings are attached to. As will virtually all limber, the actual size is different from the common size.Can I use plywood for board and batten?
Board-and-batten can be installed onto solid plywood or OSB sheathing. If your sheathing is not solid, you will need to first attach horizontal furring strips.How do you attach board and batten to drywall?
- Step 1: Install Corner & Top Boards. The first step is to install the batten pieces that will go on either side of the wall and along the top of the wall. ...
- Step 2: Install a Board in the Middle of the Wall. ...
- Step 3: Install the Final Two Vertical Boards. ...
- Step 4: Install the Horizontal Pieces. ...
- Step 5: Caulk and Paint.