Vertical Siding Options for Bay Area Homes

Vertical siding comes in three main forms: board and batten, grooved panels, and individual vertical boards such as V-groove, channel or nickel gap. Board and batten has raised strips over flat panels. Grooved panels are 4-foot-wide sheets with routed channels. Vertical boards are narrow interlocking pieces that give the most finished, modern look. All three can be made in fiber cement, engineered wood or real wood, and board and batten is also sold in vinyl. Whichever you choose, the detail that decides whether it stays dry is how the horizontal joints are flashed.

The three types at a glance

Board and batten

This is the most popular vertical style on Bay Area re-sides. In fiber cement it is built from Hardie Panel (smooth or Cedarmill texture) with Hardie Trim battens fastened over it, usually 12 to 24 inches apart. The battens cover the panel seams and give the wall its rhythm. Closer spacing reads more traditional; wider spacing looks more modern.

The recessed version, reverse board and batten, has a flat face with deep channels instead of raised battens. We cover both versions, and how they compare to T1-11, in our board and batten guide, so we won't repeat it here. You can see standard board and batten on our Novato Hardie board and batten project.

Grooved vertical panels

Grooved panels give a vertical look with the fewest pieces. Hardie Panel comes in a Sierra 8 texture with a cedar grain and a groove every 8 inches, and Allura makes a panel with grooves 8 inches on center. Plywood siding comes in T1-11 and reverse board and batten patterns, and many 1960s through 1980s Bay Area homes still have it. If yours does, our T1-11 siding guide covers repair versus replacement.

Panels are the most economical way to get vertical lines, but they need careful layout. Grooves have to line up across panel joints and from floor to floor, and panel edges must land on framing so nails stay out of the grooves.

Vertical boards: V-groove, channel and nickel gap

For a clean contemporary look, narrow boards installed vertically give tighter, more even lines than panels. James Hardie's Artisan flat-wall profiles are 5/8 inch thick, twice the thickness of standard Hardie lap, and the company states they can be oriented vertically, horizontally or used as soffit:

• Artisan V-Groove: 8.25-inch board with a 7-inch exposure and a 0.5-inch V-shaped channel.
• Artisan Shiplap: 10.25-inch board with a 9-inch exposure and a narrow 0.15-inch channel.
• Artisan Square Channel: 10.25-inch board with a 9-inch exposure and a 1-inch square channel.

LP SmartSide Nickel Gap is an engineered wood board with a small, even gap between boards, offered in cedar texture or brushed smooth, and LP lists it for vertical or horizontal installation. In real wood, cedar tongue and groove and channel patterns are made for vertical use. Bevel siding is not; its tapered profile only works horizontally.

Our San Jose Artisan V-Groove project shows this style on a full house. For the difference between shiplap, nickel gap and channel profiles, see our shiplap siding guide.

Vertical vinyl siding

Vinyl vertical siding is almost always a board and batten profile. It is the lowest-cost way to get the look, and it is light and quick to install. It does need a solid base: vinyl manufacturers' instructions generally call for nailable sheathing or horizontal furring strips behind vertical panels, because the nailing flanges run vertically and won't line up with the studs. Vinyl is not a good fit for lots in Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and like all vinyl it can distort where reflected sunlight from nearby windows concentrates on it.

Flashing horizontal joints

Vertical siding sheds water quickly down its face, which is one of its strengths. The weak point is anywhere one piece sits on top of another: between floors, at a gable, or where a panel is too short to span the wall. James Hardie's panel installation instructions spell out the detail:

• Install Z-flashing at all horizontal joints, tucked behind the weather-resistive barrier above.
• Leave at least a 1/4-inch gap between the bottom of the upper panel and the flashing, and never caulk that gap, because it is where water behind the siding drains out.
• Don't run panels across floor lines. Create a horizontal joint between floors so the wall can move without cracking the panels.
• Where a band board is used at the joint, the flashing extends over both the panel edge and the trim.

Board products work the same way. LP's Nickel Gap instructions, for example, call for flashing behind butt joints, a 3/16-inch gap at the joint, joints over studs, and joints staggered at least 16 inches. When vertical siding leaks, one of these details is usually missing.

Mixing vertical and horizontal siding

Combining orientations is one of the most common ways to update a Bay Area house without changing its character. Patterns that work well:

• Lap body, board and batten gables. The classic modern farmhouse combination. It breaks up tall gable walls and adds texture.
• Vertical on bump-outs or an entry. A single feature wall in V-groove or board and batten draws the eye to the front door.
• Vertical upper floor over a lap or stucco lower floor. Often used on two-story 1960s through 1980s homes.

Every change of orientation needs a transition detail, usually a band board or a Z-flashing, so water from the upper wall is kicked out over the lower one. Hardie and other manufacturers sell trims made for these transitions. For lap profiles to pair with vertical, see lap siding options.

Vertical siding for modern homes

For contemporary and mid-century designs, these choices tend to look the most deliberate:

• Narrow V-groove or square channel boards in a single dark color.
• Smooth panels with wide batten spacing, often 16 to 24 inches.
• Large flat panels, such as Hardie's Architectural Collection, which James Hardie says can be oriented horizontally or vertically, combined with metal trims for crisp edges.
• Vertical siding paired with large windows and minimal trim, so the siding lines run uninterrupted.

Dark vertical siding reads especially well on modern homes. If you are leaning that way, our siding color guide covers how dark colors behave in Bay Area sun and fog.

Cost: what changes the price

• Panels are cheapest per square foot installed because each piece covers 32 to 40 square feet.
• Board and batten adds a trim layer. Each batten is cut, fastened into framing and finished.
• Individual boards take the most labor, especially with mitered corners or tight layout around windows.
• Multi-story walls add flashing. Each horizontal joint is extra material and labor.
• Tear-off and sheathing repair often matter more than the style, especially when removing old plywood siding.

For a number on your house, we give a free written estimate after a walkthrough. Our James Hardie siding page explains how we install Hardie vertical products.

Frequently asked questions

Is vertical siding more expensive than horizontal siding?

It depends on the type. Grooved vertical panels are often the least expensive way to side a wall, while board and batten adds a trim layer and individual vertical boards take more labor. Flashing at horizontal joints on multi-story walls also adds cost.

Does vertical siding leak more than horizontal siding?

Not when it is detailed correctly. Water runs straight down vertical siding, so the face sheds water well. Leaks usually come from missing Z-flashing at horizontal joints, caulked drainage gaps, or poor flashing around windows.

Can James Hardie lap siding be installed vertically?

For vertical Hardie siding, use Hardie Panel (smooth, Cedarmill, Sierra 8 or stucco texture) or the Artisan flat-wall profiles, which James Hardie states can be installed vertically. Always follow the installation instructions for the specific product, since installing outside them can void the warranty.

What is the best material for vertical siding?

Fiber cement is the most common choice for Bay Area homes because it is noncombustible and holds paint well in fog. Engineered wood is lighter and also widely used. Real cedar gives the most authentic look with more upkeep, and vinyl is the lowest-cost option where fire rules allow it.

Can you put vertical siding on just part of a house?

Yes. Gables, bump-outs, entries and upper floors are common places for vertical siding on a house that is otherwise lap or stucco. The transition between the two needs a band board or flashing detail.

Sources

• James Hardie: Hardie Panel vertical siding installation requirements (PDF)
• James Hardie: National product catalog, Artisan profiles (PDF)
• Allura: 3-part specification sheet
• LP: SmartSide Nickel Gap siding installation instructions
• Western Red Cedar Lumber Association: How to design with and specify cedar siding