LP SmartSide Board-and-Batten
HardiePanel’s engineered-wood counterpart. LP SmartSide Panel as the flat vertical layer, LP SmartSide Trim as the batten boards on top — the modern farmhouse look in an engineered wood system with 200-plus mph wind rating.
Modern Farmhouse • Engineered Wood • Family-Owned Since 2005
Modern Farmhouse in Engineered Wood
The modern farmhouse look has dominated McHenry County new construction and remodeling for five years and counting. Vertical siding with evenly spaced battens, black metal roofing, white trim, a farmhouse porch. Every builder spec home. Every Magnolia episode. And homeowners are asking for it.
Board-and-batten is two products working together: a flat vertical panel behind, vertical batten strips on top. LP SmartSide builds both. LP SmartSide Panel ships in 4-foot by 8-foot, 9-foot, and 10-foot sheets in cedar-grain or smooth texture. LP SmartSide Trim provides the batten boards in multiple widths and profiles. Both share the same engineered-wood composition with SmartGuard treatment, the same 200-plus mph wind rating, and the same 22-color ExpertFinish palette for matched whole-house color systems.
Why LP for Board-and-Batten (When the Alternative Is Hardie)
Hardie is my default board-and-batten call because of the fire rating and non-prorated warranty. But LP makes real sense in three scenarios: the homeowner specifically wants engineered wood, the elevation takes extreme wind, or the install needs to move fast on a tight schedule. Here’s when LP B&B is the right choice.
4-Foot by 10-Foot Panels — Fewer Horizontal Seams
LP SmartSide Panel ships in 4-foot by 8-foot, 4-foot by 9-foot, and 4-foot by 10-foot sheets. We run the 4×10 size on most modern farmhouse projects because it minimizes horizontal seams across the elevation. Panels are 7/16 inch thick, same SmartGuard-treated Aspen composition as the lap product. Two textures: Cedar Grain (pressed wood grain, farmhouse-appropriate) and Smooth (clean modern face).
On a 20-foot-tall elevation with 4×10 panels you’re placing 2 panels vertically — one horizontal seam. With 4×8 panels that’s 3 panels and 2 seams. The 4×10 reads cleaner on modern designs where long vertical lines are the point.
LP SmartSide Trim — Battens, Corners, Fascia, Frieze
LP SmartSide Trim handles the batten boards on top of the panel. Multiple widths and profiles in cedar-grain or smooth texture. 16-foot lengths. The same trim product handles the other whole-house trim work: corner boards, window/door trim, fascia, frieze boards, and soffit applications. Using the same trim product across the whole house keeps material properties consistent — no dissimilar materials at junctions, no color mismatches.
Batten spacing matters for the look. 16 inches on center reads historic farmhouse. 20 inches on center reads modern farmhouse. 24 inches on center reads contemporary and clean. We model the spacing on your actual elevation during the consultation before the order goes in.
200+ MPH Wind, Half the Weight of Fiber Cement
LP SmartSide Panel weighs about 1.2 pounds per square foot. HardiePanel weighs 2.5 pounds. On large modern farmhouse elevations with multiple courses of 4×10 panels, that weight difference translates to faster install and less crew fatigue. Wind rating is 200-plus mph (ASTM D5206) versus fiber cement’s 130 mph — a real advantage on exposed elevations like lake homes and open-farmland sites.
Modern farmhouse homes often sit on larger lots with more wind exposure than suburban infill. For a two-story farmhouse on a 2-acre lot in Woodstock or Marengo, the 200-plus mph LP wind rating matches the exposure reality.
22 ExpertFinish Colors — Matched Panel and Trim
Both Panel and Trim ship with ExpertFinish or primed for field-painting. ExpertFinish is the factory-applied 2-coat acrylic latex with 15-year paint warranty. Same 22-color palette across both products so panel and batten color match exactly. Sand Dunes (2026 Color of the Year) has been our bestseller on modern farmhouse projects paired with Bright White trim. Oyster Shell and Rich Espresso work for more traditional farmhouse palettes.
The most common LP board-and-batten color scheme I’m installing in 2026 is Sand Dunes panel, Sand Dunes battens, Bright White corner boards and window trim. Reads modern. Reads clean. Reads intentional.
See LP SmartSide Installed by IHC
Real projects across McHenry County. No stock photos.
Board-and-batten new build — McHenry County, IL
Finished elevation — McHenry County, IL
Completed LP project — McHenry County, IL
Shortly after install — McHenry County, IL
Mid-install over weather barrier
Cedar grain texture detail
Panel and Trim Spec Reference
LP SmartSide Panel and LP SmartSide Trim work together as a board-and-batten system. Dimensions and finish options for each.
LP SmartSide Panel
- Sizes: 4′ × 8′, 4′ × 9′, 4′ × 10′ sheets
- Thickness: 7/16″
- Textures: Cedar Grain, Smooth
- Finish: Primed or ExpertFinish factory color
- Material: Engineered wood — treated Aspen strands + SmartGuard
- Weight: ~1.2 lbs per sq ft
LP SmartSide Trim
- Lengths: 16 feet
- Widths: Multiple profiles
- Textures: Cedar Grain, Smooth
- Finish: Primed or ExpertFinish factory color
- Also used for: Corner boards, window/door trim, fascia, frieze boards
- Batten spacing: Typically 16″–24″ on center (style-dependent)
Most popular McHenry County spec: 4×10 LP Panel in Cedar Grain with LP Trim battens at 20″ on center, ExpertFinish in Sand Dunes with Bright White corner boards. See samples at our Crystal Lake showroom.
LP Board-and-Batten vs. The Alternatives
Three ways to build board-and-batten in McHenry County: LP SmartSide (engineered wood), Hardie (fiber cement), or vinyl vertical (plastic). Here’s how they stack up.
| Feature | LP SmartSide B&B This Page | Hardie Board-and-Batten | Vinyl Vertical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Engineered wood (panel + trim) | Fiber cement (HardiePanel + HardieTrim) | PVC plastic |
| Max Panel Size | 4′ × 10′ | 4′ × 10′ | Varies by brand |
| Weight | ~1.2 lbs/sqft | ~2.5 lbs/sqft | ~0.4 lbs/sqft |
| Wind Resistance | 200+ mph (ASTM D5206) | 130+ mph (HZ10) | 120–180 mph |
| Batten Authenticity | Real LP Trim over LP Panel | Real HardieTrim over HardiePanel | Integrated plastic fake batten typically |
| Fire Rating | Combustible (engineered wood) | Class A non-combustible | Melts |
| Lifespan | 20–30 years | 50+ years | 20–30 years |
| Warranty | 5/50 PRORATED + 15-yr ExpertFinish | 30-yr non-prorated + 15-yr ColorPlus (paint+labor) | Varies by brand |
| Up-Close Appearance | Real wood-grain texture | Real wood-grain texture, heavier feel | Visibly plastic up close |
| Install Speed | Faster (lighter material) | Slower (heavier material) | Fastest |
Why Buy LP SmartSide Through IHC
Board-and-Batten Is About the Details
Board-and-batten looks simple: flat panel with vertical strips on top. In practice, the details make or break the install. Batten spacing has to be consistent within fractions of an inch across the whole elevation. Panel-to-trim junctions have to be perfect — there’s nowhere to hide a seam. Every cut edge has to be sealed with LP-approved sealant. Grade clearance must be 6 inches minimum where the panel meets the lower elevation. Fasteners flush, not countersunk. These are LP’s warranty requirements, and our crews follow them to the spec.
IHC is LP SmartSide Preferred Installer. When we install LP board-and-batten, the warranty holds because we install to the spec. Your modern farmhouse gets the aesthetic you want, the wind rating you need, and a 2-year labor warranty from the local crew that’s 15 minutes from your house.
21+
Years in McHenry County
380+
Google Reviews at 4.6 Stars
A+
BBB Rating
Family
Women-Led, Locally Owned
Notes From the Field — What We Actually Install
I’ve been installing LP board-and-batten across McHenry County for years — Crystal Lake, Woodstock, McHenry, Cary, Algonquin, and Huntley projects, plus a handful of lake homes out in Wonder Lake. I’m running the 4-foot by 10-foot LP Panel size on most projects to minimize horizontal seams. Our crews pick batten spacing together during the measure-up: 16 inches on center for historic farmhouse, 20 inches for modern farmhouse, 24 inches for clean contemporary. We model the spacing on the actual elevation before the order goes in.
Sand Dunes (2026 LP Color of the Year) has been my bestseller on modern farmhouse projects, usually paired with Bright White corner boards and window trim. The LP Trim batten in a 4/4 profile is our default on most projects; we’ll go 5/4 for a bolder shadow line on larger elevations. Panels weigh 1.2 pounds per square foot — half of Hardie — so we can move faster on install. We run two-man crews on anything above single-story. Every LP install we do follows the same checklist: 6-inch grade clearance, every cut edge sealed, fasteners flush not countersunk, every butt joint on a stud.
When a homeowner asks LP vs Hardie for board-and-batten, the decision comes down to three axes: fire safety (Hardie wins — non-combustible), warranty value (Hardie wins — non-prorated, covers labor), and wind/impact (LP wins — 200-plus mph, flexes instead of cracking). For most modern farmhouse projects I’ll lead with Hardie. For homes on exposed elevations with heavy wind or hail — lake-front, open farmland, corner lots — LP is my answer. We’ll walk through both in the showroom before you decide.
A few more LP Board-and-Batten specifics I’ll share from recent McHenry County projects. We’re running 4-foot by 10-foot LP Panel on 85 percent of our B&B projects because the 10-foot height eliminates horizontal seams on most residential elevations. On taller 2-story projects we’ll stack 2 panels vertically with one flashed horizontal seam. Batten spacing varies by house: I’ve run 12-inch on-center on historic farmhouse restorations for period authenticity, 16-inch for traditional look, 20-inch for modern farmhouse (our most common), and 24-inch for contemporary/minimalist designs. Each batten gets 2 corrosion-resistant fasteners per 16 inches of length along the board.
Our most common LP Panel order for 2026 is 4-foot by 10-foot ExpertFinish panels in Sand Dunes (the 2026 Color of the Year) with 4-inch by 4/4-profile LP Trim battens at 20 inches on center. Corner boards are 6-inch 4/4-profile. Window and door trim is 4-inch 4/4. That spec runs approximately $18 per square foot installed for material + labor before the custom details. I’ve got 8 modern farmhouse projects in the 2025-2026 pipeline using that exact spec across Crystal Lake, Woodstock, Cary, Algonquin, and Lake in the Hills — the Sand Dunes + Bright White trim combo has become the McHenry County farmhouse standard. For homeowners who want the engineered wood warranty and wind performance without going to fiber cement, it’s the right call.
Other LP SmartSide Products We Install
LP SmartSide covers the full exterior — lap, shakes, panel and trim for board-and-batten. Most projects pair two or more together.
Ready to Build the Modern Farmhouse Look in Engineered Wood?
We come to your home, look at the elevations, talk through the aesthetic — modern farmhouse, contemporary, lake home — and walk you through LP Panel sizes, Trim batten spacing, and ExpertFinish colors. No pressure, no obligation.
Visit Our Crystal Lake Showroom
4410 IL-176, Suite 1, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Mon–Fri 9AM–4PM | Appointments available 24/7 via AI receptionist
380+ Google Reviews · 4.6 Stars · Family-Owned Since 2005
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use LP Panel and LP Trim together for board-and-batten?
Yes — that’s exactly the system. LP SmartSide Panel provides the flat vertical layer, LP SmartSide Trim provides the batten boards. Both products are engineered wood with SmartGuard treatment, ship with ExpertFinish in matching colors, and carry the same 5/50 warranty. Same manufacturer, same material, designed to work together.
What batten spacing is right for my home?
Batten spacing is a visual decision based on architectural era and scale. 16 inches on center reads traditional and historic. 20 inches on center is most common for modern farmhouse and transitional designs. 24 inches on center reads minimalist and clean. We model the spacing on your actual elevation during the in-home consultation before you commit.
How does LP board-and-batten compare to Hardie board-and-batten?
LP is lighter (1.2 vs 2.5 lbs/sqft), has a higher wind rating (200+ vs 130+ mph), and flexes better on impact. Hardie is non-combustible (Class A), has a longer lifespan (50+ vs 20-30 years), and carries a non-prorated warranty with paint AND labor coverage through ColorPlus. For most projects I lead with Hardie. LP is the right call when wind exposure, impact resistance, or engineered-wood preference are the priorities.
Is LP SmartSide board-and-batten fire-rated?
No. LP SmartSide is combustible — engineered wood. Meets building code for exterior wall, but not Class A non-combustible the way Hardie fiber cement is. For homes near wooded lots or in insurance categories that restrict combustible siding, Hardie is the better choice.
What colors work for modern farmhouse?
For a traditional farmhouse palette: Oyster Shell or Bright White panel with contrasting dark trim. For modern farmhouse: Sand Dunes (2026 Color of the Year) or Rich Espresso panel with Bright White corner boards and window trim. For contemporary builds: Coal or Rockwood Brown panel with Pearl Gray trim. 22 ExpertFinish colors plus custom matching if you need an exact match to existing roof or landscape elements.
What’s the warranty on LP Panel and Trim?
Both products carry LP SmartSide’s 5/50 warranty: full materials and labor for Years 1-5, prorated materials only from Year 6-50. ExpertFinish adds a separate 15-year paint warranty on the factory-applied coating. Compare that to Hardie’s 30-year non-prorated warranty and 15-year ColorPlus finish warranty covering both paint AND labor.
