How to Combine ASCEND Plank and Board & Batten on One Home

One of the strongest ways to create a more architectural exterior is to combine horizontal and vertical siding profiles on the same home.

With ASCEND® Composite Cladding, contractors can combine horizontal plank profiles with 12" Board & Batten to create contrast, highlight architectural features and give the exterior more visual depth.

ASCEND currently offers 5" Plank, 7" Plank and 12" Board & Batten profiles, giving contractors several ways to build a coordinated exterior within the same cladding family.

At Suburban Wholesale & Supply, we encourage contractors to think about profile combinations as part of the design process—not as an accessory that gets added at the end of the estimate.

Start With the Architecture of the House

Before deciding where Board & Batten should go, look at the structure itself.

Identify areas where the architecture naturally changes.

Good candidates may include:

• Front-facing gables
• Garage projections
• Entry areas
• Dormers
• Second-story sections
• Bump-outs
• Porches
• Distinct wall sections

The best profile changes usually follow something the architecture is already doing. Randomly stopping horizontal siding in the middle of a wall just to add Board & Batten can make the design feel forced.

Let Horizontal Plank Be the Foundation

On many homes, ASCEND horizontal plank can serve as the primary exterior cladding.

The horizontal lines create continuity across the main elevations and give the home a strong visual base.

Then Board & Batten can be introduced where you want to create contrast or emphasize a specific architectural feature.

This is often easier for homeowners to understand than trying to design every wall differently.

Use Board & Batten to Highlight the Gables

Gables are one of the most natural places to introduce vertical siding.

Horizontal plank across the lower walls establishes one direction, while vertical Board & Batten in the gable creates a clear architectural transition.

The vertical lines also complement the upward shape of a roof peak.

A simple homeowner explanation might be:

"Instead of carrying the horizontal siding all the way into the peak, we can use Board & Batten here to emphasize the height and give the front of the house another layer of architectural detail."

Then use a visualization or project photograph to show the difference.

Use Board & Batten Around an Entry

The front entrance is another strong candidate for a profile change.

A vertical section surrounding an entry can help visually separate the front door from the larger horizontal elevations.

This can become especially effective when the entry also includes:

• A contrasting door color
• Stone
• Decorative lighting
• Wide trim
• A porch roof
• Architectural columns

The goal is to create a coordinated focal point rather than simply inserting another siding profile.

Consider Board & Batten on Garage Projections

Garages often occupy a large portion of the front elevation.

A projecting garage can sometimes feel visually disconnected from the rest of the home.

Using ASCEND Board & Batten on that section while maintaining horizontal plank on the primary structure can create deliberate separation between the two masses.

This approach can be especially effective when the garage already has a distinct roofline or architectural break.

Horizontal Below, Vertical Above

Another design option is to use horizontal ASCEND plank on the lower portion of the home and Board & Batten on an upper story or prominent second-floor section.

This works best when the architecture provides a natural transition point.

A band board, roofline, porch roof or other architectural break can help separate the profiles cleanly.

Do not create horizontal-to-vertical transitions without planning how the profiles and trim will meet. The transition should look intentional from the beginning.

Same Color, Different Profiles

One of the easiest ways to combine ASCEND profiles without making the house overly busy is to use the same color for both horizontal plank and Board & Batten.

The profile change itself creates contrast.

Horizontal lines on one section and vertical lines on another can create enough visual interest without introducing another color.

This approach may work especially well for homeowners who want:

• A clean exterior
• Subtle architectural interest
• A more monochromatic design
• Profile contrast without strong color contrast

It is a simple technique that can make the exterior feel custom without requiring an aggressive color scheme.

Different Profiles and Different Colors

For homeowners who want a stronger transformation, profile and color can both be changed.

For example, a primary horizontal plank color might be paired with a lighter or darker Board & Batten accent.

This can help emphasize:

• Gables
• Entries
• Garage projections
• Upper-story sections
• Dormers

ASCEND currently offers 21 colors, giving contractors a broad palette for developing coordinated combinations.

Contractors should still avoid using color simply because it is available. The combination should support the architecture and the homeowner's overall design goals.

Don't Use Too Many Changes at Once

More options do not automatically create a better exterior.

One of the easiest ways to weaken a siding design is to use too many profiles, colors and materials at the same time.

A house might include:

• Horizontal siding
• Board & Batten
• Stone
• Brick
• Contrasting trim
• A bold entry door
• Dark windows

Each of those elements can work.

The problem begins when every element competes to become the focal point. Good exterior design needs hierarchy.

Pick a Primary Material and an Accent

A simple rule can help keep the design organized:

Decide which profile is primary and which profile is the accent.

On many projects, that might mean:

• Primary: ASCEND 7" Plank
• Accent: ASCEND 12" Board & Batten

On another home, the opposite could work:

• Primary: ASCEND 12" Board & Batten
• Accent: ASCEND horizontal plank

The architecture should determine the answer.

Consider the Scale of the Home

Profile combinations should also fit the scale of the structure.

A large two-story home may be able to support larger areas of contrasting profiles without feeling fragmented.

A smaller ranch may benefit from a more restrained use of Board & Batten, perhaps focusing the vertical profile on one front-facing gable or entry area.

There is no universal percentage of horizontal versus vertical siding that works on every house. Design from the architecture rather than a formula.

Use the Roofline to Guide the Profile Change

Rooflines often tell you where the siding profiles should change.

Look for:

• Gable peaks
• Lower porch roofs
• Garage rooflines
• Dormer roofs
• Second-story transitions

Using these architectural boundaries can make mixed-profile installations feel intentional instead of arbitrary.

Plan the Trim Between Profiles

Contractors should not treat the transition between horizontal plank and vertical Board & Batten as an afterthought.

ASCEND provides accessory options including H-trim, corner posts, lineals and other components that can help complete the exterior.

Before ordering materials, determine:

• Where the profile change occurs
• Which trim component will create the transition
• Whether the trim will match or contrast
• How windows and doors interact with both profiles
• How corners will be handled
• How soffit and fascia colors will coordinate

Contractors can explore ASCEND, siding and exterior accessory options through Suburban Wholesale & Supply when developing the complete material package.

Board & Batten Layout Matters

Once you decide where the Board & Batten will go, layout matters.

ASCEND's installation guidance addresses balanced Board & Batten layouts, including planning the appearance around architectural features and gable peaks.

This is especially important on a mixed-profile exterior because the vertical section is often being used intentionally as a focal point.

Premium material cannot overcome a poorly planned layout. Take the time to determine where the battens will fall before installation begins.

Put Actual Samples Together

Do not ask homeowners to imagine the combination entirely from separate brochures.

Put an ASCEND horizontal plank sample next to a Board & Batten sample.

Then experiment with:

1. Same color, different profile.
2. Different color, different profile.
3. Light horizontal with dark vertical.
4. Dark horizontal with lighter vertical.
5. Matching trim.
6. Contrasting trim.

ASCEND recommends evaluating actual product samples together in their intended orientation and in natural daylight because color and appearance can vary with lighting, viewing angle and profile orientation.

Take the Samples Outside

This becomes even more important when combining profiles.

The same color can appear somewhat different when used on horizontal and vertical surfaces because light reaches those surfaces differently.

Place the samples in their planned orientation outside.

Step back.

Look from several angles.

That small step can help prevent a homeowner from making a major exterior decision based only on a computer screen or indoor color chip.

Use Visualization Before the Homeowner Decides

Profile combinations are ideal candidates for visualization.

ASCEND offers a visualizer that allows contractors and homeowners to explore different product and color combinations on a home.

Create several versions:

1. All horizontal plank.
2. Horizontal plank with Board & Batten gables.
3. Horizontal plank with Board & Batten around the entry.
4. Horizontal plank with a larger Board & Batten front section.
5. Same-color profile combination.
6. Contrasting-color profile combination.

Let the homeowner react to the architecture before discussing which option costs more.

Ask the Homeowner Which Design They Prefer

After showing several concepts, ask:

"If these designs were all the same price, which version of your home do you like best?"

That question temporarily removes price from the decision.

Their answer tells you which exterior they actually want.

Then you can determine what additional material, labor or trim is required to achieve that design and explain the investment honestly.

Sell the Upgrade as a Design Upgrade

Do not present Board & Batten as simply an additional material charge.

Explain what the homeowner is receiving for the additional investment.

"The base project gives you a complete ASCEND horizontal exterior. This option adds Board & Batten to the front gables and entry so we can create the architectural design you preferred."

Now the additional investment has a visual purpose.

Don't Put Board & Batten Everywhere Just Because You Can

Contractors should resist the temptation to overdesign.

If every gable, bump-out, dormer and garage section gets a different treatment, the exterior can lose visual hierarchy.

Sometimes one strong Board & Batten element is more effective than five smaller ones.

Premium design often comes from restraint.

Build Three Exterior Concepts

A strong contractor presentation can give the homeowner three clear design levels.

The homeowner now has three visually different options rather than three prices attached to nearly identical descriptions.

Make the Proposal Match the Design

Once a homeowner selects a mixed-profile exterior, document it clearly.

The proposal should identify:

• Primary ASCEND plank profile
• Board & Batten locations
• Colors for each profile
• Texture selections
• Transition trim
• Corner details
• Window and door trim
• Soffit and fascia selections
• Other exterior accents

The more detailed the design becomes, the more important it is that the proposal, material order and installation crew are all working from the same plan.

Sell the Complete Exterior, Not Two Siding Profiles

This is the larger sales lesson.

Do not say:

"We can add some Board & Batten for an extra charge."

Instead say:

"Let me show you how changing the profile in these areas could completely change the architecture of the front of your home."

One statement sells material. The other sells design.

Build Your ASCEND Design Presentation With Suburban Wholesale & Supply

Contractors sell mixed-profile exteriors more effectively when they have the samples and design tools to show homeowners what is possible.

Suburban Wholesale & Supply supports professional contractors throughout Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, the Quad Cities, Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois with siding products, samples, literature, contractor education, ordering assistance and jobsite delivery.

Learn more about ASCEND Composite Cladding, explore additional siding and exterior products available through Suburban Wholesale & Supply, or visit our Davenport showroom to compare horizontal plank, Board & Batten, colors and exterior design options.

When combining ASCEND profiles, keep the strategy simple: let the horizontal plank establish the home, use Board & Batten to emphasize architecture, control the number of colors and transitions, and show the homeowner the finished design before asking them to evaluate the price.

Sources & Additional Resources

• ASCEND Composite Cladding — official Profiles information for 5" Plank, 7" Plank and 12" Board & Batten.
• ASCEND Composite Cladding — official Color & Design resources, including the 21-color palette, profile combinations and visualizer.
• ASCEND Composite Cladding — official Installation Guide for horizontal plank, Board & Batten and accessory installation.
• ASCEND Composite Cladding — Professional Resources, technical summaries and contractor literature.
• ASCEND Composite Cladding — Installation Resources and profile-specific installation videos.
• Suburban Wholesale & Supply — ASCEND products, samples, contractor education and local distribution support throughout the Quad Cities, Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.