Shake, board-and-batten and stone accents can turn a basic siding proposal into a complete exterior design conversation. Contractors can introduce these upgrades by using the home's architecture, physical samples, project photos and visualization to show homeowners where accent materials add contrast, texture and architectural interest without overwhelming the exterior.
Suburban Wholesale Siding Sales Academy
How to Introduce Shake, Board-and-Batten and Stone Accents
One of the easiest ways to turn a basic siding estimate into an exterior design presentation is to show the homeowner what can happen when more than one material, profile, or texture is used on the house.
A gable does not necessarily have to receive the same horizontal siding as the wall below it. The front entry does not necessarily have to disappear into one large field of siding. A porch, garage, bump-out, or lower wall may offer an opportunity for a carefully selected accent.
Shake, board-and-batten, and manufactured stone or composite stone products give contractors additional design tools—but the goal is not to cover every available surface with a different product.
The best accent does not compete with the house.
It helps the homeowner notice an architectural feature that was already there.
Do Not Start by Asking, “Do You Want an Accent?”
Many homeowners do not know what a siding accent is, what products are available, or where an accent would look appropriate on their particular home.
A better approach starts during the exterior inspection.
Look at the architecture and identify areas that naturally deserve attention.
Look Up
Gables
A front-facing gable can be an excellent location for a change in profile, texture, or color.
Look at the Entry
Porches & Bump-Outs
A defined architectural section can sometimes support a secondary cladding without making the design feel random.
Look Down
Lower Walls & Foundations
Certain stone products may create a visual base when the architecture and installation conditions support the treatment.
Homeowner conversation:
“Before we decide to put the same siding everywhere, I want to show you three areas of your house where we could introduce a little more architectural interest. You may prefer the simpler design, but I think you should see the options before we finalize it.”
Three Accent Families Every Siding Salesperson Should Understand
Shake, board-and-batten, and stone do not create the same visual effect. That is why they should not be presented as interchangeable upgrades.
Texture
Shake
Shake-style products introduce additional texture, shadow, and the visual character associated with individual cedar-style pieces.
Think: texture + character.
Direction
Board & Batten
Board-and-batten introduces strong vertical lines that contrast naturally with horizontal siding and can emphasize height.
Think: vertical + clean.
Material Contrast
Stone
Stone-style cladding can introduce a completely different visual texture and help create a stronger base, entry feature, column treatment, or other defined architectural accent.
Think: texture + weight.
Shake changes the texture.
Board-and-batten changes the direction.
Stone changes the material character.
Option #1: Introduce Shake as a Texture Upgrade
Shake works well in a sales presentation because the homeowner can immediately see that it is different from conventional horizontal siding.
Gentek's Fairhaven Sound Single Select line, for example, includes Traditional Shake, Cape Cod Shingle, Hand-Split Shake, and Scallop profiles. Those products are manufactured from polypropylene and use different exposures, textures, and edge treatments to create distinct architectural appearances.
Traditional Shake
A cedar-inspired shake appearance with a 7-inch single exposure.
Hand-Split Shake
A deeper cedargrain texture with a staggered lower edge and 9-inch exposure.
Cape Cod Shingle
A more uniform shingle appearance with a double-course profile.
Scallop
A rounded profile that creates a noticeably different decorative character.
Do not start by reading specifications. Put the shake sample beside the main siding sample and ask the homeowner what they notice.
“This gives us a different texture without necessarily changing the entire house. One place we could test this is your front gable. Would you like to see what that looks like?”
Where Shake Accents Often Make Sense
Front Gable
A defined triangular area can provide a natural transition point.
Dormer
A smaller architectural feature may benefit from additional texture.
Entry Feature
A defined wall around an entry can sometimes become a focal area.
Garage Gable
A large visible gable can provide another location for profile contrast.
The operative word is defined. An accent generally works better when the architecture gives you a logical place to start and stop it.
Option #2: Introduce Board-and-Batten as a Change in Direction
Board-and-batten creates a different design effect because it changes the direction of the exterior lines.
PEPA describes board-and-batten as a vertical siding style based on alternating wide and narrow elements. When used above horizontal siding, that vertical orientation can create immediate contrast even when the color remains similar.
Main Wall
Horizontal
← ← ← ← ←
Accent Area
Vertical
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
Result
Profile Contrast
Two directions, one design
That makes board-and-batten particularly easy to demonstrate on gables, entry sections, garage projections, and other vertically oriented architectural areas.
Board-and-Batten Gives You More Than One Product Conversation
Do not assume that every board-and-batten accent has to be the same material as the main siding.
Depending on the project, manufacturer, availability, and budget, a contractor may be able to compare vinyl board-and-batten with a premium composite option.
Design Direction
Vinyl Board & Batten
Can provide the vertical profile change while remaining within a vinyl siding package.
Verify current profile, color, accessory, and installation compatibility for the exact product being quoted.
Premium Direction
ASCEND Composite Board & Batten
ASCEND currently offers a 12-inch Board & Batten profile with a 10-inch board and integrated 2-inch batten, providing another premium vertical-cladding option.
ASCEND's current profile family also includes 5-inch and 7-inch horizontal plank options, allowing contractors to explore mixed-profile composite designs.
Do not sell “board-and-batten” as though it were one product.
First sell the design idea. Then help the homeowner choose the material and product that fit the project.
Option #3: Introduce Stone as Material Contrast
Stone creates a different conversation because the visual contrast is not simply a new siding profile.
It can introduce a stone appearance alongside siding, shake, or composite cladding.
TandoStone, for example, includes products such as Stacked Stone and Creek Ledgestone. The manufacturer also provides dedicated corners, sills, and installation guidance for transitions involving stone and other cladding products.
Visual Effect
Texture
Stone introduces a surface appearance that is intentionally different from traditional siding profiles.
Design Effect
Visual Weight
Used thoughtfully, stone can visually anchor a lower wall, entry feature, or another defined architectural section.
Sales Effect
Contrast
The homeowner can compare a one-material exterior with a design that combines complementary textures.
Where to Test a Stone Accent
Stone should not be scattered randomly across an elevation simply because an accent is available.
Look for architectural areas that can visually support the change.
Lower Wall
Front Entry
Porch
Columns
Defined Projection
“Rather than putting stone everywhere, I would start by testing it here around the entry. That gives us one strong focal area without making the exterior too busy.”
Use the Architecture to Decide Which Accent to Show
Do not dump three sample boxes onto the kitchen table and ask the homeowner to design the house from scratch.
Use your exterior inspection to edit the choices first.
| Architectural Opportunity | Shake | Board & Batten | Stone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Gable | Strong option for texture | Strong option for vertical contrast | Usually evaluate carefully before using |
| Entry Wall | Possible focal texture | Possible vertical feature | Possible material contrast |
| Lower Wall | Less common design direction | Project dependent | Natural area to evaluate |
| Dormer | Can add texture | Can add vertical emphasis | Usually requires careful design review |
| Column / Porch Base | Project dependent | Project dependent | Natural area to evaluate |
These are design starting points, not rules. The architecture, dimensions, transitions, manufacturer requirements, and homeowner's preferences should determine the final design.
Use the “One Accent First” Rule
When homeowners discover all the possibilities, it can be tempting to combine everything.
Be Careful
Horizontal siding + shake + board-and-batten + stone + contrasting corners + contrasting window trim + multiple accent colors can become visually busy very quickly.
Start with the main siding. Then add one accent in one logical location.
1. Main Siding
2. One Accent
3. Evaluate
4. Coordinate Trim
5. Add Only if Needed
An accent should create hierarchy—not clutter.
Show the Homeowner Three Versions of Their House
This is where visualization can completely change the presentation.
Gentek's Visualizer allows contractors and homeowners to explore siding, trim, roofing, windows, doors, and other exterior selections on a digital home or uploaded photograph. Gentek products are also available through HOVER for measurement, design, and visualization workflows.
Design A
Clean & Consistent
Main siding across the applicable elevations with coordinated trim.
Design B
Architectural Accent
Main siding plus shake or board-and-batten in one selected feature area.
Design C
Complete Exterior
Main siding plus a carefully selected accent, premium trim details, and stone where the architecture supports it.
Do not ask, “Do you want to spend more?”
Ask, “Which version of your house do you like better?”
Let the Homeowner Compare Actual Samples
Visualization helps with placement. Physical samples help with texture, color, and scale.
Gentek specifically recommends using actual product samples for final color decisions because screen displays can vary. The manufacturer also recommends viewing samples together, in their intended orientation, outdoors in natural daylight.
Main Siding
Establish the base color.
Accent Sample
Add texture or profile contrast.
Trim Sample
Connect corners and openings.
Existing Material
Compare against brick, roof, stone, or windows that remain.
Digital narrows the choices. Physical samples confirm them.
Color Should Connect the Materials
Once multiple materials enter the design, color discipline becomes more important.
Begin with materials that are staying on the house: roofing, brick, masonry, window colors, and other permanent elements.
Then build the new palette around them.
Palette 1
Tone-on-Tone
Use profile and texture changes while keeping the colors relatively close.
Palette 2
Controlled Contrast
Use one clearly different accent color while coordinating the trim across the design.
Palette 3
Material Contrast
Let stone or another material provide the major texture change while keeping siding and trim colors disciplined.
The more materials you introduce, the fewer unrelated colors you usually need.
Use Accent Materials to Build Good-Better-Best Packages
Accent products fit naturally into a package presentation because the homeowner can see exactly what is being added as the exterior becomes more detailed.
| Design Element | Essential | Enhanced | Signature Exterior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Siding | Quality siding selection | Quality or premium siding selection | Premium siding or cladding selection |
| Accent Area | Main siding continues | One shake or board-and-batten feature | Designed mix of compatible accent materials |
| Stone | Existing conditions remain as scoped | Optional | Selected focal area where appropriate |
| Trim | Proper compatible details | Coordinated trim package | Architectural trim package |
| Visualization | Core selections | Accent comparison | Complete exterior design |
| Project Investment | $XX,XXX | $XX,XXX | $XX,XXX |
The homeowner is not choosing between a “bad house” and a “good house.” They are choosing how much architectural detail they want to include in the project.
Or Price the Accent Separately
If the homeowner has already selected the main siding package, make the accent decision simple.
Selected Siding Project
$XX,XXX
Complete base project using the selected siding and specified trim package.
Optional Architectural Accent
+$X,XXX
Specified shake, board-and-batten, or stone accent area including applicable materials, accessories, transitions, and additional labor.
The homeowner can now remove the accent without changing the integrity of the core siding project.
Price the Transition—not Just the Accent Panel
One of the easiest estimating mistakes is calculating the square footage of the accent material and assuming the upgrade is finished.
Changing profiles or materials creates transitions.
| Estimate | What Needs to Be Considered? |
|---|---|
| Accent Material | Actual area, product coverage, waste, cuts, and ordering units |
| Transitions | Where horizontal, vertical, shake, stone, or other materials meet |
| Accessories | Compatible starter, channels, trim, corners, sills, finish components, or manufacturer-specific accessories |
| Water Management | Required flashing and drainage details for the specific transition |
| Labor | Additional layout, cutting, detailing, and installation time |
| Delivery | Additional cartons, accessories, handling, and jobsite logistics |
An accent is only profitable when the complete accent assembly is quoted.
Transitions Need to Be Designed Before the Material Is Ordered
The line where one material stops and another begins is not an afterthought.
PEPA's installation guidance specifically addresses transitions between horizontal and vertical siding, including receiving channels, flashing, drainage, and clearance requirements. Specialty products such as shakes should also follow the specific manufacturer's installation instructions.
Stone and composite products have their own installation and transition requirements as well.
Do not sell the picture without figuring out the transition.
Before the proposal is finalized, know how the materials meet, which accessories are required, how water is managed, and whether the design complies with the applicable manufacturer instructions and project requirements.
Proper Installation Is Not an Upgrade
A homeowner should never have to purchase the premium package to receive proper flashing, fastening, clearances, water management, or manufacturer-required installation.
Required
Professional Installation
- Proper substrate preparation
- Required WRB and flashing details
- Compatible accessories
- Correct fastening
- Required expansion and contraction allowances
- Properly detailed material transitions
Optional
Architectural Upgrade
- Shake accent
- Board-and-batten accent
- Stone feature
- Contrasting accent color
- Premium composite profile
- Additional architectural trim
Do Not Oversell the Accent
Accents should be sold primarily on the design difference they create unless you are discussing a documented product characteristic of the exact material being quoted.
| Avoid Saying | Better Explanation |
|---|---|
| “You need shakes to make the house look good.” | “The horizontal siding works well. The shake gives us another design direction if you want more texture in this area.” |
| “Board-and-batten is always more expensive and better.” | “Board-and-batten changes the profile and creates vertical emphasis. We can compare products and installed costs.” |
| “Stone makes the house worth more.” | “Stone changes the material character and may create a stronger focal area. Whether you value that design difference is your choice.” |
| “Everybody is doing this now.” | “Let's see whether this design actually fits your house.” |
| “We can figure out the transition during installation.” | “We'll identify the transition and required accessories before the package is ordered.” |
A Five-Minute Accent Presentation
“Before we put the same horizontal siding everywhere, I want to show you one other possibility.”
“Your front gable is already a separate architectural feature, so it gives us a natural place to change the design if you want to.”
“This is a shake option. It gives the gable more texture.”
“This is board-and-batten. Instead of changing primarily through texture, this changes the direction from horizontal to vertical.”
“And if we wanted a stronger material contrast, we could evaluate a stone accent in a different area, such as the entry or lower wall.”
“I would not necessarily use all three. I want to find the one treatment—if any—that makes the most sense for your house.”
“Let's look at a few versions of your home and see which one you prefer.”
“If you like one of the accent designs, I'll price the complete installed difference separately.”
Build an Accent Sample Kit
If your salespeople are expected to offer accents, give them more than a photograph in a brochure.
✓ Main horizontal siding sample
✓ Shake sample
✓ Board-and-batten sample
✓ TandoStone or applicable stone sample
✓ Coordinating corner sample
✓ Window-trim sample
✓ Current color charts
✓ Manufacturer brochures
✓ Transition/accessory examples where practical
✓ Exterior photographs from the inspection
✓ Visualization tool
✓ Good-better-best proposal templates
Do not carry 40 random samples into the home.
Carry a deliberate set of products that lets you demonstrate the design directions you actually sell.
Use HOVER to Make the Accent Real
A small sample tells the homeowner what the product looks and feels like. It does not automatically show what a full gable or entry will look like.
Gentek's contractor resources highlight HOVER as a tool for measurement, design, photo-real visualization, takeoffs, and material-list workflows. That makes it particularly useful when presenting accent areas.
Capture
Document the exterior and relevant architectural areas.
Design
Test the accent on the actual home.
Compare
Show multiple exterior directions.
Quote
Connect the chosen design to a complete project scope.
The sample explains the product. The rendering explains the design.
Bring the Homeowner Into the Showroom
Combining siding, shake, board-and-batten, stone, corners, window trim, soffit, fascia, and colors can become difficult on a kitchen table.
That is where a showroom becomes part of the sales process.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply's Davenport showroom allows contractors and their customers to compare siding colors, textures, stone-and-siding combinations, trim details, and other exterior options in a larger setting.
See
Compare larger samples and exterior displays.
Coordinate
Build siding, accent, trim, and color combinations together.
Verify
Confirm products, accessories, availability, and project details before ordering.
Use Your Distributor Before the Sale
Accent projects can involve more product coordination than a straightforward single-profile siding job.
Before promising a particular design, contractors should confirm current product availability, colors, profiles, accessories, transition details, installation requirements, and lead times.
Do not use your distributor only to buy the material after the sale.
Use your distributor to help build a better project before the sale.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply can help contractors work through siding, shake, board-and-batten, composite cladding, stone, trim, accessory packages, samples, and project ordering before the proposal is finalized.
The Accent Sales Checklist
✓ Photograph the home's architectural features
✓ Identify logical start-and-stop points
✓ Choose the main siding first
✓ Introduce only relevant accent options
✓ Show actual shake samples
✓ Show actual board-and-batten samples
✓ Show stone samples when appropriate
✓ Compare the materials with permanent house colors
✓ Use visualization to test placement
✓ Keep the number of accents disciplined
✓ Design transitions before ordering
✓ Verify manufacturer compatibility
✓ Include accessories and labor in the estimate
✓ Keep required installation in every package
✓ Price the complete installed upgrade
✓ Let the homeowner choose
The Bottom Line: Accents Give Homeowners Another Way to Say Yes
Many homeowners begin a siding appointment believing the only decisions are siding color and price.
A professional contractor can show them that the project may include much more design flexibility.
Shake can introduce texture. Board-and-batten can introduce vertical contrast. Stone can introduce another material character. Premium trim can connect those elements into a coordinated exterior.
The goal is not to load the project with upgrades.
The goal is to show the homeowner what is possible, narrow the choices based on the architecture, demonstrate the differences, and let the homeowner decide how far they want to take the design.
Start with the house.
Find the feature.
Show the accent.
Then let the homeowner decide whether that design belongs on their home.
Build Better Accent Packages With Suburban Wholesale & Supply
Suburban Wholesale & Supply helps contractors compare horizontal siding, shake profiles, board-and-batten, ASCEND Composite Cladding, stone accents, window trim, outside corners, soffit, fascia, insulation, and complete accessory packages.
Bring your project measurements, photographs, HOVER model, or customer to the Davenport showroom and let the Suburban Wholesale team help you build a complete exterior package before the order is placed.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply
3602 North Harrison Street
Davenport, Iowa 52806
563-391-4000
Part of: Selling Siding & Windows
More in Selling Siding & Windows
- How to Use Gentek Steel as an Accent Instead of Siding the Entire House | Suburban Wholesale Siding Sales Academy
- How to Sell Steel Board & Batten as an Exterior Upgrade | Suburban Wholesale Siding Sales Academy
- How to Present Exterior Design Upgrades Before Discussing Price
- How to Sell Wider Corner Posts as a Design Upgrade
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