Steel Board & Batten should be sold as a design upgrade, not simply another siding profile. Learn how contractors can use Gentek steel Board & Batten to create stronger gables, entries, garage sections and two-profile exteriors while building value into the homeowner presentation.

Suburban Wholesale & Supply Siding Sales Academy

How to Sell Steel Board & Batten as an Exterior Upgrade

Steel Board & Batten is more than another siding profile. Used correctly, it can transform a gable, strengthen an entry, break up a large elevation or create an entirely different architectural character. The contractor's job is to help the homeowner see that transformation before discussing the additional price.

There is a weak way to sell Board & Batten:

"We can put Board & Batten in that gable for another $2,000."

Now the homeowner hears only one thing:

$2,000 more.

Instead, show what the upgrade actually does to the house.

"Here's your home with horizontal steel throughout. Now look at this version with steel Board & Batten on the front gable and entry. Which exterior do you prefer?"

That changes the conversation from buying more siding to choosing a better exterior design.

Siding Sales Academy Rule

Sell the transformation first. Price the upgrade second.

Board & Batten Needs a Reason to Be There

Do not automatically put Board & Batten in every gable.

The profile should improve something about the architecture.

Gables

Create vertical emphasis and separate an important gable from the main horizontal field.

Entries

Help establish the front door as the focal point of the elevation.

Garages

Add architectural interest to a large garage projection when the design supports it.

Wall Sections

Use a natural architectural break to create a controlled two-profile exterior.

Ask yourself:

"What is the Board & Batten improving?"

If you cannot answer that question, it may not be an upgrade the house needs.

Do Not Start With Price

Contractors often make the upgrade harder to sell by discussing cost before the homeowner develops a preference.

Weak Presentation	Better Presentation
"Board & Batten costs more."	"Let's first see whether Board & Batten actually improves your house."
"Do you want Board & Batten?"	"Let me show you two versions of your exterior."
"It's an upgrade."	"This changes the front gable into a stronger architectural focal point."

Ask the Most Important Question Before Showing the Price

Sales Question

"If both versions cost the same, which exterior would you choose?"

This separates the design decision from the financial decision.

If the homeowner chooses the Board & Batten design, you have established value.

Now you can explain what it costs to get the exterior they prefer.

Show It—Don't Just Describe It

Board & Batten is highly visual. That makes visualization one of the strongest sales tools available.

Show the homeowner:

Option A

Horizontal steel throughout the house.

Option B

Horizontal steel with one targeted Board & Batten accent.

Option C

A larger two-profile exterior with additional vertical sections.

Gentek provides exterior visualization resources that can help contractors demonstrate different siding profiles and colors. Contractors can also use their preferred exterior design or rendering system to create project-specific presentations.

A homeowner who can see the difference is far more capable of deciding whether the upgrade has value.

Put a Physical Board & Batten Sample on the Table

Do not rely entirely on a brochure or computer screen.

Let the homeowner handle the product.

Place the horizontal steel sample horizontally.
Place the Board & Batten sample vertically.
Compare the different shadow lines.
Discuss the width and scale of each profile.
Compare actual colors and textures.
Take the samples outside and view them in natural light.

"This is what makes the combination interesting. You get the horizontal lines across most of the house and then this completely different vertical rhythm in the areas we want to emphasize."

Know the Gentek Steel Board & Batten Options

Gentek currently provides steel Board & Batten options that can help contractors build different levels of steel siding presentations.

SteelTek Supreme

SteelTek Supreme includes a 12" Board & Batten profile along with horizontal D4, D5 and 8" profiles, giving contractors multiple ways to create a coordinated two-profile steel exterior.

SteelTek Supreme also features Galvalume AZ-50 steel and Kynar PVDF coating technology, making it an important option when the homeowner is considering Gentek's premium steel siding offering.

Explore SteelTek Supreme at Suburban Wholesale

Universal Steel

Gentek Universal provides another steel Board & Batten path, with a 12" vertical Board & Batten profile and Double 5" Dutch Lap horizontal profile.

This gives contractors a profile-driven alternative when the design calls for vertical steel without automatically moving the homeowner into SteelTek Supreme.

Explore Steel Siding at Suburban Wholesale

Important Sales Point

Do not automatically present every Board & Batten job as SteelTek Supreme. Match the product family, profile, finish, color availability and budget to the actual project.

Build Board & Batten Into Good-Better-Best

Board & Batten becomes easier to understand when it is presented as part of a complete exterior package.

GOOD

Horizontal Steel

Quality steel siding throughout the exterior in the selected horizontal profile.

BETTER

Horizontal + Accent B&B

Add Board & Batten to a selected gable, entry or architectural section.

BEST

Premium Two-Profile Design

Build a more complete coordinated exterior using SteelTek Supreme horizontal and Board & Batten profiles where appropriate.

The important point is that each step needs to add something the homeowner can identify.

Never make "Better" or "Best" simply mean more expensive.

Same Color Can Be a Powerful Upgrade

Contractors sometimes assume Board & Batten needs to be a different color.

It does not.

Using the same or closely coordinated color allows the profile change itself to create the visual interest.

Same-Color Approach

Cleaner and more restrained. The change from horizontal to vertical creates the design.

Contrasting-Color Approach

Creates stronger emphasis because both profile and color change. Use it intentionally.

Always compare actual product samples before finalizing the combination. Different coatings, textures, profiles and panel orientations can affect how colors appear.

Don't Overuse the Upgrade

More Board & Batten does not automatically create a more expensive-looking house.

Too many profile changes can make an exterior look busy.

Watch for the "Every Gable" Problem

Front gable. Garage gable. Side gable. Entry. Second story. Every available section does not need Board & Batten. Use it where the architecture gives the profile a reason to exist.

"We're not trying to put the most Board & Batten on your house. We're trying to put it in the right places."

Give the Upgrade a Specific Price

Once the homeowner prefers the upgraded design, make the additional investment easy to understand.

Example Presentation

Horizontal Steel Exterior: $________

Add Steel Board & Batten to Front Gable: + $________

Add Board & Batten to Gable + Entry: + $________

Avoid hiding the upgrade inside one large total.

Let the homeowner see exactly what the additional design costs.

A Simple Kitchen-Table Board & Batten Presentation

1. Establish the Main Siding

Choose the horizontal steel profile and primary color.

2. Identify the Architecture

Find one or two areas where vertical siding could improve the elevation.

3. Show the Transformation

Compare the standard exterior with the Board & Batten version.

4. Establish Preference

Ask which design they would choose if the price were identical.

5. Price the Upgrade

Show the exact additional investment required to get the preferred design.

The 30-Second Board & Batten Sales Script

Siding Sales Academy Script

"Before we finalize the siding, I want to show you one design option. We can keep the house horizontal throughout, or use steel Board & Batten on this front gable to create a stronger focal point. Take a look at both versions. If they were the same price, which one would you choose? If you prefer the Board & Batten version, I'll show you exactly what that design upgrade adds to the project."

What Should a Salesperson Never Say?

Avoid	Say Instead
"Everybody is doing Board & Batten."	"Let's see whether Board & Batten actually improves the architecture of your home."
"We always put it in the gables."	"Let's identify the architectural areas that deserve emphasis."
"It makes the house worth more."	"It can create a more customized exterior design if you prefer the look."
"The upgrade is only $____."	"Here's what the upgrade changes visually, and here's the additional investment."

Siding Sales Academy Takeaway

Don't sell square feet of Board & Batten. Sell the exterior it creates.

Use Board & Batten where it improves the architecture. Show the homeowner the design. Let them compare physical samples. Establish which exterior they prefer. Then explain the additional investment required to build it. That turns Board & Batten from another line item into a meaningful exterior upgrade.

Build Better Siding Presentations With Suburban Wholesale & Supply

Suburban Wholesale & Supply helps contractors throughout the Quad Cities, Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois compare siding profiles, colors, samples and exterior upgrade options.

Visit our Davenport wholesale center to see steel siding options, pick up samples and literature, or talk with our team about building a better homeowner presentation.

Contractors can also explore Gentek SteelTek Supreme and other siding products available through Suburban Wholesale & Supply.

Sell more than siding. Show homeowners what their house can become.

Sources & Contractor Resources

Gentek Building Products — SteelTek Supreme Steel Siding — manufacturer information for SteelTek Supreme profiles, construction, colors and product features.
Gentek Building Products — Product Directory — manufacturer specifications for Gentek steel siding profiles, including Board & Batten options.
Gentek Exterior Visualizer — visualization resource for comparing exterior siding profiles and colors.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply — Gentek SteelTek Supreme — local SteelTek Supreme product information and contractor resources.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply — Steel Siding — steel siding products, samples and contractor support.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply — siding samples, product education, material quotes and contractor support from our Davenport, Iowa wholesale center.

How to Sell Steel Board & Batten as an Exterior Upgrade | Suburban Wholesale Siding Sales Academy