What is the Market for Metal Board-and-Batten Siding?
If you're looking to diversify your metal roofing business, metal board and batten siding might be your answer. This classic barn-style siding is found everywhere from farmhouses to barndominums to urban homes, and contractors are capitalizing on the trend by adding it to their metal roofing and panel manufacturing operations.
/Rick Zand/10 min read
Board-and-batten siding is growing, from traditional wood to composite materials. The metal board-and-batten market is in demand in both high residential and commercial sectors.
Metal has ushered in a new era in siding, and the global metal siding market is projected to grow by an estimated 66% by 2034, from $3.5 billion to $5.8 billion. This trajectory translates to opportunity for contractors positioned to adopt metal siding into their business models.
Metal board-and-batten siding gives roofing contractors and panel manufacturers another product to offer for residential, agricultural, and commercial projects. It combines the traditional board-and-batten appearance with steel or aluminum panels and concealed fasteners. Compatible NTM SSQ II MultiPro and SSQ3 MultiPro machines can fabricate panels with the BB750 board-and-batten profile. Before expanding, evaluate local demand, equipment compatibility, material and labor costs, and installation requirements to determine whether it fits your business.
Board and batten has been around since the 1800s – think classic barn siding with wide vertical boards and narrow strips (battens) covering the seams. It came about for a practical reason: the batten covers the space between the boards to keep out cold and wind. Over time, it became that classic farmhouse look that’s never gone out of style.
In fact, with a surge in mixed-material homes, agricultural structures, and barndominiums, it’s more popular than ever.
Modern metal board-and-batten uses steel or aluminum panels to replicate the traditional look. Each panel has an integrated batten rib that snaps over the edge of the next panel, hiding fasteners and creating that authentic board-and-batten appearance.
The result? You get the classic aesthetic without dealing with rotting wood, warping, or insect infestation.
New Tech Machinery’s board and batten profile produces panels with a 2-inch-wide by ¾-inch-deep batten that covers the nail flange of the neighboring panel, just like traditional wood battens, but built to last decades longer.
If you own an SSQ (dating back to 2014), you’re most of the way there. All you need is to add the profile.
Next, we’ll look at the anticipated growth for metal board and batten.
How is Metal Board and Batten Projected to Grow?
According to Market Research Reports, The global board-and-batten metal panel market is projected to grow from $1.081 billion to $1.457 billion by 2032, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% from 2026 to 2032.
The vertical metal siding market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2026 to 2033 (from $3.2 billion in 2024 to $5.02 billion by 2033), and U.S. metal panel siding demand is projected to increase 1.2% annually to reach 4.3 million squares.
This projection underscores metal siding’s growing appeal over composite, vinyl, and other materials. As the market expands, contractors are finding new opportunities to offer metal board and batten.
Another benefit is versatility of style, which we’ll get to in the next section.
Why Do Customers Choose Metal Board and Batten?
The Style Factor
Metal board and batten isn’t just functional—it’s versatile. You can offer customers everything from rustic farmhouse vibes to sleek modern designs.
With advanced coating technologies like Sheffield Metals WoodCraft® Woodgrain Metal Roofing Colors, you can get realistic woodgrain finishes that are convincing even from close up.
The creativity is in the customization. Since you’re rollforming from coil stock, you can make panels in whatever width and length the job requires. Want to mix narrow and wide panels for that authentic old-barn look? No problem. Need horizontal installation for contemporary flair? You got it.
Metal Siding Performance
Here’s what you can tell your customers about metal siding:
Durability: Steel and aluminum don’t rot, warp, or crack. They survive severe temperature swings that would damage wood siding. And since the battens cover all the fasteners, you don’t have to worry about exposed screws rusting or backing out.
Longevity: This is a big selling point: 50+ years with minimal maintenance. Compare that to wood siding that might need major work every 15-20 years, and you can see why customers are making the switch.
No repainting every few years, no replacing rotted boards, no worrying about termites or woodpeckers. The factory paint finishes are engineered to last, so once it’s up, it’s basically set-and-forget.
Fire Resistance: Non-combustible siding can save your customers up to 20% on their homeowners insurance. In wildfire-prone areas, this isn’t just a nice bonus – it’s becoming a necessity. It’s also worth LEED credits for its sustainability. Plus, metal is 100% recyclable forever.
How Siding Materials Compare
A look at the material challenges and features
Swipe horizontally to view the full comparison.
Comparison of wood, aluminum, vinyl, fiber cement,
and seamless steel siding from the presentation.
Siding Material
Challenge or Defining Feature
On the Wall
Wood
Rot and repainting
Scrape, prime, repaint, prone to rot regardless.
Aluminum
Dents and chalk
Thin gauge dented; finish chalked off.
Vinyl
Cracks and fade
Brittle in cold, color washed out on the south-facing side.
Fiber cement
Maintenance and dust
Silica dust, heavy boards, sealant, painting, maintenance.
Seamless steel
Rolled on site
Cut to wall length, no painting, integrated battens, no seams.
