Planning your board and batten layout involves balancing aesthetics and mathematics:

1. Measure Your Space and Materials: Accurately measure the total length of the wall you are covering. You also need the actual width of your boards (e.g., a "1x6" is actually 5.5" wide) and your battens (e.g., a "1x3" is 2.5" wide).
2. Define Your Desired Look: Enter your ideal spacing between the wide boards. This is a starting point for the calculator to work from. Common spacing is between 12 and 18 inches, often designed to align with wall studs.
3. Estimate Board Count: The calculator estimates the number of boards that would get you closest to your desired spacing across the entire wall length.
4. Calculate the Final Layout: Based on the fixed number of boards, the calculator determines the exact, uniform gap between each one. This ensures the pattern is perfectly balanced, with no awkward half-board at the end. The results give you the final numbers you need for your cut list and layout marks.

• Board: The wider, flat vertical planks that form the main surface of the wall.
• Batten: The narrower vertical strips of wood used to cover the seams (gaps) between the boards.
• Gap: The space between two adjacent boards, which is covered by a batten.
• Reveal: The small, visible portion of the board that shows on either side of the batten. A consistent reveal is the hallmark of a professional installation.
• On-Center Spacing: The measurement from the center of one board to the center of the next, or from the center of one batten to the center of the next. This is the most important measurement for marking your layout on the wall.

"The biggest decision in board and batten is the rhythm. Do you want a wide, open look or a dense, textured one? I always tell clients to mock it up. Tack a few boards and a batten to the wall with your desired spacing and stand back. See how it feels in the room before you commit to cutting all your material." - Interior Designer

"For exterior siding, make sure your materials are rated for outdoor use. Also, consider how the battens will interact with windows and doors. You may need to adjust your layout slightly to avoid awkward slivers of board next to a window casing. It's often better to have a slightly inconsistent gap next to a window than to have a tiny, out-of-place piece."

Example 1: A 12-foot (144") accent wall
Using 1x8 boards (7.25" wide) and 1x3 battens (2.5" wide), with a desired gap of around 16".
Estimated boards: `round(144 / (7.25 + 16))` = `round(6.19)` = 6 boards.
Actual gap: `(144 - (6 * 7.25)) / (6 - 1)` = `100.5 / 5` = 20.1".
This is much larger than desired. Let's try 7 boards: `(144 - (7 * 7.25)) / (7 - 1)` = `93.25 / 6` = 15.54". This is much closer to the desired look.

Example 2: Exterior Siding on a 20-foot (240") wall
Using 1x10 boards (9.25" wide) and 1x3 battens (2.5" wide), with a desired gap around 12".
Estimated boards: `round(240 / (9.25 + 12))` = `round(11.29)` = 11 boards.
Actual gap: `(240 - (11 * 9.25)) / (11 - 1)` = `138.25 / 10` = 13.825".
Reveal: `(13.825 - 2.5) / 2` = 5.66" on each side of the batten.

• Using Nominal Lumber Widths: Always use the *actual* measured width of your lumber (a 1x6 is 5.5", not 6").
• Inconsistent Reveals: If the gap between boards isn't uniform, the reveal on either side of the batten will be inconsistent, which is very noticeable.
• Not Starting in the Center: For the most balanced look, find the center of your wall and either center the first board or the first batten seam there, then work outwards.
• Battens Wider Than Gaps: If your battens are wider than the calculated gap, they will overlap the adjacent batten's reveal space, ruining the classic look. Ensure your reveal is a positive number.

• Interior Accent Walls: A popular choice for adding texture and character to bedrooms, living rooms, and entryways.
• Exterior Siding: A classic, rustic siding style for homes, barns, and sheds.
• Wainscoting: Applying the board and batten treatment to the lower portion of a wall.
• Ceiling Treatments: Creating a coffered or paneled ceiling effect.