Everlast Board and Batten Reviews: The Siding Savior or Just Hype?
Choosing new siding is a monumental decision for any homeowner. You’re not just picking a color; you’re selecting the protective shield for your home, a key element of its curb appeal, and a feature that you hope will last for decades without demanding constant, costly attention. The endless cycle of scraping, painting, and repairing wood or watching vinyl fade and crack can feel like a homeowner’s curse.
This is the exact problem that sends homeowners searching for a better alternative, a “forever” solution. Everlast Advanced Composite Siding, particularly its popular Board and Batten style, emerges as a premium contender promising an end to maintenance woes. But with a higher price tag comes higher expectations, leaving many to wonder if it truly lives up to the hype.
You'll Learn About
What Exactly Is Everlast Composite Siding?
To understand its performance, you must first understand what it is. Everlast is not vinyl, nor is it fiber cement or wood. It is an advanced composite siding made from a proprietary mixture of inorganic minerals (like stone) and polymer resins, with no wood additives at all. This unique composition is the foundation of its strength and durability.
The surface you see is a highly durable, fade-resistant acrylic layer called ColorHold that is chemically bonded to the core. This isn’t paint that’s been applied to the surface; the color is integral to the material itself. This construction method aims to eliminate issues like peeling, blistering, and chipping, creating a siding panel that is incredibly resilient from its core to its surface.
Aesthetic Appeal: The Modern Farmhouse Dream
The board and batten style has seen a massive resurgence, largely due to the modern farmhouse trend. Everlast’s version features an 11-inch board with a 2-inch integral batten, creating the authentic, textured look homeowners crave. The finish is embossed with a realistic wood grain texture, taken from imprints of actual top-grade cedar planks.
While wood purists may always prefer the real thing, Everlast gets remarkably close without the inherent vulnerabilities of wood. It provides crisp, clean vertical lines that add height and character to a home’s exterior. The result is a high-end appearance that significantly boosts curb appeal without the constant upkeep that natural wood demands.
Performance & Durability: Where It Truly Shines
Aesthetics are important, but siding’s primary job is protection. This is where Everlast’s unique composition provides its most significant advantages, addressing the common failure points of other materials. The performance promises are bold, so let’s break them down.
Unbeatable Water Resistance
Moisture is the ultimate enemy of most siding materials. Wood rots, swells, and warps. Fiber cement, which contains wood pulp and cement, can absorb water if not perfectly sealed, leading to degradation over time. Everlast’s complete lack of organic material makes it virtually impervious to water.
This means it will not absorb moisture, swell, bow, or rot, even in the harshest, most humid climates. For homeowners tired of dealing with water damage, this is perhaps the most compelling benefit. For ultimate protection from the ground up, pairing a water-resistant siding with products that prevent foundation-level moisture issues, like those found when you buy concrete gravel boards, creates a truly resilient home exterior.
Color That Lasts: The End of Painting?
The promise of never painting your house again is a powerful one. Everlast achieves this with its ColorHold® UV-stable acrylic polymer layer. This capstock is engineered to provide exceptional fade resistance, protecting the siding from the sun’s damaging rays for years.
Because the color is infused throughout this top layer, even minor scratches or dings are less noticeable, as there is no different-colored primer or base material to reveal underneath. This technology is a significant step up from vinyl, which can become chalky and fade unevenly over time, and a huge labor saver compared to fiber cement or wood, which require repainting every 7-15 years.
Immunity to Pests and Debris
Since Everlast contains no wood fibers, it offers no food source for termites, carpenter ants, or other wood-boring insects. This eliminates a common and costly problem associated with wood siding. Furthermore, at about a quarter-inch thick, the planks are far more robust than typical vinyl siding.
This thickness provides superior resistance to impact from hail, flying debris, or the occasional stray baseball. The warranty even includes protection against hail damage, offering a level of peace of mind that many other siding warranties do not.
A Clear-Eyed Look at the Cost
There’s no way around it: Everlast is a premium product with a premium price tag. The upfront cost is significantly higher than vinyl and often more than fiber cement. However, a true cost analysis requires looking at the total cost of ownership over the product’s lifespan. The initial investment must be weighed against the long-term savings.
To put it in perspective, it’s helpful to compare it directly with other popular options. When evaluating premium siding, it is wise to compare quotes from various brands; for instance, understanding the Boral siding cost per square foot can provide another benchmark for your composite siding budget.
| Feature | Everlast Composite | Fiber Cement (e.g., Hardie) | Vinyl Siding | Wood Siding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | High | Medium-High | Low | Medium-High |
| Installation Cost | Medium-High | High (heavy, requires special tools) | Low | High |
| Maintenance Needs | Very Low (occasional washing) | Medium (repainting every 7-15 years) | Low (can fade, crack) | High (staining/painting every 3-7 years) |
| Water Resistance | Excellent | Good (requires proper sealing) | Good | Poor (prone to rot) |
| Pest Resistance | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Poor |
| Lifetime Value | Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair |
Installation: Not a DIY Project
Proper installation is critical to the performance of any siding, and Everlast is no exception. While it is lighter than fiber cement and doesn’t produce harmful silica dust when cut, it requires a specific installation methodology. It’s designed as a “floating” system, using an interlocking design and nailing slots to allow for minor expansion and contraction with temperature changes.
This means finding a contractor experienced with Everlast is crucial. An improper installation can void the warranty and lead to performance issues. When planning an exterior remodel, considering all aspects of the wall is important. For instance, if your project involves removing a window, you’ll need a plan for how to cover an unwanted window exterior seamlessly with the new siding, a task best left to a skilled installer.
Real Reviews: The Pros and Cons from Homeowners
After compiling data from contractors and homeowner forums, a clear picture of the benefits and drawbacks emerges. Homeowners consistently praise the siding’s durability and appearance, but the high initial cost is a recurring concern.
What Homeowners and Installers Love
- The “Never Paint Again” Factor: This is, by far, the most celebrated benefit. Homeowners love the freedom from the cycle of costly and time-consuming painting projects.
- Stunning Curb Appeal: Many users report that neighbors and friends mistake it for real wood, praising its authentic texture and rich colors.
- Stands Up to Weather: Reports from areas with harsh weather—be it heavy rain, snow, or intense sun—are overwhelmingly positive about its resilience.
- Peace of Mind: The comprehensive lifetime warranty offers a strong sense of security in the investment.
Potential Drawbacks and Considerations
- High Upfront Investment: The initial cost is the single biggest barrier for most homeowners. It can be several times more expensive than vinyl.
- Finding Qualified Installers: Because it’s a newer, premium product, not all contractors have experience with it, which can make finding a qualified installer challenging in some regions.
- Limited Color Palette: While the available colors are curated and popular, the selection is more limited than the infinite paint colors available for wood or fiber cement.
The Final Verdict: Is Everlast Board and Batten Worth It?
Everlast Board and Batten siding positions itself as a long-term investment in your home’s beauty and durability. It directly solves the most common and frustrating problems associated with other siding materials: maintenance, water damage, and fading.
If your primary goals are to achieve a high-end, modern farmhouse aesthetic, eliminate siding maintenance from your life, and you have the budget for a premium product, then Everlast is an exceptional choice. It represents a commitment to quality and longevity, offering a siding solution that you can install and then simply enjoy for decades to come.
