Shiplap is an economical interior wall option that complements a variety of styles and is easy to install.
What Defines Shiplap?
Traditionally, shiplap has been used as exterior siding but increasingly is found in homes as a wall treatment.
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Shiplap’s rabbeted grooves are the key feature that defines the board.
The grooves give the product its distinctive lines.
The grooves allow the boards to fit together but be self-spacing, which makes for fast, consistent installation.
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Shiplap’s grooves alternate between top and bottom.
At the top, the groove is hidden and faces the wall.
At the bottom, the groove faces outward or toward the room.
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When boards are placed alongside each other, opposing grooves form a tight, weatherproof bond.
Shiplap is sometimesinstalled on the ceilingas an alternative to drywall ceilings.
Quick Tip
Usually, shiplap is mounted horizontally, though sometimes the boards are placed vertically.
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Creating diamond patterns, chevrons, or squares from shiplap creates texture and interest.
Southern yellow pine was the basis for shiplap sold in Texas and the U.S. Southeast.
Today, most interior shiplap is made from pine, poplar, ormedium-density fiberboard(MDF).
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Exterior shiplap is made of cedar, redwood, pine, composite wood, orfiber-cement.
Shiplap Sizes
Shiplap’s thickness in most cases is nominally 1/2-inch or 1-inch.
Shiplap boards are usually 8 feet long or more.
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Widths range from 4 to 8 inches.
Typical shiplap sizes include one-by-four, one-by-six, and one-by-eight.
These can vary in price depending on the jot down of wood you choose and your location.
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Materials include the shiplap and paint or other surface finish.
Right after the war, though, interest in shiplap wood exploded.
Shiplap was easy to mill, transport, and install.
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Best of all, it was cheap.
By 1960, asmidcentury modernandranch stylesgained in popularity, interest in shiplap wood waned.
By 1970, lower-maintenance materials like vinyl and aluminum dominated the siding market.
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Shiplap wood siding sales flattened.
After a dormant period, shiplap returned as an element to add unique visual interest to interior spaces.
Shiplap and tongue and groove may look similar, but they differ in how they fit together.
Drywall will be less expensive than shiplap when you factor in the cost of materials and installation.
This can also save a homeowner significantly on installation.
McGrail, Sean.Early Ships and Seafaring: Water Transport Within Europe.
Penn & Sword Books, 2014.
