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The Daily Insight

Should you fill nail holes on shiplap

Author

Olivia Owen

Published May 12, 2026

If you are affixing shiplap using nails, simply place the board in position, and drive nails through the flange, and the face of the board. Afterwards, you’ll need to fill the nail holes on the face of each board with wood filler to create a seamless appearance.

How do you hide your nails on shiplap?

To make sure boards are evenly spaced, place a nickel or quarter between the boards as a spacer. Some people like the look of visible nail heads on shiplap. To avoid visible nail holes, nail boards through the rabbet or tongue. Don’t feel that you have to apply shiplap to an entire wall.

Should you caulk shiplap?

The edges of the shiplap wall need to be caulked (with paintable caulk) wherever there is molding and then they need to be “cut in” with the paint brush. For my wall, we caulked the gaps along the inside wall corners (where we installed quarter round molding), the floor molding, and the top crown molding.

How do you fill gaps in shiplap?

Fill Shiplap Seams With Caulk To create a seamless look, you’ll want to make sure any gaps and edges are filled in with caulk, just like you would fill in nail holes with wood filler when affixing shiplap. Caulking the edges will create clean lines and a finished look.

Do you need to face nail shiplap?

We always recommend face nailing shiplap and tongue and groove when installing it on your walls, ceiling, and as exterior siding. Face nailing means that you shoot your nail at a 90 degree angle to the board through the flat (or face) of the board.

Should I start shiplap from top or bottom?

You can start applying shiplap either at the top or at the bottom of your wall. If you start at the bottom, gravity will work for you. If you start at the top, you’ll have to prevent each board from falling before you nail it in place.

Do you put trim on shiplap?

Install your faux shiplap before anything else in the room – meaning baseboard, crown, and trim. … Start your shiplap above your baseboards. If you have trim, very carefully notch out your shiplap with a saw and use wood filler/caulk to fill in the remaining gaps. No one will even notice from a distance!

How do you caulk and paint shiplap?

After installing the shiplap, or if they are already installed, clean the nail holes and fill with paintable caulk or spackle. Once the caulk or spackle is dry, sand the surface lightly. Roll or brush on a final coat of paint, using the small paintbrush to make sure the nail holes and grooves are covered.

Does shiplap expand and contract?

True shiplap boards are wooden boards that have a rabbited edge on either side. … One of shiplaps best qualities is that because it is wood, it expands and contracts. This keeps it from cracking, unlike drywall or plaster, which can form hairline fractures when forced to expand or shrink.

What sheen of paint do you use on shiplap?

Matte or flat are 2 of the most popular paint sheen choices for shiplap. Eggshell is the finish I prefer. Its easier to clean and only has a slight sheen to it. Prep the shiplap boards by making sure all the boards are sanded smooth for the ideal paint application.

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Do you put baseboard on shiplap wall?

Keep your baseboards, and install shiplap boards that are equal to or have a shallower depth. This way, your shiplap can rest atop your baseboards and won’t stick out. Use whatever shiplap you want and ignore differences in depth where the planks meet the baseboard.

Can I use a brad nailer for shiplap?

A finish nailer or brad nailer is the easiest and most efficient tool to use when installing your new shiplap or tongue and groove. They can be purchased/rented relatively cheaply from your local hardware store, they’re lightweight, and are simple enough that a 12 year old can use them!

Do you screw or nail shiplap?

Nails are the best options when installing shiplap cladding. Trim nails are faster to install than screws since you do not need to predrill the material and won’t be risking causing unsightly splits.

What type of nails do you use for shiplap?

Use standard or painted trim nails (15 or 16 gauge). Fastener length should be long enough for 1 1/4″-1 1/2″ of penetration into solid wood. Nail through the top flange.

Do you caulk corners of shiplap?

If you’re using natural wood shiplap that you’re going to either leave raw or stain, then you may not wish to finish it quite the same way. It’s up to you. After all your shiplap is installed, run a bead of caulk around all seams where the shiplap terminates to a wall, or along inside corners.

Do you nail shiplap on every stud?

Once each board is in place, put a single nail at every other stud about an inch above the gap in the newly placed board. Be sure to nail on the same studs that you nailed the first board to, so that the nail pattern is consistent.

What does Joanna Gaines use for shiplap?

Joanna uses natural wood shiplap as wainscoting in this home’s living room. You can also create a taste of rustic style by adding wooden box awnings over your home’s windows, like Joanna Gaines did in this Craftsman-style living room.

Can you put up shiplap without a nail gun?

If not using a finish nailer, you need a hammer and nails. Cordless Circular Saw or Miter Saw and a safe place to cut it (work table or saw horses for a circular saw or work table or other stationary place for your miter saw). You may also need a jigsaw (see Step 3) but can easily complete this without it.

What causes shiplap to buckle?

Boards can be exposed to rain, humidity and other climate factors that affect the total moisture content of the boards. This unbalanced exposure can cause the once flat boards to deteriorate in the form of: Bowing: warping along the length of the face of the wood.

How do you seal shiplap walls?

You can also apply a clear coat sealer to the boards to give them an additional layer of moisture protection. This is not necessary if you are using our prepainted shiplap boards, but we do recommend applying wood sealant on any exposed edges or seams to ensure moisture resistance.

Do you paint shiplap semi gloss?

The Best Paint Sheen for Shiplap If your shiplap is in a high-traffic or moisture-filled room (like an entryway or bathroom) then semi-gloss is the way to go. For a place where it won’t get much contact and you don’t want it to have any shine, choose eggshell or flat.

Is shiplap already painted?

How to Create a Shiplap Feature Wall in Just a Weekend. … The shiplap boards are already primed and painted a Polar-White color, perfect for any decor scheme. There’s no paint prep, or paint to clean up—just install and you’re done!

Can you paint shiplap with a roller?

If you don’t have a paint sprayer, you can still paint shiplap with a paint brush and roller. Simply buckle in for a good chunk of time commitment.

Should shiplap be same color as trim?

If you have other molding in the room (e.g. base molding, doors/door trim, windows, etc.), then I would do it the same color for consistency. You may however want to do a different sheen for this other trim.

Where do you put nails in shiplap?

Place a nail through the top and bottom of each shiplap board where it crosses a stud. Use adhesive to glue the board down first or ask a partner to help you hold it in place.