What wood is shiplap made of
Sarah Rodriguez
Published Feb 23, 2026
Shiplap is either rough-sawn 25 millimetres (1 inch) or milled 19 mm (3⁄4 in) pine or similarly inexpensive wood between 76 and 254 mm (3 and 10 in) wide with a 9.5–12.7 mm (3⁄8–1⁄2 in) rabbet on opposite sides of each edge.
What is original shiplap?
Origin Story. Shiplap was originally used to refer to thin wood boards that have two opposing rabbet joints that overlap each other, giving the boards a tight seal to keep the wind and weather out. This overlap creates a little shadow between the boards that make homeowners swoon.
Can I make my own shiplap?
With a table saw and dado blade, you can make your own shiplap siding in no time at all. With the right tools, it’s easy and efficient to make your own shiplap siding. … With the width the same on both sides of your board, you can adjust the reveal between boards when you install the decorative shiplap siding.
What is so special about shiplap?
What is shiplap? … The wooden planks used in shiplap feature a special rabbet cut on the top and bottom, so that the planks can be easily pieced together, like a puzzle. This helps ensure that they not only fit together seamlessly, but — when used outside — they keep water out, too.Why is shiplap so expensive?
Shiplap is made when panels are made to overlap locking together. The cost of one board is somewhere between 0.95$ to 4$ which is considerably expensive. To complete shiplap on one wall may take a lot of panels thus you can end up spending more than just buying some gypsum board.
What is the difference between shiplap and tongue and groove wood?
Shiplap panels overlap, while tongue and groove panels interlock. … Wood often shrinks in dry climates, and shrinkage is less likely to show with shiplap because it overlaps instead of interlocks. Tongue and groove panels may be a better option for very cold climates because they insulate slightly better than shiplap.
Is shiplap same as tongue and groove?
The main difference between shiplap and tongue and groove is in the profile. Once installed, shiplap and tongue and groove look very similar. … During installation, these notches fit together like little steps, so the shiplap planks very slightly overlap, in what is called a rabbet joint.
Is shiplap cheaper than wood?
Installing shiplap, on the other hand, costs approximately $4,000, with most people spending between $2,800 and $7,500. In addition to wood cost, shiplap installation (whether interior or exterior shiplap) will also require stain, paint, or sealant to protect the lumber from weather damage.Is shiplap wood expensive?
Shiplap Costs Shiplap wood prices range between $2.50 and $7.00 per square foot for real boards. On average, shiplap interior installation costs $1,000, with most homeowners spending between $500 and $1,500 for one room. Installing exterior shiplap costs $4,000, with most homeowners spending between $2,800 and $7,500.
Is shiplap more expensive than sheetrock?Shiplap is usually more expensive than drywall. Decent quality shiplap will cost $16-$25 while drywall of equal quality will retail for $12-$15. Since the materials used in drywall are cheaper to produce than those found in shiplap, the overall cost of drywall can be much lower.
Article first time published onCan you use pine boards for shiplap?
Depending on the final look you want, there are a ton of wood options you can use to make shiplap. Almost any 1x material (nominal 3/4″) is a good choice. You can use select grade for a super smooth look or common grade boards, pine, cedar, really any type of solid wood that suites your needs.
Can you use plywood for shiplap?
The most common (and affordable) way to re-create a shiplap look from scratch is to use plywood. Look for ¾-inch AC plywood (which is pre-sanded on one side) and avoid the cheapest variety of plywood (which is rough on both sides and has a tendency to chip).
Can you install shiplap without drywall?
If don’t already have drywall installed, you do not need it as a base for affixing shiplap. You can install shiplap directly to your studs to save on time, money, and mess.
Do you paint shiplap?
You can achieve different levels of rustic charm in a room by painting shiplap with a solid coat, or painting shiplap with a light coat of paint and then randomly sanding the boards to reveal glimpses of the wood underneath.
Do you sheetrock behind shiplap?
You do not need drywall behind shiplap, unless the building codes for the property or the state law requires you to. However, there are the downsides to not having drywall that you’ll need to consider.
Is MDF shiplap any good?
As long as you’re not installing it in high moisture areas like bathrooms, MDF can work very well as a substitute for shiplap. You’ll get a much smoother finish from this material than you will from wood, and it tends to cost around 5 percent less than its wood counterpart.
What is the difference between shiplap and wood planks?
Shiplap actually refers to the cut of the board. … Plank – A planked wall can be made from several different wood sources like pallet wood, fence panels or plain boards. These boards are just stacked on top of each other and are harder to install because they do not fit together.
Is shiplap more expensive than beadboard?
Although, beadboard is more versatile, they are more expensive and labor intensive and time consuming, when it comes to installation. Shiplap boards are fairly easy to install as the planks simply interlock with their adjacent planks.
Is beadboard the same as shiplap?
Shiplap and Beadboard are two very different materials – shiplap refers to wooden boards of the same width with grooves that help each board fit together tightly, while beadboard is a collection of narrow wooden planks of equal size, installed vertically, with grooves between each board (also known as the bead).
Is shiplap more expensive than tongue and groove?
Shiplap is cheaper than tongue and groove, but it requires a bit more work on the carpenter to get the rows to lay flat against the building in a waterproof fashion. … However, a correctly installed exterior of shiplap siding has a finished appearance that appeals to many homeowners.
What kind of shiplap does Joanna Gaines use?
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.
Is MDF shiplap good for bathrooms?
Can shiplap be used in a bathroom? As with any material, you’ll want to consider the suitability of the material for the environment. … Whether made of wood or MDF, you can use shiplap in a bathroom provided you take steps to protect the material.
Do you glue and nail shiplap?
Tip: You can attach your shiplap boards with construction adhesive or nails or both.
What is shiplap siding made of?
Shiplap siding is a type of wooden siding made from board planks.
How much is shiplap cost?
How Much Does Shiplap Cost? Shiplap wood panels fall within the range of $2.50 to $7.00 per square feet plus installation labor costs. You could spend anywhere between $1,200 to $1,700 for a single room of installed Shiplap boards in your home.
Is shiplap hard to install?
Shiplap paneling can add instant character, texture, rusticity and a focal point to any room in your house. It’s affordable and easy to install with just a few basic tools — a saw, level, stud finder, hammer and nails.
Is shiplap still popular?
Shiplap is falling out of fashion. Once used to waterproof boats, shiplap siding became a trendy way to decorate interior walls in the 2010s. … Street added that tile, plaster, rattan, or living walls of plants are becoming more popular this year, instead.
How many shiplap boards do I need?
To calculate the area of this shiplap, we multiply the length and width and then divide by 144 to get the result in square feet. You should then round up to at least 258 boards.
Can you put shiplap on ceiling?
Shiplap on the ceiling is beautiful and elevates the whole room. I personally am not a fan of drywall texture, so having the beautiful flat finish of shiplap looks really gorgeous and eye-catching. Speaking of texture, if you have popcorn ceilings, shiplap is a great (and fast) method for covering it up.
How do you make shiplap out of MDF?
- Get your MDF ready. Cut your MDF into 8″ strips – you can do other widths but we love the look of the 8″. …
- Prep your space. Remove any outlet covers with a small flat head screwdriver (or a butter knife! …
- Nail MDF info the wall. …
- Cut your MDF to the length of the wall. …
- Add spacers to the row. …
- Repeat!
What is planked wood?
A plank is timber that is flat, elongated, and rectangular with parallel faces that are higher and longer than wide. Used primarily in carpentry, planks are critical in the construction of ships, houses, bridges, and many other structures. Planks also serve as supports to form shelves and tables.