How to install vertical shiplap

Once you have all the vertical shiplap installed, reinstall the baseboard and crown (if applicable) and fill in all the nail holes, and caulk all the edges. Tip—make sure you do not skip this step! This is the key to a professional result.

Shiplap is commonly installed horizontally, but it can also be installed vertically or in a unique pattern. When weighing the pros and cons, you’ll want to consider the size of the space, ceiling height, and your interior design style.

Heightens the Room

Vertical shiplap can trick the eye. It can make a room appear taller than it is. If you have a space with low ceilings, vertically installed shiplap is a fantastic choice to give the illusion of taller ceilings.

Shiplap is falling out of fashion.

Street added that tile, plaster, rattan, or living walls of plants are becoming more popular this year, instead.

So if you are installing vertical shiplap as a somewhat temporary wall treatment, you may not want to use Liquid Nails. I did not want to chance it so I chose to install the furring strips instead.

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.

Shiplap can be installed directly to sheet rock/drywall. Simply mark the stud locations for nailing the shiplap or you can apply a construction adhesive such as liquid nails. Use a nail gun with 18 gauge 1 3/4”long brad nails.

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. They can also be easily covered or touched up if needed.

Going from the bottom up is the way to go! Whether you are using tongue and groove boards or true rabbit edge shiplap – the process is the same. Once the next level board is in place insert a few of the paint sticks for an even gap between the two boards.

The 15 to 18 gauge is the right nail size for shiplap with a recommended length of 1.25” or 1.75”. This is long enough to penetrate the shiplap and hold it to the wall, but short enough not to go too deep and hit conduits or electric lines in most homes.

When nailing your shiplap boards to the wall, it’s best to attach them to the vertical studs of your wall. Use a stud finder to determine where your wall studs are. Tip: You can attach your shiplap boards with construction adhesive or nails or both.

Does Shiplap Go Over Drywall? You don’t have to put your shiplap over drywall if there isn’t existing drywall already in place. However, if you are simply remodeling a room, you can certainly put shiplap over existing drywall.

You can install shiplap directly to studs, it requires less equipment, and makes the process slightly easier. With no drywall, you can see the frame directly, and don’t need a detector to find the studs for you.

Stagger the Planks.

For best appearance, stagger the end joints as you work your way up and down the wall, so that the end joints do not match up from row to row. TIP: To accomplish this look and minimize the waste of plank material, use your cut-off piece from one row to start the next row.

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.