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August 30, 2019

SHIPLAP MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU THOUGHT

SHIPLAP VS NICKEL GAP, MANUAL GAP BOARDS OR STRAIGHT-EDGE PLANKS

HGTV’s popular show Fixer Upper, which ended in 2018, brought the term shiplap into the public consciousness. The funny thing about shiplap is that what you see on a new farmhouse-style wall is most likely not ship lap at all.

 

Shiplap was originally used for exterior siding. The milling process for edging shiplap boards is to rabbet edges to create a tight and secure joint. The top edge of each board laps over the bottom edges of adjacent boards creating a flush joint. Often, a small gap is left between the boards to give a wall a sense of linear structure. Once the milling technique was applied to interior walls it was mainly used in rural settings to help keep the rain and wind out of leaky buildings. In recent times it was discovered that using this type of joining technique helps to create even and linear patterns on walls that are pleasing to the eye.

FAUX SHIPLAP VS THE REAL DEAL

The shiplap seen on the show are usually boards installed using spacers to create a gap between the rows of boards. You can also use regular straight edge planks with spacers to get the same effect. But there is a better way…

 

Since the gap between the boards has become a very sought after look many have achieved this style by installing either straight-edged boards or shiplap boards using a spacer. The simplest way to achieve this look, by installing nickel gap shiplap boards. The nickel gap is achieved by milling one of the rabbeted edges on the board slightly longer than the other edge.

The Ultimate Guide To Reclaimed Wood has more information on the installation and care of reclaimed wood.