Expert Tips on DIY Shiplap from a Contractor

DIY Shiplap: how to install DIY shiplap with our expert tips from a contractor and what tools to use to make ackward cuts.

Welcome to Week Three of the One Room Challenge!  I can’t believe we’re already half way through, although I have to say I can’t wait to get my main floor back to normal.  If you missed it click here for  Week One our Rustic Scandinavian design plan and inspiration, or Week Two where we painted the rooms.

Add Texture With DIY Shiplap

This week we installed DIY Shiplap on a feature wall in the living room.  When I was designing the room, I was a little worried that all the white might be a little boring, so I knew I had to add in layers of texture to add interest and warmth to the space.  Shiplap has the perfect Rustic Scandinavian feel -although we’re used to seeing it used in the Modern Farmhouse look, it’s definitely at home in Scandi decor too.  

I was a little nervous about DIYing it myself, but my friend Kim of Kim Power Style has installed it herself in her beautiful Modern Coastal Cottage home and she talked me through the whole process.  

I decided to give it a try -although I was a little worried about all the crazy cuts and angles around the fireplace and stairs.  We wanted the shiplap on the feature wall, but since the fireplace is in the corner, I had to wrap it around that small wall too.

I chatted about it with my brother-in-law Shaun, who has his own company Benjamin Woodworks, and got a few pointers and suggestions from him.  By the end of the conversation though, he was volunteering to come and put it up for me.  He’s truly the best.  

So we made a date for Easter Sunday for the install and my family all hung out and cooked a turkey together while he worked on the wall, and I chipped in where I could.  Here’s a before shot of the space.

Shaun did an amazing job, and as he worked I gathered a few tips from the expert in case I ever want to try it on my own, or in case you’ve been thinking about doing DIY Shiplap in your home.

Materials

• RevolutionPly Plywood -cut into planks
• 1 1/4 ” brad nails
• 18 gauge brad nail gun
• level
• 1″ utility knife
• level
• caulk
• filler for nail holes
• fine sandpaper
• paint and primer

How To Install DIY Shiplap

Pre-cut at the Hardware Store

1.  I looked at a few tutorials and took the advice of my friend Kim and decided to use 5.2 mm RevolutionPly Plywood to create the planks.

It was the cheapest option and looked great everywhere I saw it used.   I had the wood pre-cut before so it was all ready for Shaun to install.

We had the plywood cut into planks at the hardware store.  They have a big machine that insures straight cuts, and is quite quick.  

We had them cut  into 5 7/8 inch strips, so that with the gap in-between they’d be 6 inches.  One little tip -make sure to keep your off cuts separate, you don’t want to mix them in by mistake and mess up your whole pattern when you’re installing them.

Start At The Bottom

2.  When you begin to install the shiplap on your wall start at the bottom with a level board.  Our baseboard was surprisingly level so we didn’t have to adjust ours at all.  But if yours is out a bit, make sure you get the top of that first board level.  Start as you want to go.

We used the width of the board as a spacer, giving us 3/16″ gaps.  Be sure to keep checking occasionally that your boards are still level as you go up the wall.

3.  We went with a staggered board pattern, and nailed them in with 1 1/4″ brad nails using an 18 gauge brad nail gun.  This made the project go fairly quickly.  Try and nail into the studs.  You can find them with a stud finder and mark the wall if you need too.  An expert tip, the outlets will be attached to studs, so start your search there.  The studs will be equally spaced.

Easy To Cut With A Utility Knife

4.  We cut the boards to length with a simple utility knife.  Shaun said that the thin boards might be damaged with the up and down motion of a big  saw, so he cut them using a set square for a straight edge, and a 1 inch utility knife -scoring a few times, and sanding off any rough edges.  If you were worried about having to use a big saw for this project, you can do it with a simple utility knife.

Adjust Outlet Boxes

5.  I didn’t know this, but with the switch plate cover removed you can adjust the depth of you outlet boxes, with two simple screws.  Shan adjusted them slightly so that they’d be flush with the new wall treatment.

Use A Compass To Scribe

6.  If you have some tricky cuts around something like a fireplace, like we did, here’s how the experts do it.  Use an everyday geometry compass to scribe your difficult cut on to the wood.  Set the compass, and then run the metal piece along the profile of the trim and use the pencil to transfer it to your wood.

Shaun used a jigsaw to cut out these more difficult cuts, and then smoothed the edges with a file.  Another expert tip, draw it out and cut it  first on a scrap piece of wood.  When you’re happy with the fit, use it as a pattern and trace it on to the good board.  If you’re working around a fireplace like we were, both sides should be the same, so you should be able to re-use your pattern piece.

How To Use A Carpenters Sliding Bevel

7.  We had some funky angles along the trim on the stairs.  There’s a simple tool you can use to get your angles perfect.

Just line up a carpenters sliding bevel to the trim edge and then move it over to your board and trace the exact angle on to your board.  I love little tools like this one that make life so much easier!

Caulk For A Perfect Finish

8.  Final expert tip, finish up with a little paintable caulking.  Even the experts have a few gaps here and there, for a professional finish caulk the edges around fireplaces, and trim where needed, the corners, and along the ceiling and baseboard.

To finish, I filled the nail holes with a little filler, and then sanded it smooth.  I vacuumed off the wall afterwards to remove the sanding dust, then it was time to paint.  The Scandinavian look is all about white, so I used JoJo Whitewash by Para to match the rest of the room.  I just love how it turned out.  It feels rustic and warm and cozy.

It was fairly inexpensive to do, and it really adds so much to the room.

If you’re local to the GTA Shaun does AMAZING work and I highly recommend him for any tile or woodwork or renovating jobs you might need done.  Check out his website -Benjamin Woodworks for more details about his work.  It was so much fun to partner with him for this project.

One Room Challenge Progress

It’s already Week Three in the One Room Challenge and I still have a few projects to do.  I’ve already painted the living room and kitchen, and now installed and painted the shiplap.  The last big painting project is to re-do the fireplace. I also need to refinish the kitchen table still.  The new kitchen light needs to be installed too.  Finally I want to leave myself a little time at the end for some DIY artwork.  So, there’s still lots to do, but it is starting to feel like we’re making progress.

This week we bought new furniture for the living room that I can’t wait to show you.  The rug also arrived and some of the beautiful accessories, along with the stunning new light for the kitchen.  I hope to paint the fireplace over the next day or so, and finally put the painting stuff away!  The kitchen table can get refinished in the garage now that the weather is nicer, hopefully that project will get started this week too.  We’re getting there -slow but sure wins the race! Be sure to check in on everyone else’s Week Three One Room Challenge progress too.

And here’s all our progress on this makeover:

• One Room Challenge Living Room and Eating Area Plans and Inspiration
• Expert Tips On DIY Shiplap -Week Three
• Fireplace Makeover -Week Four
• DIY Macrame and Fringe Pillows -Week Five
• Rustic Scandinavian Living Room and Eating Area Reveal -Week Six

In the meantime, I’ll just be staring at my beautiful new shiplap wall.

With DIY Shiplap, life really is a party!

You might also like our DIY Concrete Side Tables.

Check out our Fireplace Makeover here.

 

You also might like How To Refinish A Dark Wood Veneer Dining Room Table.