If you are looking for an alternative way to enhance the overall design of your home, shiplap is the perfect way to do so. Shiplap adds texture and depth to any room and is the perfect accent to your existing décor. The benefits of using shiplap is that it is long lasting and sustainable. It also comes in many different styles and colors, which allows you to customize your look depending on your wants and needs. It is also relatively affordable and depending on the supplier you get your materials from, the cost can range depending on the type of wood it is made from and how high quality it is. Now, if you’re a DIY’er like most of our audience, you may be asking yourself that you don’t know how to install shiplap siding. Don’t worry! After reading this blog, you’ll have a solid grasp on how to do this on your own!
Shiplap is easy to install and can be done yourself without the need for a professional. With the proper tools and the right materials, your shiplap wall will be installed in no time.
Materials Needed
Now, when it comes to the materials you need for installing your accent wall, this can depend on the type of shiplap you purchased. For the majority of these accent walls, you will need the same materials as follows:
- Pencil for marking
- Tape measure
- Hammer
- Stud Finder
- Speed Square
- Saw of your choice
- Pry bar
- Shiplap Siding
- Nails of the right size
The first step to preparing the wall for install is removing the moldings if your room has them. Use the pry bar and a hammer and they should pop off easily. You always want to do a one over on the wall and make sure there isn’t any debris or defects that could cause the shiplap to not lie flush with the wall.
Next, you want to make a line along the wall where the studs lie for the structural framing of your house. Your home should have a stud every 24 inches. Go through with a stud finder and draw a line down the entire length of your wall so you can easily tell where your studs are at.
Now that you have done your prep work you can install the boards. Take the first one starting at the bottom and make sure your board is straight and flush, because this will be what you use to line up the rest of the boards on your wall. Use a hammer and make sure the boards’ tongue and groove meet up and are as secure as possible. Once they are secured, hammer the board into the stud and move on to the next one. It is very important that you nail the board into the stud, because this makes the accent wall durable and keeps it in place. You might find that you need to trim the boards to fit your specific design and that is normal. You can either make the cut before you install the board or use a circular saw once the board is on the wall to make sure you don’t make any mistakes.
Continue installing each board, making sure they are all tapped together and secure. Every so often, take a step back and look at the wall to make sure the pattern you’re getting is what you want and that the boards are secured straight and don’t need any adjustments.
Once your wall in completely installed and there are no imperfections, you can seal the deal with some clear sealer if you want the natural wood look or you can paint it or stain it whatever color you choose to enhance the design of your room.
Shiplap doesn’t have to be installed on just one wall. If you like the look of the cladding, you can install it to as many walls as you please including the ceiling if you want to be outside the box with it. Once your wall is complete, it requires no upkeep other than freshening up the seal, paint, or stain once in a blue moon. Other than that, your room should be looking design worthy with your new accent wall. The only thing to keep in mind is to not hang anything super heavy on the boards unless you are certain they are secured in a stud and aren’t going anywhere. Enjoy!
As always, if you have any questions regarding shiplap siding, don’t hesitate to reach out!
