DIY shiplap adds rustic, coastal charm

Tribune Content Agency It’s warm,

it’s charming and it’s showing up everywhere from bedrooms to kitchens. Commonly seen on HGTV’s design show “Fixer Upper,” shiplap has enjoyed a new resurgence for the instant character and charm it can bring to your home. If wallpaper makes you yawn and you’re ready for something new on your walls, shiplap might be your answer. board on top of another with a small gap. Tongueand-groove paneling is cut so that each piece is interlocking. But whichever you choose, both give that same warm character so often seen in beach and country-style homes.

Besides their technical differences, tongueand-groove and shiplap paneling also have a significant price difference. Tongue-and-groove paneling can cost as much as $8 or more per individual strip, whereas 8-inch panels are considerably less expensive. If you’re handy and have a table saw, a smooth half-inch birch plywood or sanded pine can be ripped into strips 8 inches wide and give you a significant price savings.

If you hire a carpenter, installing shiplap – regardless of the type used – will make your project run high on labor costs alone. Even a small room will add up quickly. But, if you can make simple cuts, installing shiplap can make for a terrific weekend project. Before starting your project, be sure to take out all molding around doors, windows, baseboards and any crown molding.

Next, make sure to mark the studs on your wall for nailing. If you opt to use tongue-and-groove paneling, you can begin applying it directly to the walls. But if you choose to use boards or plywood strips, you may want to paint your walls with the same shade of paint you’ll be painting your shiplapped walls. This is so that the color of the walls underneath won’t show through the small gaps between panels.

To keep your boards a consistent width apart when applying to the walls, use a jig such as a yardstick to keep the boards evenly spaced. Using an air-nailer with finishing nails will make the job go quickly and look nice.

To create a finished look, try to miter the board edges where they meet on wall corners, otherwise you’ll need to use a cap molding to