Last weekend we installed shiplap in our primary bedroom. If you followed along in my stories, you got to see a little behind the scenes. Today I wanted to breakdown our process and share a few tools that will help take your shiplap project to the next level.
To get your project started…
These are the basic tools I recommend having on-hand:
- A trusted tape measure + pencil — for measuring + marking your boards
PRO TIP: Believe me when I say that not all tape measures are the same. Some are clunky, some snap you when they roll in, and some are flimsy. This 16ft Stanley is my tried and true FAVORITE. It fits perfectly in your hand, is small enough to throw in a pocket, and the tape itself is strong. - Miter saw — for sizing boards to length
- Brad nailer + air compressor — for installation
- Liquid Nails — for installation where wall studs aren’t available
- Paintable caulking + putty — for filling seams + nail holes
To bring your shiplap to the next level…
Laser Level
We purchased this Johnson Level® laser from Menard’s a few weeks back and we really don’t know how we did a single project without it. This tool is great for a couple of reasons when installing shiplap. For example, you can use it as a guide to pull a chalk line to mark the studs in your wall. In addition, a laser level is a simple and easy way to ensure you hang your shiplap straight — especially when working around doors and windows.
Sliding T-bevel
We were introduced to this tool by our cabinet maker, Jason, when he was planning for the awning style unit at the top of our closet. Our shiplap was installed along a wall with vaulted ceilings, so the ends of the boards needed to match the same angle as the pitch in our ceiling. We utilized a T-bevel to measure the angle, and then set our miter saw accordingly. We did adjust a couple times throughout our job to ensure the closest fit possible. If your project has any interesting angles to work around, I recommend this tool.
Filler Pieces
Filler pieces are boards or spacers that fill empty space created as a result of installing your shiplap. We used 1×2’s for our project to extend our window casing to flush with the face of our shiplap, as well as create a clean border between our shower tile and shiplap in the bathroom. Windown trim will be installed to cover the seam between the window trim and shiplap.
Electrical Box Extenders
Similar to filler pieces, electrical box extenders help fill voids in outlets and light switches resulting from shiplap install. Typically, the original outlets are mounted between the studs of the original wall, so you will need box extenders to remount them so that they are flush with your finished shiplap wall. For our project, we only had three outlets in our shiplap wall and used these box extenders from Lowe’s.
Paint Sprayer
If I were to choose one must-have of the tools listed here, the paint sprayer is it. Spraying your finish is worth all of the prep work and taping. You aren’t left with brush marks from hand-brushing the grooves of your shiplap, and you don’t have to worry about rolling the faces of the shiplap before your brush marks dry. That being said, I highly recommend investing in a good sprayer. We have the TrueCoat® 360 by Graco and have been happy with its performance. It sprays evenly and gave our shiplap a flawless finish after three coats of primer and two of paint.
If you’re considering a shiplap project at your home, I hope these tips are helpful and if you have any questions, leave a comment below or get in touch!