FAQ

Ships from a long time ago may have been built using the shiplap method.  The hulls of the ship contained overlapping planks to ensure a watertight surface.  Today, shiplap is used for other constructions besides shipbuilding, like home projects

Shiplap can easily be painted to whatever color you want.  Keep in mind that you should paint any walls behind the shiplap the same color before installing the shiplap.  This is because some shiplap arrangements can have small spaces in between where you can see the wall behind. Check out our Gallery to get some ideas on shiplap design!

Yes!  The drywall actually serves as fire-resistant protection to the flammable shiplap and thus makes the room safer than just using wood.  However, installing shiplap on to drywall isn’t as easy as tacking the boards to the drywall. You might have to take additional measurements and plan ahead a little more than usual.

No. Shiplap and tongue and groove refers to how the planks fit together. Shiplap planks sit on top of one another and overlap due to the rabbet joints milled into the boards at the top and bottom.  Tongue and groove boards join together and interlock. The way the boards fit together affect each of the properties of your setup:

• strength
• weather resistance
• structural integrity
• appearance

Give us a call at (682) 235-0991 if you have any questions on which type of boards you should use for your home project!

Yes!  Don’t be intimidated by the idea of putting shiplap on the bathroom walls.  The steps below will help you get started. 

The general process of installing shiplap boards into your bathroom is as follows:

• Measure and record the dimensions of the area you want to have the shiplap installed.
• Paint any walls that you plan to put shiplap on using the same color as you intend to paint the boards (optional).
• Get the boards cut using our website.
• Nail the shiplap boards to the bathroom walls.
• Sand the boards to smooth the surfaces (optional).
• Paint the boards the same color as the wall paint (optional).
• That’s it!  You’ll have a beautiful looking bathroom in no time.

If you have further questions regarding shiplap installation, feel free to email us at americanlumbermillco@gmail.com.

You can install your shiplap either horizontally or vertically depending on your aesthetic goals.  Usually people go with horizontal shiplap, as it can make the rooms look larger compared to vertical shiplap.  If you have a room with a high ceiling though, vertical shiplap might be your best bet!

Because the timbers in a tongue and groove clad shed tend to be thicker than in an overlap shed, tongue and groove setups are more stable.  Shiplap tongue and groove cladding represents the most weather resistant setup, giving it an advantage over overlap for exterior projects like sheds.

Because Shiplap at nearby retail stores is generally speaking, less reliably high-quality, has more imperfections, and is higher priced, we’ve created a method of making shiplap out of wood at half the price, but with the exceptional quality of a focused lumber and sawmill team right here in Texas. To learn more, read about where you should by shiplap on our blog.