8 Things I Wish Somebody Told Me About Shiplap
Shiplap. Exposing the old wood in farmhouse homes was made popular by Joanna Gaines on Fixer Upper. I was one of the millions of viewers who were fascinated by how exposing shiplap instantly gave a home character. Quickly, every home on Instagram and Pinterest had shiplap. The tutorials of faux shiplap were endless.
I’m always interested in showcasing the history of a home as well as the simplicity of farmhouse style. When I purchased the cottage, I didn’t expect to see any original shiplap in my home. Based on what was shown in Fixer Upper, shiplap was used up until about the 1930’s. The original section of my home was built in 1945, and the second floor was added later on.
Some issues with the sheetrock prompted me to tear it out, and I was pleasantly surprised to find original shiplap. Unfortunately, most of the shiplap in one of the bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor was destroyed the by termites. However, one of the guest bedrooms was intact minus some large holes that needed to be patched. I immediately saw the vision for this sweet room, but there were some things I didn’t know before diving into this project. While each home and person’s experience is different, this is simply mine.
1. History of Shiplap
Shiplap got its name from the wood used on boats. It was used to prevent water from entering the boat because of interlocking grooves. It was popular in homes up until the early 20thcentury, but it was often covered with wallpaper.
2. Plywood is not Shiplap
We all see the DIY tutorials of adding shiplap to your home using plywood. They all look fantastic, but technically it’s not shiplap. I want to preface that there is nothing wrong with using regular wood or plywood. It’s just a technicality. Shiplap has a tongue and groove like what you see in flooring.
3. Shiplap Today is not the Same
I was standing in the aisle of my local Lowe’s with a scratch piece of paper with the dimensions to patch the large holes in the wall. I couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t find the “right kind” of shiplap. Old shiplap was thicker and wider and the grooves were somewhat different. The closest thing I could find was using beadboard, but I used the reverse side of the board to not show the grooves. The grooves fit well with the original shiplap.
4. There are Tacks
When I imagined exposing shiplap, I thought it would be as simple as ripping out shiplap and painting the wood. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. Original shiplap had this cheesecloth-like fabric tacked to the wall. The purpose of the cloth was to create a smooth surface for wallpaper. When it was installed, the space between the pieces of wood would not be as visible.
When I exposed the shiplap in my home, the majority of the cheesecloth was gone, but all the tacks with remnants of fabric remained. I tested section with paint to see if I could be content with just leaving them… I was not.
5. How to Remove the Tacks
This is where we got experimental. I tried using a claw hammer, a pry bar, and I even tried burning the fabric with a lighter. Don’t worry, the house didn’t burn down. I found these mini pry bars at my local hardware store, and they were the answer to all my prayers. I used these with a small hammer to get underneath the tacks and pop them out.
6. Use a Spray Gun
After 1,379,463 tacks (give or take) were removed, and the walls were filled and sanded, I was ready for paint. Painting is generally my favorite part of a project because it is instant gratification. The boyfriend and I debated on using a spray gun, and I’m glad we did. Despite the challenges of setting up the contraction, painting was quick and easy.
7. Get an Amazing Primer and Wait
Because we patched some of the old shiplap with new – I didn’t even think about how paint would show up differently on wood. I used Kilz All-Purpose Primer, and I realized that the old shiplap was yellow. Just like the Coldplay song, it was all yellow.
One coat… two coats… three coats. It feels like the beginning of a Dr. Seuss book, where I was at a loss. I recapped every step of the madness. I sanded the wood, I wiped it down, and I couldn’t find reason.
I drowned by sorrows in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and decided to walk away for a few days. After 5 gallons of primer and two gallons of paint, the walls of the guest bedroom match.
8. It’s all Worth It
I had to tell myself several times that exposing the shiplap would be worth it in the end. From patching the walls, removing the millions of tacks, filling the holes, sanding, painting, and repainting, I promise it is all worth it. It gives any room character as well as a beautiful, clean slate to make all treasures the focal point.
Your friend,
Laci
