Tongue & groove vs. shiplap: which one fits your project?
Both lock boards together for a finished look — but the joint is different, and so is what they're good for.
Tongue & groove and shiplap solve the same basic problem — how do you put boards next to each other and get a tight, finished surface? — in two different ways. T&G has a tongue on one edge that slips into a groove on the next board. Shiplap uses an overlapping rabbet, so each board sits half-on, half-off its neighbor.
T&G hides its joint. The boards lock together and the seam disappears, which is why it's the go-to for ceilings, interior walls, and horse stall liners. If you want a smooth, continuous surface, this is the profile to pick.
Shiplap shows its joint as a clean shadow line. It's a more relaxed, modern look, and the overlapping rabbet also sheds water well — that's why it doubles as exterior siding and as an interior accent wall.
If you're undecided, bring photos of the look you're going for and we'll match you up. Most of our customers end up with T&G for ceilings and shiplap for feature walls.