An L-shaped rabbet cut into each long edge so boards lap over one another and sit flat, leaving an even reveal at every joint.
Shiplap is a board with an L-shaped rabbet milled along both long edges. Lay two boards up and the rabbets overlap: the faces sit flat in the same plane and the lap behind them closes the seam. What you see from the room is a consistent line at every joint, and what you do not see is any path straight through the wall.
That is the difference from a butt joint, which opens up as the boards dry, and from tongue and groove, which hides the seam entirely. Shiplap splits the difference on purpose. The reveal is the design.
On the outside of a building the lap works as flashing. Water running down the wall crosses the overlap and keeps going instead of finding its way behind the board. That is why shiplap has clad Southern houses and outbuildings for well over a century.
Nickel gap is shiplap with a wider, deliberate reveal — roughly the thickness of a nickel — built into the rabbet itself. The advantage is repeatability: your crew is not chasing a consistent gap with spacers and a tape, because the board sets its own spacing when it seats.
For a standard shiplap look, install the boards tight and let the rabbet leave its natural line. For a farmhouse-style gap, ask us about the reveal when you order and we will cut the rabbet to suit. Either way, plan on 10 to 15 percent overage for cuts and waste when you figure your board count.
Use the coverage width to plan your board count, then add 10 to 15 percent for cuts and waste. Nominal sizes follow standard lumber convention — dressed dimensions run slightly smaller.
| Profile | Nominal size | Approx. coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1x6 Shiplap | 3/4 in x 5-1/2 in | ~5 in face | Accent walls and a tighter, finer reveal |
| 1x8 Shiplap | 3/4 in x 7-1/4 in | ~7 in face | Ceilings, big walls, and exterior siding runs |
| Nickel gap reveal | Built into the rabbet | Even gap, no spacers | Crews who want repeatable spacing across a whole room |
| Custom widths | Cut to spec | By order | Match-existing work and specified reveals |
Standard lengths are 12 and 16 ft in stock, with 4, 8, and 10 ft available on request. Call (352) 895-9950 with your square footage and we will run the count with you.
The most requested interior use we cut. Horizontal boards widen a room, vertical boards raise it. Living rooms, bedrooms, mudrooms, and entries are the usual spots, and painted pine is far and away the most common spec.
Shiplap does not have to stop at the crown. Carrying the boards from the wall across the ceiling is what makes a farmhouse or coastal room feel finished rather than decorated. Works flat or vaulted.
The lap sheds water and holds paint, which is why it is still the go-to for outbuildings, sheds, and board-clad exteriors. Primed and painted pine is the budget pick on protected walls; cypress is the call for fully exposed work.
Standard stock and the workhorse for interior shiplap. Machines clean, takes primer and paint beautifully, and prices right for whole-house packages.
Special order. Resists rot and insects with no treatment, which makes it the right species for exposed siding and unprotected porch work.
Special order. Poplar is a strong paint-grade interior option when you want an absolutely flat painted face.
Sound knots. Ideal under paint, on sheds and outbuildings, and anywhere a little character reads as intentional.
Minimal knots for a smooth painted or lightly stained face. Worth the upgrade on a wall people stand two feet away from.
Tell us the room, the square footage, and the finish you are after. We will walk you through species, grade, and length.
Locally yours — Ocala, FL.
