DIY Vertical Shiplap Wall Paneling
Step-by-step guide made from Kathartic Studios's YouTube video.
Create an affordable and stylish vertical shiplap wall treatment by cutting thin plywood sheets into planks. This project covers preparing the walls, cutting the planks, adhering them with construction adhesive and brad nails, and finishing with paint for a clean, modern farmhouse look.
- Difficulty: intermediate
Safety
- Always use proper safety equipment, including eye and hearing protection, when operating a table saw.
- Ensure the work area is well-ventilated when painting and priming.
Must know before you build
- Seal all edges of 5mm plywood planks thoroughly to prevent warping from moisture.
- Construction adhesive creates a permanent bond; removal will damage drywall.
- Use tile spacers to ensure consistent gaps between vertical shiplap planks.
- Paint the wall your final color before plank installation to simplify finish painting.
- Accurately rip 5mm plywood on a table saw for straight, consistent planks.
- Fill and sand all brad nail holes for a professional, smooth finish.
Tools
- Table Saw (jobsite table saw, DeWalt)
- Sawhorses (folding sawhorses, Klein Tools) (optional)
- Brad Nailer (Pneumatic, DeWalt)
- Air Compressor (Pancake, DeWalt)
- Laser Level (Bosch) (optional)
- Caulking Gun (manual)
- Putty Knife
- Paint Sprayer (airbrusher) (optional)
- Paint Roller
- Paint Brush
Materials
- Poplar Plywood (plywood, RevolutionPly, 5mm (3/16 in), 4 ft x 8 ft)
- Construction Adhesive (Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive, DAP, Dynagrip)
- Brad Nails
- Spackling (Drywall Patch, DAP, DryDex)
- Primer (Water-based, KILZ, 2 All-Purpose)
- Wall Paint (Latex, Sherwin Williams, Cashmere, Satin, SW7029 Agreeable Gray)
- Baseboards
- Tile Spacers
Step by step
Step 1: Prepare the Walls
Prepare the walls for shiplap by ensuring they are finished with drywall, mud, and tape, and optionally a coat of primer.
- Finish the Drywall. Ensure the walls are fully prepped for the shiplap. This includes installing drywall, taping the seams, and applying joint compound (mud) to create a smooth, finished surface.
- Tip: Applying a coat of primer to the finished drywall will help with paint adhesion later on.
Step 2: Cut the Plywood Planks
Rip the 4x8 sheets of 5mm plywood into 5 1/4-inch wide planks using a table saw.
- Set Up for Cutting. Set up your table saw and use sawhorses or outfeed tables to support the large 4x8 plywood sheet. Measure and set your table saw fence to the desired plank width.
- Rip Plywood into Planks. Carefully run the 4x8 plywood sheet through the table saw to rip it into long planks. Repeat this process until the entire sheet is cut into strips.
- Tip: A 4x8 sheet will yield nine 5 1/4-inch wide planks, accounting for the width of the saw blade.
- Tip: For an 8-foot ceiling, using the full length of the 8-foot plywood sheet works perfectly without needing to make cross-cuts.
Step 3: Install the Planks
Apply construction adhesive to the back of each plank and secure it vertically to the wall with a brad nailer, using tile spacers to maintain even gaps.
- Apply Construction Adhesive. Using a caulking gun, apply a bead of construction adhesive to the back of a shiplap plank.
- Watch out: Construction adhesive is permanent. Once the planks are on the wall, they will be very difficult to remove without damaging the drywall.
- Position and Secure the First Plank. Press the first plank onto the wall in a corner. Use a level (a laser level is helpful) to ensure it is perfectly plumb (vertically straight). Secure the plank by shooting brad nails through it into the drywall.
- Continue Installing Planks with Spacers. Install the remaining planks one by one. Apply adhesive, press the plank to the wall, and use tile spacers between the planks to maintain a consistent, even gap. Secure each plank with brad nails.
- Tip: Using tile spacers is an easy way to ensure your gaps are uniform across the entire wall.
Step 4: Prepare for Paint
Fill all the brad nail holes with spackle and sand them smooth once dry.
- Fill Nail Holes. Using a putty knife, apply a small amount of spackle over every brad nail hole on the surface of the planks. Scrape off the excess to leave a flush surface. Allow the spackle to dry completely.
- Tip: After the spackle is dry, lightly sand each spot to ensure it's perfectly smooth before priming.
Step 5: Prime and Paint the Shiplap
Apply one coat of primer to the shiplap walls, followed by two coats of wall paint, ensuring to cover the surfaces and the gaps between planks.
- Apply Primer. Apply one even coat of water-based primer to the entire shiplap surface. A paint sprayer can speed this up, but a roller and brush work as well.
- Paint the Gaps and Surface. Apply two coats of your final wall paint. Use a small brush to work paint into the gaps between the planks first, then use a roller for the flat surfaces to get a smooth finish.
Step 6: Install Trim and Finishing Touches
Install new baseboards and update outlets and switches to complete the wall treatment.
- Install Baseboards. Cut and install new baseboards along the bottom of the shiplap walls to create a clean, finished transition to the floor.
- Tip: Updating the outlets and light switch covers provides a clean, final touch to the new walls.