Yes, you can absolutely make your own shiplap. The two most common and budget-friendly DIY methods are cutting "faux" shiplap using large sheets of plywood, or milling authentic tongue-and-groove shiplap using solid wood.
There is a huge cost savings to use plywood strips to create a shiplap wall instead of true shiplap boards. Faux shiplap is easier, and way cheaper! Buying pre-cut shiplap can be super expensive. Why not learn to cut your own shiplap, and save your money for other renovations?
To get the shiplap look on a budget, skip expensive pre-cut boards. Instead, create a faux shiplap accent wall using 14one-fourth14-inch or underlayment plywood. Have your local hardware store rip the 4×8 sheets into 6- or 8-inch strips, then nail them to your wall using standard spacers.
The cheapest way to get thin wood shiplap strips at an exact height is to cut them out of ¼″ plywood or MDF sheets (I went with maple plywood sheets because they seemed to be the smoothest of the ¼″ plywood options at Lowes).
You'll still find the charm and detail of shiplap panels, but with options like tongue and groove wood wall planks, fluted paneling, and limewashed walls, there's a lot more to explore.
Broadly speaking, basic white shiplap is no longer the height of fashion, with designers shifting toward smoother, "old-world" finishes like limewash and textured plaster. However, shiplap can still feel stylish if used intentionally in smaller doses or updated with modern styling.
A home typically looks outdated when it features overdone, time-stamped trends from specific past decades, such as honey oak cabinetry, popcorn ceilings, or generic word art. Outdated homes also often suffer from poor lighting, worn-out flooring, and heavy window treatments that block natural light.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Installing Shiplap Cladding
Does shiplap need to be nailed into studs? For traditional wood shiplap with nails or screws, yes—fasteners should hit studs for a secure hold. Drywall alone can't support the pull-out force over time. Peel-and-stick shiplap doesn't require stud finding at all—the adhesive distributes across the full board surface.
Drywall is significantly cheaper than shiplap in material costs. Drywall panels range from $0.30 to $0.60 per square foot, whereas real wood shiplap starts at $2.00 to $7.00 per square foot. However, the total cost depends on your project goals, as the complex finishing process for drywall often requires expensive professional labor.
Particle Board (Chipboard)
Particleboard is widely used to make furniture, as well as the construction industry as a cheaper alternative to plywood. It's commonly used for shelves, cabinets, and tabletops, as well as subfloors and wall panels.
The absolute cheapest way to get shiplap is by making faux shiplap using 1/4-inch or 1/8-inch plywood underlayment (utility plywood). You can buy a 4x8-foot sheet at a local hardware store for about $15 to $20 and have it ripped into 6-inch or 8-inch planks, which costs under $0.50 per square foot.
The absolute cheapest wall coverings are standard drywall (for unfinished walls) and peel-and-stick wallpaper or paint (for existing walls). These options minimize material waste and labor costs, typically ranging from $0.30 to $1.50 per square foot depending on the brand and volume.
Shiplap boards run $2 to $7 per square foot in materials. But that's only half the story. Once you add a contractor's labor ($50–$100/hour, typically 8–16 hours for an average room), primer, finishing nails, a rented nail gun, and edge trim—traditional shiplap costs $15 to $30 per square foot installed.
For a decorative interior accent—like a kitchen, hallway, or entry wall—shiplap is often the go-to. For exterior builds or spaces that require extra insulation, tongue-and-groove may be the better choice.
A big complaint from those with shiplap in their homes is that it is a magnet for dust. Dust will settle in the gaps and grooves and can make the space look dirty. 2. If not installed correctly, shiplap can warp or rot.
If you love the texture of shiplap but want to explore different styles, budget options, or easier installations, several alternatives can upgrade your space.
To achieve a flawless shiplap installation, avoid common missteps like skipping the The Spruce step of calculating your layout to prevent thin slivers at the top or bottom, failing to check for levelness, and nailing too close to edges without using studs.
Modern shiplap typically has a gap between the boards, usually about 18one-eighth18 of an inch wide. This gap is often called a "nickel gap" because the space is perfectly sized to fit a nickel.
Shiplap is not completely out of style, but the overused 2010s "modern farmhouse" look is. Designers now recommend using it selectively in historical, coastal, or cabin homes, or updating it with vertical installations and moody paint colors rather than standard bright white horizontal planks.
Here's why cupping happens: Moisture imbalance – If one side of the board absorbs more moisture than the other, it expands unevenly, pulling the edges upward. Improper drying – Wood that isn't dried properly before use is more prone to warping later.
The choice between vertical and horizontal shiplap comes down to the aesthetic you want to achieve and the dimensions of your room. Horizontal is a staple of modern farmhouse design and makes a room feel wider. Vertical feels more modern, contemporary, or cottage-like, and creates the illusion of higher ceilings.
A tacky look isn't always the result of bad taste or budget mistakes. Designers say it often comes down to overcommitment—locking into trends, finishes, or layouts to the point that a home stops feeling lived in.
Factors that decrease property value the most fall into three main categories: location issues, structural damage, and poor neighborhood conditions. These factors can collectively slash a property’s value by 5% to 30% or more.
How much income do I need to afford a $400k home? To afford a $400,000 home, assuming a 20% down payment and a 6.5% interest rate on a 30-year mortgage, you would need a gross monthly income of about $7,786.55. This assumes you have $1,000 in monthly debt.