You have seen the photos where the boards run dead straight and the gaps are identical from top to bottom. That comes from prep, not product. Shiplap for Jacksonville, FL homes is one of the wall and ceiling carpentry projects we install constantly, and the jobs that fail here fail for one reason: the boards went up the day they came off the truck. Wood moves with moisture, and our humidity swings enough that a board installed dry in January opens a gap by August.
This is the step almost everyone skips. We deliver the material and let it sit in the room where it will go, stickered so air moves around every board, for five to seven days before a nail goes in.
The point is moisture equilibrium. Boards from a warehouse carry a different moisture content than a conditioned Jacksonville home. Install them right away and they either shrink and open the joints or swell and buckle. If the HVAC is not running yet, we wait.
Three products get called shiplap, and they do not behave the same way.
| Product | How it goes on | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| True shiplap | Overlapping rabbet, self-spacing | $9 to $15 per sq ft |
| Nickel gap | Machined 1/8 inch reveal | $8 to $14 per sq ft |
| Primed MDF plank | Square edges, spaced with washers | $6 to $10 per sq ft |
| Plywood rip strips | Site-cut, spaced by hand | $5 to $9 per sq ft |
Nickel gap is what most people picture, and it is our usual pick for painted interiors because the machined reveal stays uniform even when the wall is not. True rabbeted shiplap has a deeper shadow line and hides seasonal movement in the overlap. MDF plank paints well but has no business anywhere it can get wet.
A shiplap wall goes on differently depending on what is behind the drywall. In wood-framed homes, we nail through the drywall into studs at 16 inches on center.
Concrete block is the Jacksonville complication. You cannot nail into block, and existing 1x2 furring strips split easily, so we add our own furring or a plywood backer fastened with masonry screws. That adds about 3/4 inch of wall thickness, which means outlet box extenders and reworked door and window casing.
A shiplap accent wall is the most common version of this job: one wall behind a bed, a sofa, or a television. Horizontal boards make a room feel wider, vertical boards draw the eye up in rooms with 8-foot ceilings, and diagonal layouts cost more since every board takes two angled cuts.
Layout matters most at the edges. We adjust the first board so the last one at the ceiling is not a sliver, and we stagger the seams so they land over framing. For different lines, wood slat wall panels and board and batten solve the same problem.
A shiplap ceiling changes a room more than a wall does, especially in bedrooms and hallways where the ceiling is the largest uninterrupted surface.
It also pairs well with popcorn ceiling removal, which is common in homes built through the 1980s. Once the popcorn comes down, planking means the drywall does not need a level 5 finish, which saves skim coating and sanding. Tongue and groove ceilings and accented ceilings are the same family of work. Ceilings need solid backing, so we fasten into joists and add blocking where a board end lands between them.
Outdoor shiplap is a different specification. On a lanai, indoor pine or MDF absorbs moisture, grows mildew, and fails at the joints.
For covered exterior work, we use cellular PVC, cypress, or exterior-rated wood with stainless fasteners. Near the beaches in Ponte Vedra and Atlantic Beach, standard fasteners bleed rust through the finish within a season. Exterior boards also need a gap at every edge and a finish on all faces.
Painted is the most common finish and the most forgiving. A satin or eggshell enamel cleans well and hides small imperfections, and spraying beats brushing because brush marks show in the reveals.
Stained shiplap reads warmer and shows grain and knots, so material selection matters more. We seal the boards before they go up, especially the edges inside the reveals, since painting a reveal after install leaves a line you can see from the side.
Shiplap installation starts with a walkthrough where we identify the wall type, check the outlets, and measure. You get a fixed price covering material, acclimation, installation, and finish.
After the material acclimates, we furr the wall if needed, snap layout lines, and install from a level reference rather than off the ceiling or floor, which are rarely level. Fasteners go through the tongue or rabbet so nothing shows. The last day is filling, sanding, caulking, and finishing.
| Scope | Typical Jacksonville range |
|---|---|
| Accent wall, painted, to 150 sq ft | $1,200 to $2,600 |
| Full room walls | $3,500 to $8,000 |
| Shiplap ceiling, average bedroom | $2,400 to $5,000 |
| Lanai ceiling, PVC or cypress | $14 to $22 per sq ft |
Three things move these numbers: material, orientation, and wall condition. Diagonal layouts add labor and waste, block walls add furring, and stained work costs more. These are typical Northeast Florida ranges, and an exact number requires seeing the room.
If you want a shiplap installer who acclimates the material and lays the wall out properly, call Klein Carpentry at (904) 759-4988. We will look at the room, tell you whether it is block or frame, and give you a straight price anywhere in Jacksonville.
5 to 7 Days
Lumber straight from a warehouse holds a different moisture level than an air conditioned home, and boards nailed up that day tend to shrink apart or swell and buckle. A wall hung dry in January can show open joints by August. So your material is stacked in the room with spacers between boards, letting air reach every face for most of a week. If the HVAC is not running yet, installation waits until it is.
Level Line
Floors and ceilings are rarely level, so we never start from either one. We snap layout lines off a true reference, then adjust the first board so the last course at the ceiling is not a thin sliver. Seams are staggered to fall over framing, and fasteners go through the tongue or rabbet where they stay hidden. For painted rooms, nickel gap boards keep their machined 1/8 inch reveal consistent even on a wavy wall.
Stainless
Indoor pine or MDF on a covered porch absorbs moisture, grows mildew and falls apart at the joints. Outside we switch to cellular PVC, cypress or exterior rated wood, held with stainless fasteners, because ordinary nails near Ponte Vedra and Atlantic Beach bleed rust through the paint within a season. Each exterior board also gets a gap at every edge and a finish on all faces before it goes up.
4.8from 51 Google reviews
If I could give Klein Carpentry 10 Stars I would. Ray and Nathan are First Class Carpenters and throughout the whole process their attention to detail was beyond our expectations. We had Shiplap installed in our Cafe/Dining Room and Board&Batten throughout the Foyer. Through the start of installation the communication, cleanliness and putting up a plastic wall to exhaust the dust outside was a Plus because going through renovations can be stressful but they made it perfect. We are so impressed that they are coming back to do built-ins on each side of the fireplace. ⭐️⭐️Update Second Review⭐️⭐️ Ray and Nathan has exceeded our expectations again. Just Wow!!! They designed our 10 ft Built Ins here in Marshes of Maderia by Master Craft Homes. We absolutely love the Reeded Door and Drawer Panel design with Lights looks so Sophisticated and Timeless . Now our New Home looks complete ❤️
Stacy Johnson · a year ago on Google
We recently used Klein Carpentry to aid in the renovation of our home. Ray and his team installed new baseboards, wainscotting, window/door trim and crown molding to bring a major update to what was a builder grade interior. From the bidding to the final nail took about two months but the results were worth the wait. During the entire process, Ray was polite and passionate about his work while keeping the working area tidy at all times. I would highly recommend using Kline for any of your carpentry needs, you won't be disappointed!
Glenn Seagers · 2 years ago on Google
My husband and I had the pleasure of working with Klein Carpentry. We recently moved into our new home, and as most homeowners, we wanted to put our personal touch on it. Inspired by so many ideas from Pinterest and HGTV, like so many others, I had several ideas of how I envision what I wanted for our custom built-in. I spoke with Ray, who could also see my vision and transfer it to a 3D program for us to see visually. Well, I can't say enough of what a fantastic job both Ray and Nathan did. From the start of our project to the very end, they exceeded our expectations in every way possible. Words can't describe how their professionalism, commitment, and craftsmanship are genuine. Both Ray and Nathan are genuinely a pleasure to work with. They are two kind, sincere gentlemen who care about their work and the client's vision. They are punctual and reliable and went above and beyond to ensure that my built-ins were completed on time. With this said, we could not be happier with how they turned out. I can finally display my beautiful Disney collectible, which I had been put away for far too long. I highly recommend Klein Carpentry to anyone considering having any work done in theirs.
Laureen Rosario-Perez · 2 years ago on Google
Reviews from Google
Because the boards went up before they reached equilibrium with the room. Wood shrinks as it dries, and here the difference between truck moisture and conditioned-room moisture is enough to open a visible joint. Acclimating the boards in the room for five to seven days prevents most of it.
It can, with the right material. PVC or a well-sealed hardwood works, and every edge and back face gets sealed before install. We do not use MDF plank near a shower, because one leak swells it permanently.
Most accent walls take one to two days of installation once the material has acclimated, plus finish time. Larger rooms and ceilings run three to five days, and we give you a schedule first.
Yes, but not directly. We fasten furring strips or a plywood backer to the block with masonry screws, then nail the boards to that. The wall gains about 3/4 inch, which means outlet box extenders and reworked door casings.
Yes, and the two go together well. Once the popcorn is scraped, the drywall only needs to be sound rather than perfectly finished, since the boards cover it. That usually saves a round of skim coating.
For a tighter joint.
For a modern look.
If the ceiling is the target.
For a vertical look.
To pair with planking.
Call Klein Carpentry at (904) 759-4988 and we will come look at the space, take measurements and give you a written quote.
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