Found in nautical, whimsical, and natural decor, shiplap makes for a beautiful accent wall. Using the correct nail length and gauge ensures the life of your investment, making sure that your time and effort are well-spent.
Below you will find a general guide to the appropriate length and gauge for shiplap installation, as well as common pitfalls that occur when the wrong nails are used.
What Size Nail Should You Use for Shiplap?
The golden rule of attaching any material to your walls says that the length of your nail should be triple the thickness of the material you are installing, plus the thickness of any “soft” material you are nailing through (e.g. the wall). At least 1/2-inch of the nail length should be embedded in the stud. Typically, a 2 inch finish nail will suffice for most installations.
Not only does the length of your nail matter, but the type of nail and gauge you choose also matters. Are brad nails better or are finish nails? What’s the difference?
Brad Nails vs. Finish Nails for Shiplap
Both brad nails and finish nails are made from steel wire. The difference lies in their thickness and in the size of the nail head.
Brad nails are made from 18 gauge steel wire. They have a slim profile and a beveled tip that is designed to reduce splitting of the wood. These nails have a very small head, making small holes that are easy to fill.
Finish nails are thicker at 15- or 16 gauge. The thicker material can sometimes be a risk for splitting your wood boards, but offer greater strength overall. The wider head will leave a larger hole to be filled.
Brad nails come in lengths from 1/2-to 2-1/2-inch, while finish nails are available between 1 to 3-1/2-inch. If working with especially thin and light material, brad nails may be acceptable, but finish nails are the safer option in most shiplap installations.
4 Things to Consider When Choosing Shiplap Nail Gauge and Length
Aside from the standard guideline mentioned above, there are some special considerations that may change your decision on what nail you choose.
1. What Is the Thickness of Your Wall?
The thickness of the wall varies greatly based on the type of material used during construction. Drywall thickness is typically 1/2 inch, sometimes up to 5/8 inch. Depending on the number of layers of plaster used, lath and plaster can be up to 1 full inch in thickness.
The full thickness of the material you are penetrating needs to be accounted for, so while a 6d nail may be appropriate for drywall, an 8d nail is more appropriate for plaster.
2. Are You Using Furring Strips?
Furring strips are thin, 1×2 inch boards that are attached to the wall perpendicular to the direction of your shiplap. They are used to level the surface of the material you are laying the shiplap boards on top of. In cases where your wall surface is uneven, textured, or the installation is on the ceiling, furring strips are highly encouraged.
The additional thickness of the furring strip should be accounted for when choosing the length of your nails.
3. What Size and Thickness Are the Shiplap Boards?
Special care should be given to the thickness of the material used for shiplap. Shiplap is an ideal project for repurposing old wood, which can vary greatly from project to project.
The “3 times the material thickness” nail length rule should be accounted for in the thickness of your shiplap boards.
4. What Is Your Desired Aesthetic?
Playing with the look of your shiplap allows for artistic expression in the final feel of your room.
For rustic, old-word designs, specialty options like square masonry nails may be on the dockett. In those cases, select the desired gauge by visual appeal. Pre-drilling is advised to avoid splitting of the wood. Additionally, for ease of installation, you may want to consider choosing a shorter nail and use them for ornamental purposes only, still using finishing nails for the structural function.
What Are the Risks of Using Too Small Nails for Shiplap?
As mentioned above, brad nails are an option that some installers may choose. Depending on the material you choose for your shiplap, this thinner gauge may not be strong enough for especially heavy or thick planks. Using two nails side by side or a finish nail instead can help mitigate this risk.
Using any nails shorter than the recommended formula can result in planks falling, which becomes especially dangerous if they have been installed overhead. For example, since the maximum length of a brad nail is 2-1/2 inches, they can accommodate a maximum plank thickness of 2/3 inch (which would likely be too heavy for a brad nail). If a furring is used, a brad nail is not a safe choice at all.
What Are the Risks of Using Too Large Nails for Shiplap?
Using any nail gauge thicker than 15- or 16 gauge could create splits in your shiplap boards, which can become a costly mistake if pre-drilling is skipped. Using a thicker gauge nail will also leave you with larger holes to fill and sand if visible nail heads aren’t the desired outcome. The installation process is also made unnecessarily difficult with thicker gauges, as well.
The thickest nail finish nailer can handle is typically 15 gauge. Without a pneumatic palm nailer attachment, you could find your install time doubled or even tripled by the need to manually hammer each nail.
Longer nail lengths than necessary also pose a risk in damaging existing structures behind the wall or ceiling. Not only does this pose danger from possibly hitting electrical wiring, but it could also cause expensive and time-consuming damage if you puncture a water pipe. In some extreme cases, you may even nail right through the other side of the wall into another room.
Summary
Knowing how difficult it can be to find resources on which nails to choose per project, I prepared this guide to help you weigh your choices in selecting fasteners for decorative shiplap.
You should now be able to choose the type of nail, gauge, and length for your wall with confidence and be assured that you can avoid common safety and structural issues that will have you shouting, “shiver me timbers!”