What is Shiplap? Exploring Cladding Types & The Best Exterior Cladding Options for Sheds [UPDATED]

We are often asked “What is shiplap?” Shiplap cladding is constructed from interlocking wooden boards, with a flat, smooth-planed profile. Each wooden board is locked together by creating a rabbet in their profiles.

A variety of different woods can be used to produce shiplap, the choice depending on whether it is being installed indoors or outside.

In terms of our garden-based products, cedar, pine and redwood are all popular choices. This wood will invariably be slowly grown, and kiln-dried too, increasing its density and stability, so that it is less likely to warp, bend or crack.

Overlap cladding is probably the most straightforward and affordable option out there. It is made from wooden boards that overlap one another, creating a basic shield against rain and wind.

• Advantages – it is cheap and easy to fix, which is why a lot of budget sheds use it.
• Disadvantages - over time, the loose boards can shift or warp, and it does not provide the best protection from the weather
• Compared to Shiplap - while overlap cladding is cheaper, shiplap’s interlocking boards provide better insulation and hold up better in bad weather. It is definitely a step up if you are looking for something more solid and long-lasting

Tongue and groove is a step above overlap in terms of quality. The boards slot together neatly, giving a smooth, seamless finish.

• Advantages – it is strong, weather-resistant, and looks really polished, which makes it great for higher-end sheds
• Disadvantages - it costs more and can be trickier to install than other options
• Compared to Shiplap - shiplap sits somewhere in the middle between overlap and tongue and groove. Tongue and groove gives a cleaner, sleeker finish, but shiplap’s traditional, scalloped profile has its own appeal. Plus, shiplap offers almost the same level of weather protection, but at a lower price

Composite cladding is a more modern option, made from a mix of wood fibres and plastic. It is become pretty popular thanks to how low-maintenance it is.

• Advantages - composite is tough— it will not rot, and it stands up well to insects and moisture. Plus, you do not have to spend much time maintaining it
• Disadvantages - it can be pricier than wooden cladding and does not always have the same natural look
• Compared to Shiplap - composite may last longer and require less upkeep, but shiplap, especially when made from real wood, has a warmer, more natural feel. Shiplap also tends to be more affordable and insulates better, which is worth considering if your shed stores temperature-sensitive items

To guarantee weather-beating protection for your stored items, you simply can't go wrong with a shiplap shed.

Because of the high quality of the wood used, and the interlocking design of the boards, shiplap sheds provide excellent weather protection, far more so than standard overlap models. Shiplap’s scalloped profile also provides excellent rainwater runoff.

Therefore, a shiplap shed is an excellent choice if your aim is for extra insulation and to keep stored items dry and the shed’s interior protected from dampness.

Backed by a 25-year guarantee, the 12' x 8' Forest Beckwood Shiplap Pressure Treated Double Door Apex Wooden Shed (3.6m x 2.61m) is exceptionally robust and durable.

Using slow-grown, kiln-dried, tightly interlocking wooden boards ensures that shiplap cladding is strong and durable. And, as they are usually at least 12mm thick, shiplap walls are far thicker than those found on overlap sheds.

Also, unlike overlap models, there are no protruding edges on shiplap shed walls, so there’s nothing that might break off or become damaged - just a solid mass of shiplap wall with no gaps, which forms a formidable barrier to the outside world.

You'd struggle to find a better garden workshop than the 20' x 10' Forest Beckwood 25yr Guarantee Shiplap Pressure Treated Double Door Reverse Apex Wooden Shed (5.96m x 3.21m).

This tightly interlocking wooden barrier also prevents draughts from entering the shed.

So, if you’re in the market for a large garden workshop, in which to comfortably carry out your practical tasks, a shiplap workshop shed is a particularly smart choice.

If you're storing valuable tools and equipment, the 10' x 6' Forest Beckwood 25yr Guarantee Shiplap Pressure Treated Windowless Pent Wooden Shed (3.11m x 2.05m) will keep them safe in an ideal office space.

As the wooden boards on a shiplap shed are locked tightly together, without any visible overlap, they cannot be prised apart by thieves.

What’s more, because shiplap sheds are normally positioned as manufacturers’ midmarket options. They will invariably include superior door locks and glazing to overlap models, providing even greater security for your valuable stored items.

If you want a garden shed to impress the neighbours, the 12' x 8' Forest Beckwood 25yr Guarantee Shiplap Pressure Treated Double Door Reverse Apex Wooden Shed (3.6m x 2.61m) is an excellent choice.

With their smart, scalloped profile, hidden fixings and smooth-planed finish, shiplap sheds are exceptionally attractive. Shiplap is also a versatile material for creating an accent wall, a growing trend in home design that enhances a room's visual appeal.

Also, while shiplap cladding is fashionable, it is far from being a new method of construction. It really does boast a timeless design, which ensures it complements any style of outdoor area.

When comparing quality with price, you won't find many better value sheds than the 7' x 5' Forest Beckwood 25yr Guarantee Shiplap Pressure Treated Pent Wooden Shed (2.26m x 1.7m).

As the midmarket option, shiplap sheds are more expensive than overlap models but cheaper than luxury tongue and groove.

However, in terms of its construction, shiplap cladding has far more in common with tongue and groove than it does with overlap, and yet is much closer to the latter in terms of pricing.

With this in mind, the inescapable conclusion to draw is that shiplap sheds provide incredible value for money.

The first thing to note is that Beckwood shiplap sheds are pressure treated and supplied with an extraordinary 25-year guarantee, so further treatment against rot is not required. This saves you the time and money involved in retreating the wood, while also giving you peace of mind that rot will never become an issue.

Manufactured in the UK, these weather-beating wooden sheds also feature a completely modular design, so they’re delivered in smaller sections of interchangeable panels, but you get more overall wood. Not only does this make them easier to assemble and stronger than other wooden sheds, but it also offers you an unprecedented choice of door and window placements too.

If you want the best for your hens, buy Forest's 5'4 x 3'8 Hedgerow Wooden Large Hen House (1.63m x 1.12m), which is made from shiplap cladding.

Cladding as good as shiplap will obviously be suitable for other garden products too.

Different types of wood panelling, such as faux wood panelling and reclaimed wood panelling, are also used in garden products for their aesthetic appeal and practical benefits.

A number of our suppliers use shiplap on their workshops, prefab garages, greenhouses, potting sheds, summerhouses, garden bars, playhouses, patio storage, AND pet houses.

We’ve produced buying guides on greenhouses, summer houses, playhouses and garden storage, where you can find out more.

Note some composite plastic and metal sheds (and other garden buildings) also have a shiplap profile. This could be for practical or aesthetic purposes, sometimes both.

The Vikings weren't just tough, they were incredibly smart too, which is why they built their longboats using shiplap cladding.

Sometimes known as ‘clinker planking’, shiplap dates back to around 300AD, when, as the name suggests, it was a method used to build boats. In fact, the Viking longships that raided Europe and discovered America were built this way.

By the nineteenth century, shiplap’s weather-beating design meant that it became commonly used as exterior cladding options on seaside cottages, while its snug, interlocking joints also found favour in fine furniture making. You can find out further details about this here.

Wooden cladding isn't just confined to garden sheds; its many benefits mean that it's often used on larger buildings too.

Aside from its use in making sheds, shiplap is now a popular choice of exterior siding on bigger buildings, both for its weathertight design and aesthetic appeal. The former quality has the added benefit of prolonging the wooden cladding’s lifespan, by keeping water out of the ventilated cavity behind the cladding.

Shiplap’s long heritage but clean, modern lines ensure that it complements both traditional and modern buildings. This versatility, coupled with the fact that it is easier to install than regular tongue and groove cladding, also allows it to be positioned horizontally, vertically, or customised to suit a particular project. It is worth noting that when shiplap is positioned horizontally, it provides a tighter weatherproof seal.

Shiplap cladding isn't just weathertight, it's stylish and versatile too, which is why it's so popular with interior designers.

Shiplap’s clean lines and hidden fixings have made it popular amongst interior designers too. In these cases, it can have a smooth or woodgrain finish and is often painted – white being the most popular colour.

When the boards are positioned horizontally, shiplap designs carry the eye around a room to give the impression of space. Likewise, when placed vertically, the eye is drawn upwards, making the room appear taller. Shiplap materials can even be installed on a ceiling, to draw the eye upwards, while zigzag patterns create a modern twist on the traditional design.

If leading interior designers use shiplap cladding to enhance other people's homes, what's stopping you from using it in your home too?

If you’re thinking of installing shiplap cladding inside your own property, and need some inspiration, Pinterest shows some wonderful examples of how shiplap materials can be used in interior design.

And, if you’re feeling particularly creative, why not learn how to build your very own shiplap cladding?

For concise definitions of different types of cladding and other garden-product terminology, Forest’s Guide to Our Products is an excellent reference point.

For further information on cladding in architecture and construction, please read Timber Development UK’s Timber Cladding Handbook.

If you have any questions relating to the shiplap cladding used to build our garden products, please contact our UK-based Customer Service Team, who will be happy to help.