Shiplap cladding

British western red cedar shiplap | VSL1British western red cedar shiplap | VSL1

Shiplap cladding is a machined profile supplied with a smooth finish and an overlapping edge detail to create a waterproof façade. The profile is relatively traditional compared to the more contemporary halflaps and splayed profiles and tends to suit buildings originating in the 1960s and 70s.

The term shiplap is often loosely used to describe various cladding profiles but we use it specifically to describe the true shiplap profile which is also described as a channel profile.

All air-dried species can be machined to shiplap. The most popular choices are cedar  and British oak.

Technical Specification

Profile name	Shiplap
Profile code	VSL1, VSL2, VSL3
Appearance	Classic
Surface finish	Planed
Orientation	Horizontal or vertical
Location	External only
Length	Random lengths from 2.0 – 4.0 metres, depending on specie
Dimensions	VSL1 & VSL2 Depth Overall Width Cover 20mm 95mm 87mm 20mm 120mm 112mm 20mm 145mm 137mm 20mm 195mm 187mm VSL3 Depth Overall Width Cover 20mm 95mm 80mm 20mm 120mm 105mm 20mm 145mm 130mm 20mm 195mm 180mm
Profiles
Species	Available in Larch Western red cedar Siberian larch Canadian western red cedar Jointed oak Jointed sweet chestnut Green oak Elm
When to fix	Year round. Ideally September to March
How to fix	VSL1, VSL2 – face fix only. One per fixing board / batten VSL3 – face fix or secret nail A gap of 2mm should be left between each board
	Begin at the bottom, ensuring that the first board is level with the lap that is adjacent to the wall, pointing upwards. For boards up to 150mm wide, use a single fixing located 25 – 30mm above the lower lap. Never nail through the lap joint. For boards over 150mm, use two fixings, with the second located a further 65 – 75mm above the first to allow for some dimensional movement.
Batten thickness	35mm
Batten spacing	400 – 500mm
Nail length	50mm
Further information	Click here for further fixing advice
Special or bespoke profiles up to 200mm wide can be provided. However, for external cladding, it is generally recommended that boards do not exceed 150mm in width.
While the utmost care has been taken to provide accurate information, Vastern Timber shall not be held responsible for any consequences arising from any errors or omissions on this website nor for any damages resulting from the use of the information.