Shiplap vs Drywall (For Interior Walls) – Cost Comparison

June 7, 2023 Author: Jamie

Shiplap

$2,100 – $3,500

(350 sq.ft. shiplap installed)

The cost to use shiplap on an interior room will cost between $2.50 and $7.50 per square foot for the actual board, plus between $500 and $1500 per room for the installation.

Drywall

$525 – $1,172

(350 sq.ft. drywall installed)

The cost to use drywall on an interior room will cost between $1.50 and $3.35 per square foot depending on drywall type, thickness and finish. This includes the material and the installation costs.

Shiplap

Pros

  • Can be relatively inexpensive depending on material choice
  • Creates looks from rustic to contemporary and modern
  • Easy to install
  • Can be painted or stained
  • Easy to maintain and clean

Cons

  • Generally costs more
  • Can warp or rot if not installed and sealed properly
  • Gaps collect dust
  • Some “looks” are trendy and go out of style
  • May not appeal to some potential homebuyers

$2,100 – $3,500

(350 sq.ft. TPO roof installed)

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Drywall

Pros

  • Costs less than shiplap
  • A good base for most interior design schemes
  • More acceptable to potential homebuyers
  • Options for resistance to mold and fire
  • Sound-proofing drywall available

Cons

  • Prone to dents and scratches
  • May be considered boring by comparison
  • Easily water-damaged and stained
  • Creates mess during installation
  • Difficult to DIY and get professional appearance

$525 – $1,172

(350 sq.ft. drywall installed)

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As you will see, there’s a significant difference between shiplap vs drywall, the main difference being the price! The cost to install drywall is about 75% cheaper than installing shiplap. Even with drywall finishing (taping & mudding) and painting, installing drywall is a much cheaper proposition. On the flipside many homeowners find interior shiplap a much more attractive and durable proposition than drywall and worth the extra expense.

Let’s take a close look at the differences between shiplap and drywall in this RenoCompare comparison post.

WHAT IS SHIPLAP?

Shiplap is a traditional wallcovering that has gained popularity recently from being featured on home improvement shows such as HGTV. Not exactly tongue and groove, shiplap uses opposing rabbet joint notches on the edges that fit tightly together. The result is a visually appealing wall or ceiling that gives an artisanal, hand-crafted aura to any room.

Obviously, the siding style gets its name from its original use in ship building. The design was then used on home exteriors as a weatherproof option – and then brought inside to give character to home interiors.

WHAT IS DRYWALL?

Drywall is boring but versatile, easily painted, but just as easily dented and damaged. Its popularity arises from affordability and the fact it provides a blank canvas for any interior design. Once drywall came into use, plastering walls went into steep decline in the US.

Drywall is board made from gypsum mix and available in thicknesses of 1/4″ to 1” for various applications. The most common size sheets are 4’x8’, but it is produced in lengths to 16’, which means fewer seams to tape, mud and sand. Drywall is easily screwed to wall studs and finished smooth, or it can be textured in a variety of styles.

There are several types of moisture-resistant drywall, greenboard being the most common. Fire-resistant and sound-proofing drywall is also available for specific applications.

CONSTRUCTION/INSTALLATION

Drywall is far more common. Cutting drywall sheets and fixing them to the studs is pretty easy. But getting a professional finish is no easy task, and hiring a drywall contractor is the choice for most homeowners. There are a number of steps that are necessary to follow. The process of installing drywall consists of the following steps: hanging, taping, mudding, sanding the mud, and then priming the drywall.

Installing shiplap on an interior wall in your home is a relatively simple project that can be done by most homeowners with decent carpentry skills. You can expect to take 3 to 6 hours to complete a simple ten foot by eight foot wall. The only tools required are a saw, stud finder if you’re covering drywall, finish nail gun or a hammer with finish nails, and a level.

Most shiplap is installed horizontally, but vertical and angled applications are preferred by some. Sometimes thin spacers are used between courses/rows to create a small gap for visual interest. An easier way to achieve this look is to use boards with what’s called a nickel gap profile.

COST OF SHIPLAP VS DRYWALL

Shiplap and drywall are both a reasonable choice for a budget construction project. Shiplap boards cost starts at about $3.50 per square foot for pine boards or paintable plywood or MDF. You’ll pay $7.00 or more per square foot for hardwood such as oak or maple. The installation cost to hire a licensed contractor to install shiplap in a room generally ranges between $500 and $1500, depending on the size and difficulty of the room and job.

Drywall is much cheaper. You can expect to pay as little as $1.50 per square foot to around $3.00, which includes all installation costs.

LIFESPAN/DURABILITY

Shiplap, especially pine and hardwood, is much stronger and much more durable than drywall. It lasts indefinitely when maintained. While drywall isn’t as durable and long-lasting, damaged material can be repaired or replaced relatively quickly, easily, and inexpensively. If a leak occurs, wood shiplap might dry out without warping or visual damage. Drywall is likely to require replacing due to staining or swelling.

MAINTENANCE  

Both shiplap and drywall are easily cleaned when necessary, though grooves in shiplap present a dust buildup issue not found with drywall. Drywall takes washing and scrubbing better when semi-gloss or gloss is used, but satins and eggshell finishes are preferred visually for most walls.

When damaged, drywall is the easier material to patch or replace, especially compared with stained shiplap. While painted shiplap boards can be repaired by filling, sanding and painting gouges, it is a challenge to make those repairs on stained material. And if boards are replaced, don’t expect the new boards to be visually identical with the surrounding material.

CONCLUSION

Drywall is the most popular option for its affordability and versatility in any room design. It’s easy to maintain and repair.

But if you want to enhance the visual interest in a space, consider using shiplap siding. Complete the entire room with it or create an accent wall with shiplap. It creates interesting ceilings too. Cost is higher, but many think the benefits are greater too.


REVIEWED AND FACT-CHECKED BY JAMIE SANDFORD

Jamie Sandford - Owner and Lead Editor at RenoCompareJamie Sandford is the Chief Editor at RenoCompare (find out more). Jamie has been involved in construction for over 30 years. Straight out of college, Jamie worked with construction crews for the television, film and theatre industries for over 12 years. In his thirties, he turned his attention to DIY decorating and construction, working on many house renovations and remodels. During this time he started to specialize in home flooring and in 2013 he launched the Home Flooring Pros website. Two years later he launched RenoCompare.

“I’ve seen interior design, remodeling, and construction from both sides of the street, contractors on one side and homeowners on the other. My aim is to close the gap between the professionals and the consumers and make it easier for both sides to work smoothly and effectively side by side. At RenoCompare we want to save you time and money by giving you the information you need as simply and as quickly as possible!”

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