Great Way to Install Faux Shiplap Walls in a RV
Fun fact… we lived in a camper trailer for 7 months while we were in the process of building our home! Before we “moved in” to the camper, one of the first projects we tackled was installation of faux shiplap walls. These accent walls were a quick way to make a big difference in the overall look and feel of our new home on wheels.
Why Shiplap?
Installing white shiplap into your RV is an easy, great way to update and brighten the RV walls. When we first purchased and began our renovations to our RV, the walls were a dark gray/green. Installing white shiplap paneling instantly made the entire space feel brighter and much bigger! Of course, if you don’t prefer white shiplap, the panels can easily be painted to match your design preferences. A painted shiplap wall is a great way to add character to your RV!
Faux vs Real Shiplap
For installation into an RV or camper van, faux shiplap is the way to go. Faux shiplap paneling is much more lightweight than real wood shiplap, which is essential when using it for installation into an RV or camper van. Although beautiful, you definitely don’t want the extra weight that real wood shiplap brings. Faux shiplap paneling is also much more affordable compared to real wood shiplap, making it a good option.
Where to Buy + Cost
We purchased faux shiplap paneling from our local Home Depot for $37 per panel. Each panel is 4′ x 8′ and covers 32 square feet. We needed three panels to cover the slide out (living room area) of our RV, bringing our total cost to about $110.
We definitely recommend thoroughly looking over each piece before you buy it, checking for any damage. The edges especially can easily show wear and tear. Don’t be afraid to sort through a bunch of panels to find the very best ones!
How To Install Faux Shiplap Walls in a RV
The first step for installation is to measure the area that you will be installing the shiplap. Make sure to measure both the length and width of the room and then multiply the length by the width. This will give you the total square footage of the room, and will tell you how many shiplap panels you will need to purchase.
This being said, it is important to keep in mind the panels are 4′ x 8′, so just using square footage on it’s own may not be a completely accurate measure to calculate how many panels you need. I would recommend drawing out the area you want to cover with the faux shiplap on graph paper. You can use a source for online graph paper to make it easy. This will help you map out how to best utilize each panel.
Once your have purchased the shiplap panels, you can choose to install it either horizontally or vertically. We chose to go horizontal.
Measure, Measure, Measure!
The next step is to begin taking all the measurements that you may need. Measurements will vary depending on the size and design of your RV.
For example, in our RV reno, we had to cut around windows, making installation slightly more difficult. We used a drill to unscrew and remove the trim frame from the interior walls around each window, and then took more measurements before installing the shiplap panels.
If you do have windows in your space that you need to work around, keep in mind that the trim ring will cover up any mistakes you may make. It is best to err a little bit short on your measurements to make sure the trim ring fits back into place easily.
A measuring tape is your friend; make sure to double check each measurement before then using a straight edge ruler to draw the measurements out onto each shiplap panel.
Cutting the Faux Shiplap Panels
Now, its time to cut! For straight cuts, you can use a circular saw. For any curves (such as for around a window) we recommend using a jigsaw. Circular saws and jigsaws are both available at big box hardware stores (such as Lowes or Home Depot), as well as online.
Don’t worry if the cuts aren’t perfect! As long as you are close to your measurement lines, any imperfect edges or gaps can be covered up with trim or caulk. We added trim along the edges of each panel along the floor, the ceiling, and in the corners where the panels met.
Place the panel up on the wall one at a time, making sure it fits well. You can always take it down and make any adjustments that you may need before you begin to nail each panel into place.
We used an 18 gauge brad nail gun with 3/4 inch brad nails to secure each shiplap panel to the wall.
This worked perfectly! You can use your own judgement on how many brad nails to add to each panel. At minimum, you should make sure to secure all edges and corners. We added a brad nail every 12 inches along the bottom edges of the panels and in the corners. Adding several nails into the middle section of the panel is also a good idea. Run your hand along the panel, adding in a nail to any sections that don’t feel tight against the wall.
Recommended Tools
These are the tools that we found to work best for installing the faux shiplap paneling. I have linked a few below!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may make a small commission off of them with no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here.
- Measuring Tape
- 18 gauge Brad Nailer
- 3/4 inch 18 gauge brad nails
- Air Compressor
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Circular Saw
- Jigsaw
Pin it For Later!
Happy renovating!
Rachael
