Gone are the days when shiplap was only used as an exterior siding. Today, it’s very common in interior design, especially because of its unique style and elegance.
If you’re installing shiplap inside your residential or commercial building, there are instances when it may meet drywall at a corner.
As a result, one may be left wondering how you create the perfect shiplap to drywall corner transition. That’s what I will be discussing in this post. And let’s dive straight into it.
How to Create a Seamless Shiplap to Drywall Corner Transition?
When it comes to a shiplap to drywall corner transition, there are several methods and materials you can explore. I’ll discuss all options and mention the level of skill needed to pull it off.
1. Cut a Piece of Shiplap and Fit It on the Corner
Even though there are lots of transition pieces you can fit in this corner, I think a piece of carefully cut shiplap board is the best option.
All you need to do is measure the size of the corner, grab a shiplap board, and cut it using a miter saw to create a clean and angled cut that perfectly fits the corner.
Then you can rub some adhesive at the back of the trimmed shiplap and attach it to the corner. Proceed to secure it with a set of nails.
Using shiplap as a transition piece in this corner creates a seamless and aesthetically appealing finish. However, please note that you need to have accurate cutting skills and tools.
If you have some experience with installing shiplap, this shouldn’t be very difficult. Also, you’ll need to leave enough space on either side of the drywall and shiplap to accommodate the transitional piece.
2. Use a Cove Molding
If the above seems like a lot of work, you can always use cove molding.
This type of trim is very common in most households and you’ll mostly find it in corners where walls meet with other materials like tile or ceiling. In this case, cove molding can be used to build a shiplap to drywall corner transition.
A cove molding’s concave design makes it an ideal transition piece for connecting a shiplap to a drywall corner.
What I like about using cove moldings is that they are widely available and you can explore multiple designs which contributes to better décor.
The method of installing cove molding is just like the one used for shiplap. All you need is some adhesive.
3. Use a Quarter Round
A quarter-round is the exact opposite of a cove molding. It has a convex design which resembles a quarter circle. A quarter-round can be made of wood or vinyl.
Therefore, you have a lot of wiggle room in determining the final look of your shiplap to drywall corner transition.
If you’re worried about the corner between drywall and shiplap looking odd, a quarter-round can create an even and unique transition. You can find quarter rounds in nearby hardware stores and they are super cheap.
4. Try Out a Corner Bead
Corner beads are what some people refer to as L-shaped trims. As the latter name suggests, these are wooden or plastic trims that have an L-shape which is perfect for corners such as the ones where drywall meets shiplap.
Out of all these types of transition pieces, corner beads are much easier to install. Thanks to their L-shaped design, you don’t have to struggle a lot to create an even look.
So, if you’re new to DIY and you’re interested in building a shiplap to drywall transition, a corner bead is an excellent solution.
5. Fill the Corner with Joint Compound
Sometimes, all you need to create a smooth shiplap to drywall corner transition is a good old joint compound! If the corner you’ve currently built has some uneven gaps, you can fill it with joint compound.
Wait for about a day so that the joint compound fully dries. Come in with abrasive sandpaper and work on the joint compound till it becomes smooth and flat.
If your interior design is leaning more toward a minimalistic style, then the joint compound is an ideal material to use to create a shiplap to drywall corner transition.
It’s very subtle compared to the use of transitional pieces like corner beads and quarter rounds.
Can Paint Make a Shiplap to Drywall Corner Transition Less Noticeable?
On its own, paint can’t make drywall to shiplap corners unnoticeable. You’ll need a joint compound or any other special filler.
No matter how carefully you install drywall and shiplap on joining walls, there will be a gap at the corner. So, you need to fill this gap first with joint compound or drywall mud.
Sand it down to create an even finish. And then you can paint over it. That’s the only way it will look less noticeable.
A pro tip you should use when painting over a shiplap to drywall corner transition is to avoid heavy buildup. Applying thicker amounts of paint in a corner transition is counter-intuitive because that makes it more noticeable.
What’s the Ideal Spacing Between Shiplap and Drywall for a Clean Corner Transition?
I would recommend leaving a gap of around an eighth to a quarter inch between the shiplap and drywall for the corner transition.
That space is enough to accommodate a transitional piece or even a joint compound. Also, that gap is sufficient to accommodate the expansion and contraction of the shiplap.
Still on spacing, if you want that corner to be neat, ensure consistency from the top to the bottom. This is why a tape measure and a level are must-haves when installing these two materials.
Also, the more consistent the corner spacing is, the better the visual balance will be. Unless you want visitors to notice your corner transition.
A spacing of 1/8 inch can be too small for some trim pieces. So, feel free to make adjustments however you see fit.
Something that always helps me perfectly nail the spacing of a transition corner is creating a mockup before the actual installation.
How to Handle Uneven Walls When Building a Shiplap to Drywall Corner Transition?
Not all walls are built evenly. Should you discover that one of the walls in your corner transition is uneven, please take a step back and assess the situation.
Because your next move heavily depends on what you find out. For minor unevenness, you can play around with the shiplap boards or drywall to correct this problem.
In case of significant unevenness, shims may be required to level the boards. It is important to ensure that both shiplap and drywall surfaces are even before you start working on the corner.
Don’t forget that drywall mud can also come in handy in correcting unevenness.
Should I Install Shiplap or Drywall First When Creating This Corner Transition?
As long as your measurements are correct, you can start with either. It doesn’t matter what comes first. The thing is, the corner transition is the last thing you’ll work on.
So, you can start with drywall or shiplap, depending on whatever you see fit. Whatever you do, never forget about the spacing we discussed earlier.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Attempting a Shiplap to Drywall Corner Transition
Building a shiplap to drywall corner transition is usually an easy task that’s mostly free of error. However, it’s always important to learn some of the things that may go wrong so you can avoid them.
• Using incorrect measurements can lead to unproportioned corners.
• Misalignment can make the corner transitions appear crooked.
• Adhesive is never enough to hold transition pieces in corners. Always use fasteners such as nails.
• Always plan the transition corner mockup early in advance. This allows you to prevent future issues.
• Rushing the project. This often results in poorly done transitions.