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How To Install Horizontal Board And Batten: My Modern Shiplap DIY Knockoff On The Cheap

Last Spring, we did a 6 week makeover on our dining room. During this makeover, we removed the stuffy wainscoting and planned to install shiplap. Only we ran into budgetary issues and realized the cost of shiplap was way too prohibitive for us. So instead, we spent less than $200 to get a modern board and batten look in our dining room and we love it! Today, I’m finally breaking down the full process so you can DIY!

THE COST OF SHIPLAP

The original plan called for shiplap that would carry 4 feet up the wall (I have 10’ high ceilings). The cost of the materials we needed to complete the shiplap project was $1,200.

The plan also called for two wall sconces. To achieve this, we hired an electrician to install light boxes. The day before he was supposed to install them, he broke his arm.

Scrambling, I called a local contractor who said he could come out the very next day and do it. I was desperate. The quote was high. The desperation was higher (The One Room Challenge™ runs only six weeks, remember?).

So I cracked. I spent the shiplap budget on an electrician. It was the saddest day of my life. This is a lie. I’m being overly dramatic. The saddest day of my life was May 25, 2011: the day of the final airing of The Oprah Winfrey Show, obviously.

Saddest day or not, I was still incredibly upset about going back to the drawing board. After all, I couldn’t just leave the current wainscoting. I’d already taken it down.

So I sulked around the trim department at the local hardware store (Home Depot, actually) until inspiration struck. And it didn’t even strike me. Christine was the one who got inspired.

She found some 1″ (one inch) wide vinyl lattice and said, “What if we hang this horizontally in a wide pattern?” and I was like Give me all the lattice you have now! 

At $4 per 8’ (eight foot) long piece, this project would come in at a total of $160. Approximately $1,000 less than the shiplap treatment. Yes, you read that correctly.

 

HOW TO INSTALL A CHEAP SHIPLAP ALTERNATIVE

MATERIALS USED: we used 1” vinyl lattice that you can find in the decorative trim section of the hardware store. you can use any material with this tutorial

We determined placing them five feet up the wall, in increments of seven inches apart, was the best way to achieve the same general look. So we painted the walls white and began installing. I highly recommend you paint the walls your base color first. It’s so much easier to cut back in around the trim once it’s installed, since a standard paint roller will never fit between each slat.

STEP ONE – Make it level.
Determine your level line. Do this by marking a single line 7” (or however far apart you want your strips spaced) up from the baseboard. I chose to carry them seven inches apart because this spacing would allow me to avoid any outlets and switches on the wall.

Then use a long level to mark a straight line across the entire wall. You’ll install one strip at this line, using a level to insure it maintains level. Do not rely on your baseboards or floor to determine levelness, as they are almost always uneven.

STEP TWO – Cut your guides.
Once your first slat has been installed evenly around the room, you can now use a guide to install every new slat to the wall. Do this by cutting 3 pieces of scrap trim to the desired distance between each slat. For instance, we were doing 7 inches between every slat, so we cut 3 pieces of scrap down to 7” each.

If you don’t have any scrap lying around, you can make this guide by cutting one of the boards at your desired length (width apart).

STEP THREE – Secure each piece with glue and trim nails.
Form a bead of construction glue along the backside of the strip. Did you know that creating a “bead” pattern with your glue, rather than a straight line, actually gets you better adherence? It’s true. The bead creates suction that acts as a double force of protection. A straight line? No suction. Plus you’re wasting glue that way.

Secure your slat to the wall and slide a guide between each piece, vertically (see photo above). Then nail each piece in place with a finish nailer. You can also use a hammer and a nailset if you don’t have a finish nailer.

STEP FOUR – Caulk + paint.

Caulk each piece of trim where it meets the wall and paint it the same color as the wall. 

THE PAY-OFF

The end result is a look that winks at shiplap, but is even more modern. It’s certainly not a fake shiplap. The dimensions are exactly the opposite. I’ve even noticed that lately it’s heading up on the list of modern wainscoting trends.

But I really like that it’s not what everyone else has. It’s unique and fun. It’s really lightened up the space. 

Shiplap walls aren’t the only cool feature we got from this tutorial!

In fact, we loved this modern board and batten so much that we later carried it into the kitchen by installing the same trim detail on our kitchen island.

SHOULD YOU INSTALL TRIMWORK DETAILING IN YOUR HOME?

Considering this look in your home? You’ll be happy to know that every guest remarks at how lovely it is. In fact, we hosted out HOA’s holiday party this past year and a dozen neighbors asked who we hired to install it!

It makes me incredibly secure to know that, when we go to sell this Spring, our little $160 hack is going to be a major selling point.

We’ve even since dialed back the look. by installing a new faux grasscloth wallpaper, in place of the original Serena & Lily wallpaper. More on that here.

But we have no regrets about this trim! Not one bit!

Wondering what sort of upgrades your real estate market demands? I’ve got just the tool for you!

Planning to try this hack in your home? I’d love to see how it goes! Remember to tag me @tmoorehome on Instagram to show off your handy work! I love sharing your success stories with my friends!

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YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS + I’VE GOT ANSWERS.

Commenting on this post is disabled after 24 hours so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out! xoxo

HAPPY DIYING!

xoxo
Teri