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Another area I thought I'd research before drawing up the plans for both spray booth and shed. I'd like to know the pros and cons of Weatherboard, Shiplap and Tongue and Groove as exterior cladding. Anyone care to share their views?

Thanks :)

Personally I'm more in favour of the overlapping weatherboard. This is largely from the experience of having a shiplap covered shed that over time shrank to the extent that the boards parted and tongues left their grooves. Ok so I was able to remove it and tighten it all up but I've never had to do that with weatherboard. I have four sheds that are weatherboard but for my workshop I've used coroline corrugated sheeting over ply without any issues and without any maintainence to boot.
Never used tongue and groove though I have seen it used both vertically and diagonally. I would assume that it would have the same attributes as shiplap.

I doubt that this will cover everything, just what I can think of: both Shiplap and T&G are most likely to be a planed finish and will require a different treatment (with paintbrush) than weatherboard which is more likely to be a sawn finish.

Weatherboard is the simplest to repair if it ever gets damaged or eventually rots. T&G has nowhere to go if it gets damp and expands and can spring off over quite a large area.

For longevity and something virtually maintenance free you'd be better looking at cement board cladding.

Grendel wrote:Personally I'm more in favour of the overlapping weatherboard. This is largely from the experience of having a shiplap covered shed that over time shrank to the extent that the boards parted and tongues left their grooves. Ok so I was able to remove it and tighten it all up but I've never had to do that with weatherboard. I have four sheds that are weatherboard but for my workshop I've used coroline corrugated sheeting over ply without any issues and without any maintainence to boot.
Never used tongue and groove though I have seen it used both vertically and diagonally. I would assume that it would have the same attributes as shiplap.

Ok , so the Shiplap is to be avoided then. Seemingly from your experience Weatherboard appear to be the more reliable solution. I can't believe the Shiplap shrank, I'm guessing it wasn't quality timber?

ayjay wrote:I doubt that this will cover everything, just what I can think of: both Shiplap and T&G are most likely to be a planed finish and will require a different treatment (with paintbrush) than weatherboard which is more likely to be a sawn finish.

Weatherboard is the simplest to repair if it ever gets damaged or eventually rots. T&G has nowhere to go if it gets damp and expands and can spring off over quite a large area.

For longevity and something virtually maintenance free you'd be better looking at cement board cladding.

Weatherboard seems to be minimal maintenance though? I'll avoid the Tongue and Groove and Shiplap then on the basis of complications of dampness. Aesthetically the weatherboard is better appearance and price wise works out better than cement board cladding?

If you can sourse it waney edge timber is a beautiful finish that gets better looking over time

giggles wrote:If you can sourse it waney edge timber is a beautiful finish that gets better looking over time

.............but it may not look "right" on a small shed: not sure.