Great American Spaces makes prefinished solid wood interior planking that eliminates on-site staining. Their core business centers on manufacturing and distributing prefinished, solid wood interior planking, including shiplap, barnwood, and premium wood paneling used for walls and ceilings. The brand targets both contractors and DIY homeowners looking to recreate popular interior styles without the time and mess of traditional wood finishing.
The ShipLap Collection: Self-Spacing Boards That Actually Work
Great American Spaces’ ShipLap collection features solid #3 Pine boards with a self-spacing 1/8-inch nickel-gap edge profile. This nickel-gap design deserves attention — it creates consistent shadow lines without requiring spacers during installation. A single 1x6x16’ board covers 6.59 square feet, while 12-foot boards cover 4.94 square feet.
The prefinished aspect changes the installation game. All boards come textured and stained in five colors: Charcoal, Cloud, Gray Sky, Sand Dune, and Woodland Brown. No sanding, no staining, no waiting for finish coats to dry. For contractors juggling multiple projects, that time savings matters.
| Specification | ShipLap Collection |
|---|---|
| Material | Solid #3 Pine |
| Board Sizes | 1x6x16’, 1x8x16’, 1x4x12’ (trim) |
| Coverage (1x6x16’) | 6.59 sq ft per board |
| Coverage (1x6x12’) | 4.94 sq ft per board |
| Weight (1x6x16’) | ~12.7 lbs per board |
| Edge Profile | Self-spacing 1/8” nickel-gap |
| Moisture Content | ≤9% during installation |
| Humidity Range | 35-55% relative humidity |
| Colors Available | 5 (Charcoal, Cloud, Gray Sky, Sand Dune, Woodland Brown) |
Installation Reality: Coverage Calculations and Moisture Management
Coverage calculations need a reality check. While a 1x6x16’ board covers 6.59 square feet on paper, natural wood characteristics demand a waste factor. Plan for 10% minimum waste — more if the room has multiple corners, angles, or openings.
Moisture content should stay at or below 9% during installation, with 35-55% relative humidity in the space. In Montana’s dry climate, that 35-55% humidity range matches what most heated interiors maintain naturally. Skip the acclimation games some products require — these boards arrive ready to install if your interior conditions are normal.
The 1x4x12’ matching trim boards come in all five ShipLap colors, solving the color-matching headache that plagues field-painted trim. Touch-up kits are available for field repairs, though the prefinished surface resists most jobsite dings better than raw wood.
Where This Product Works (And Where It Doesn’t)
Great American Spaces ShipLap is designed for interior use only — not suitable for exterior applications or high-humidity areas. That’s a hard limit. No amount of sealer makes this an exterior product.
Recommended applications include accent walls, ceilings, wainscoting, fireplace surrounds, backsplashes, and kitchen islands. The style works across modern industrial, rustic farmhouse, traditional, and coastal designs. The Sand Dune color particularly suits coastal themes, though in landlocked Montana, that translates to “lighter neutral that doesn’t show dust.”
Made from solid pine, not reclaimed wood, these boards deliver consistent dimensions without the warping, nail holes, and lead paint concerns of actual reclaimed lumber. The rough-hewn texture gives visual interest without the splinter factory of true barnwood.
The Bottom Line on Great American Spaces
With 25+ years in the business, Great American Spaces carved out a specific niche: prefinished interior wood that installs clean. Their innovation focus centers on prefinishing technology that eliminates time and cost of staining on the job.
For contractors, the value proposition is time. No stain drying delays. No finish coat callbacks. The self-spacing nickel-gap eliminates the tedious spacing work that makes DIY shiplap installations look amateur. Professional contractors rate them 4.7 out of 5 based on 121 reviews, with feedback highlighting the high-quality finishes and ability to help contractors plan and execute projects.
The product limitations are clear: interior only, requires climate-controlled spaces, and costs more than raw lumber. But for finish carpentry where labor costs dwarf material costs, prefinished products that install right the first time make financial sense. Great American Spaces understands their lane — they’re not trying to be everything to everyone, just the prefinished interior wood solution for contractors who value their time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What actual coverage do I get from Great American Spaces ShipLap boards?
Great American Spaces ShipLap 1x6x16’ boards cover 6.59 square feet per board, while 1x6x12’ boards cover 4.94 square feet. The boards feature a self-spacing 1/8-inch nickel-gap that creates consistent shadow lines without requiring spacers during installation.
Q: What colors does Great American Spaces offer in their ShipLap collection?
Great American Spaces ShipLap comes prefinished in five colors: Charcoal, Cloud, Gray Sky, Sand Dune, and Woodland Brown. All colors are available in matching 1x4x12’ trim boards, and the company offers touch-up kits for field repairs.
Q: Can I use Great American Spaces ShipLap for exterior siding or bathroom walls?
No, Great American Spaces ShipLap is designed for interior use only and cannot be used for exterior applications or high-humidity areas. The solid #3 Pine boards require 35-55% relative humidity and are suitable for accent walls, ceilings, wainscoting, fireplace surrounds, backsplashes, and kitchen islands.
Q: What’s the weight and moisture content of Great American Spaces ShipLap?
Great American Spaces ShipLap 1x6x16’ boards weigh approximately 12.7 pounds each and should maintain moisture content at or below 9% during installation. The boards arrive prefinished and ready to install without additional staining or finishing required.
Q: How do professional contractors rate Great American Spaces products?
Professional contractors give Great American Spaces a 4.7 out of 5 rating based on 121 reviews, praising the high-quality prefinished surfaces and time savings from eliminating on-site staining. The company has over 25 years of experience manufacturing prefinished solid wood interior planking.
Q: What sizes does Great American Spaces ShipLap come in?
Great American Spaces ShipLap is available in 1x6x16’, 1x8x16’, and 1x4x12’ (trim boards) sizes. All dimensions are nominal, with the 1x6 boards featuring an actual usable width of 5.5 inches after accounting for the self-spacing nickel-gap edge profile.
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