#1 Nickel Gap/Ship Lap Siding Contractor
Nickel Gap/Ship Lap
Let the Nickel Gap/Ship Lap siding professionals at Bellwether Windows, Siding, & Doors help you design and install the best siding products for your home & budget.
Nickel Gap/Ship Lap Siding
Bellwether has expertise in all areas of Colorado home construction and exterior remodels, including siding replacement, window replacement, insulation, gutters, paint, and exterior design, and we believe in creating beautiful homes. Our siding experts and in-house design team will craft a home exterior that you love, making your house the place you feel most at-home. Our high standards and commitment to best practices will ensure that, whatever your style-choice, your home will be comfortable, dry, and protected, so you can focus on designing a space that looks and feels like the beautiful home of your dreams.
When it is time to choose your home’s siding, let our design team help you find the best option for your tastes and design goals.
Recent Nickel Gap/Ship Lap Exterior Siding Projects
What is siding?
Siding, or wall cladding, is the protective material attached to the exterior walls of a house or other building. Siding materials drive your home’s appearance and style, but siding is also a necessary, functional element of your home’s construction and efficiency. Home siding is a reliable and economical way to beautify and protect your home, with plenty of options to satisfy different tastes and budgets.
When it comes to siding profiles, there are many different options to consider. These various joinery techniques are all secure against environmental elements, and so the method you choose is most dependent on taste and design goals. At Bellwether, whatever siding profile you choose, we adhere to the highest standard of materials and installation practices so that you can focus on a home design that you love.
What are siding profiles?
What is lap siding?
Simply put, lap siding refers to home siding that is installed horizontally across the wall of your home. The siding plans overlap one another, which is where we get the term “lap”. Not only does this yield a charming, traditional appearance, it also directs moisture away from the wall, creating a cascading effect, so that your home’s beauty and function go hand-in-hand.
This differs from other siding options, such as board and batten, which uses a vertical plank installation, with a small board, a batten, over the seam between those vertical planks; or shingle/shake—shakes are split and shingles are sawn smooth—which cuts and tapers the shingles in an overlapping pattern.
There are several different types of lap siding, including cottage or Dutch lap and nickel gap, more commonly known as shiplap. Sometimes traditional lap siding is referred to as clapboard siding, but there is a slight distinction in that clapboard siding tends to use smaller boards.
What is nickel gap or ship lap siding?
Made popular by the resurgence of Scandinavian and farmhouse-style designs, this siding technique leaves a slight gap between each horizontal plank. Sometimes referred to as “nickel gap” siding because the space between the boards should be the width of a nickel, shiplap and nickel gap are not necessarily the same.
Nickel gap siding is a tongue-in-groove siding method in which the pieces that fit together create a seam where the boards come together, leaving the nickel-sized space. Conversely, shiplap boards can butt right together, creating a smaller seam, without the nickel gap, but leaving a visible seam. Ship lap is not used as exterior siding as often as nickel gap. Though a version of lap siding, shiplap siding can technically be installed horizontally or vertically.
The visible seams and gapping effects are design elements only, and nickel gap and shiplap cladding still effectively protect the home from environmental elements and moisture; however the small spaces do collect dirt and dust, making shiplap slightly higher-maintenance due to cleaning.
Do I have to use certain materials if I choose ship lap or nickel gap siding?
Ship lap was originally created as a ship-building joinery technique, and it is associated with old wooden vessels. But this loose association does not limit homeowners to wood siding for a ship lap or nickel gap look. In fact, our Bellwether experts advise against wood siding for Colorado homes, assuring our homeowners that choosing a different material does not mean sacrificing their design goals. All wooden lap sidings are susceptible to wildfire, dry rot, moisture damage and require more maintenance than other siding products, such as fiber cement siding.
You have many options for a ship lap or nickel gap look. We recommend James Hardie fiber cement siding because it is resistant to fire, extreme temperatures, moisture damage, and baking sun. Made from strong, composite elements, fiber cement siding preserves its performance integrity and its beauty. James Hardie fiber cement siding can be infused with any color of your choice, including 19 color choices from the Statement Collection, such as Arctic White, Pearl Gray, and Mountain Sage, and more than 700 curated color options in the James Hardie Dream Collection.
For a modern, clean look, consider nickel gap or ship lap siding that, when professionally-installed with quality siding materials, offers high-performance against the Colorado climate. The Bellwether in-house design team can work with you to find the siding profile, siding material, and beautiful color that meets your style goals for the home of your dreams.
Still Not Convinced?
More Reasons to Partner With Bellwether Exterior Designs & Renovation Experts
Our team is proud to serve our homeowners on the Front range of Colorado. We know the unique needs of our clients and deeply care about the look and durability of your home’s exterior. Our team of experts are here to guide you through the process of repairing or replacing your home’s siding and windows.
30 - year Product Warranty | 15 - year Finish Warranty
Personalized Exterior Design Service
Excellent Service & Support Throughout Project Lifecycle
3D & HD Renderings of Your Home
Working with Us Is Easy & Stress Free
4. Pre construction meeting
Unique to Bellwether, we offer a pre construction meeting where we provide a clear and detailed scope before we begin building.
Open Communications
Open communication with project manager crew leader, and internal representatives.
7. 100% Satisfaction Walk-thru
It's not over until you say so. We value your satisfaction with our product above all else. We offer final walkthrough to guarantee you are pleased.
Still Not Convinced?
More Reasons to Partner With Bellwether Exterior Designs & Renovation Experts
Our team is proud to serve our homeowners on the Front range of Colorado. We know the unique needs of our clients and deeply care about the look and durability of your home’s exterior. Our team of experts are here to guide you through the process of repairing or replacing your home’s siding and windows.
30 - year Product Warranty | 15 - year Finish Warranty
Exellent Service & Support Throughout Project Lifecycle
Personalized Exterior Design Service
3D & HD Renderings of Your Home
Knowledge & Education Center
Make the best decision and get the most value for your remodeling dollar by reading our blog and becoming an educated buyer.
Bellwether is proud to be an Elite Preferred James Hardie contractor because we believe in the quality and the benefits
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Frequently Asked Questions
Nickel gap siding is a tongue-in-groove siding method in which the pieces that fit together create a seam where the boards come together, leaving the nickel-sized space. Conversely, shiplap boards can butt right together, creating a smaller seam, without the nickel gap, but leaving a visible seam. Ship lap is not used as exterior siding as often as nickel gap. Though a version of lap siding, shiplap siding can technically be installed horizontally or vertically.
