Real wood moves. It doesn’t stay straight, even if it started that way. Stable humidity instead of swings helps. This is why most pros prefer MDF for painted wood things. It’s much more stable.

This is actually faux shiplap. They used nails as spacers between each piece of wood. Some spaces look smaller than others, which makes me think why it's slightly slanted to the right. Our old house we used the real stuff with the tongue and groove, and it was slightly crooked too. Just didn't want to be too picky before bringing it up to the builder.

See what Mr. Level has to say please. At least a 4 footer.

Yeah kinda weird when you look at the very top board.

So shiplap. Used to be the cheap way and nobody really cared how it came out. Means you couldn't afford plaster. Times change!

Now you have a coffered ceiling? Which highlights the unevenness at the top.

I would not be happy with this but...

The biggest thing with this wall that bothers my eye and really sticks out is the one darker piece right above your windows. I didn’t notice it was crooked until JJ pointed out the top little sliver they put that is larger at one end and gets smaller. I have a shiplap wall almost identical to yours (similar with window placement). We had to put smaller slivers under each window and at the top of the wall. It’s just the nature of the beast of shiplap and mine is tongue and groove. I wouldn’t worry about it too much! Once you get tv and decor up no one is going to notice the very top of the wall.

I had to study the picture a bit to find any bit of uneven lines. Finally found 2 spots that may be a small amount off level. Neither are at what I think would be eye level based on assumed size of fireplace. One is the top which I looked at since JJ mentions it & I really cant tell if it’s not level or if it’s the shadow in the photo at left top corner fooling the eye. My question is this - Is authentic shiplap always true straight & level? I don’t know the answer but if it’s a No, then some lack of perfection lends authenticity to your wall. Since what I see is slight & not at any average eye level, I wouldn’t fret about it. Once the build is finished & furnishings in place, no one would notice unless you take pains to point it out. I have to admit to being “fussy” about details but I’m pretty sure I’d be ok with this one. Now, if it was kitchen or bath tile not straight & true, well that’s a whole new ballgame!

What if all the shiplap is level?

that weird color piece at window height stands out more than any crookedness.

I'd have that replaced. (Or, are they painting everything?)

once you get the tv up, the lights, and everything else, I doubt you'll notice any slanting.

I assumed the wall is being painted because that wasn’t raised as question or issue. I had noted that board as well as 5 other boards above that one which are also darker. Skip one up, it’s the 2, then skip another & it’s the 3 below the top board.

What wall is perfectly square where the floor/wall intersection and ceiling/wall intersection are perfectly parallel?

IMO a coffered ceiling and shiplap do not go together and yes the shiplap is crooked but so are most houses and honestly I would remove it .

It looks like the ceiling is off. As Joe said put a 4' level on (6' would be better) and check every 4-6th row.

I hate to chime in on decor questions because I’ve had my head bitten off once or twice, but IMHO, It occurs to me that shiplap and coffered ceilings don’t make for a happy couple.

ETA. It would drive me crazy. I can ignore a lot, but the nature of the horizontal lines would make me constantly look at that top piece.

One implies tenant farmer and the other implies lord of the manor.

We are doing cedar wrapped beams on the ceiling and painting the shiplap

Mark, I am seeing too that they used nails as spacers? Odd technique, I hope they used a level with every piece they put up! Real shiplap isn't THAT expensive, I spent around $300 at Lowe's for mine and it's stained wood, not white. I do have white shiplap in my entry but not floor to ceiling. Just a little over halfway up and then we made a shelf for where it ends. That project was only $150 and that includes shiplap, a nail gun, shelf & decorative moldings for the shelf.

Side note: I am absolutely in love with your ceiling, I want to see a pic of it when they're wrapped!

Thanks Jamie, its odd that they just dont use the real thing to me either. We used real shiplap that we purchased from a local sawmill at our old house, and we only paid $500. It seems like more work to use the fake stuff lol. The builder likes to use this method for whatever reason

Take off the last board and replace with a 1x8, ripped to fit.

Or, if you are wrapping those beams you could make that disappear by shimming the beams before you add the cedar.

Or, after you wrap the beams, a small molding can cover that last "nickel gap". That small board at the top accentuates the unevenness....

Small differences over many boards can add up. It isn't enough to level the first board and then use spacers all the way up. Every ~4 boards they should have checked for level and made minor adjustments over the next few rows to compensate. This is assuming the ceiling is indeed level (big if).

Any word yet on if it’s the shiplap that’s off or the wall/ceiling?

My assessment: some of the boards have a slight warp, not all the boards might be identical width, and the ceiling is off. They may have done the best they could with what they had to work with.

The more formal ceiling and window trim are at odds with the rustic nature of the shiplap.

It’s supposed to look old and worn right? Maybe I dont understand.

Just depends you have different looks you can have modern or rustic farmhouse style. My question was about the shiplap not being level. I know when I post everyone is going to be a critic. I was just trying to get an idea how everyone else viewed the crooked shiplap.

It looks good Mark! You're totally on trend right now! I have a friend who has a modern beach house and the whole interior is basically white shiplap and weathered looking beams. It's very beautiful. After seeing your windows, you got me wanting to do the same thing above my interior doors haha.

To be honest, having that uneven sliver at the top, especially on a focus fireplace wall, would drive me crazy. I would have to ask the installer to remove the pieces about 4 or 5 feet down and reinstall them with a slight cheat over the course of the pieces to the ceiling so that the last piece is as straight looking as possible. We installed a more contemporary, non-rustic shiplap treatment one of our walls and were careful to account for the top piece looking as level as possible with regard to the ceiling.
Your plan sounds beautiful with the wrapped beams. I hope you repost the finished results!

I didn't know there was a modern farmhouse and rustic farmhouse. Which style are you going for? I think the wall looks good the way it is. Are you planning to paint it? Sometimes imperfections/ wonky lines produce charm and character. The wall imo is charming and adds character!

Hi, Mark,

You indicated the intent to wrap the existing coffers with cedar. Assuming the shiplap courses are level and the ceiling is slightly out of level, the cedar can be scribed to the ceiling and eliminate the varying margin which you find objectionable.