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When you’re shopping for a new wooden shed, you’ll quickly come across terms like tongue and groove, shiplap, and overlap. If you’re looking at overlap cladding for a shed, you might be wondering exactly what it is and, more importantly, are overlap sheds any good?
Let’s be blunt from the outset: overlap cladding is your basic, budget solution for straightforward storage. It won’t offer premium insulation, heavy duty walls, or a super airtight finish. It will, however, keep your stuff sheltered, and it will do a very good job of it.
Here is everything you need to know about overlap cladding and whether it’s the right choice for your garden.
What is Overlap Cladding?
Overlap shed cladding is exactly what it sounds like. Rough-sawn timber boards are laid horizontally, with each board slightly overlapping the one beneath it—much like the tiles on a roof. They are securely nailed to a vertical wooden frame but do not interlock. Walk past the gardens on any residential street, and you’ll likely see fences made of overlap panels, too.
The Real Benefits of Overlap Cladding
1. Highly Cost-Effective
Because shed overlap boards are easier to manufacture and assemble, they are the most budget-friendly option on the market. If you need a functional shed to store your lawnmower, spades, and garden furniture without breaking the bank, overlap is the perfect choice.
2. Excellent Rain Runoff
The overlapping design is a tried-and-true method for keeping rain out of your shed. The boards are angled to let gravity do its work, allowing water to naturally run down the face of the walls and off the structure. This prevents water from sitting in joints and causing rot. We do advise customers that it can be helpful to install guttering, to reduce the amount of excess rain clinging to the walls after a torrential downpour.
3. Flexibility and Natural Wood Movement
Timber is a natural material that constantly expands and contracts depending on the temperature and moisture in the air. Because overlap boards for sheds are not rigidly locked together like tongue and groove, the cladding can easily accommodate this movement. While individual rough-sawn boards can still experience natural splits or warps over time, the overlapping design ensures the timber has plenty of room to breathe without putting structural stress on the rest of the wall panel.
4. Rustic, Traditional Aesthetic
Overlap cladding gives a garden building that classic, rustic aesthetic. If you want a building that blends seamlessly into a traditional British garden, the textured, horizontal lines of overlap wood look fantastic.
5. The Same Benefits of Most Wooden Sheds
Everyone loves wooden sheds because they are fully customizable. Unlike plastic or metal alternatives, you can easily paint or treat an overlap shed in any color you want to match your garden landscape, or easily add interior hooks and shelving to the timber framing.
Are Overlap Sheds Any Good?
The short answer is yes, but it depends entirely on what you want to use the shed for.
When they are great: Overlap sheds are fantastic for storing garden tools, bikes, soil, and outdoor toys. They provide excellent basic weather protection to keep your belongings dry all year round.
When to choose something else: If you want to build an office shed, a pub shed, or a heated workshop, look elsewhere. Overlap shed boards are typically thinner (around 7mm) and the overlapping design is naturally not airtight. This means they are prone to drafts and do not hold heat well. For insulated, year-round environments, you should look at upgrading to a tongue and groove shed.
Overlap Cladding vs. Shiplap and Tongue & Groove
If you are still on the fence, here is a quick breakdown of how overlap compares to the alternatives:
Overlap Shed Cladding: Boards overlap loosely. Thinner wood. The best option for budget-friendly, basic garden storage.
Shiplap Cladding: Boards interlock with a scalloped lip for fast water runoff. A great middle-ground for weather resistance and budget.
Tongue and Groove (T&G): Boards lock together seamlessly for a strong, airtight, and draft-free seal. Thicker wood. The premium choice for heavy-duty use, security, and insulation.
The Final Verdict
If you need a straightforward, economical solution to keep your garden tidy, you can’t go wrong with an overlap shed. By understanding what overlap cladding is genuinely meant for, you can make the right investment for your garden without overspending on features you don’t need.
