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Channel Rustic Lap Siding Pattern, Pictures, Diagrams

Channel Lap is often chosen for its rustic rough-hewn, textured appearance

Channel Rustic Lap Siding traditionally has 1/2” overlap and a 1” to 1 1/4” inch "reveal" - that when installed creates a channel effect between siding boards. 


Unit of Channel Rustic Lap Siding
WRC Channel Lap Siding Pattern just milled
CHANNEL RUSTIC lap siding pattern - Just Milled
WRC Channel Rustic Lap Stained & INSTALLED


Channel siding installs with a minimal amount of effort and material wastage. The Channel pattern is traditionally installed horizontally with the edge of one board having a recessed area along its rear which receives the shaped top-rear edge of the board next to or below it, so as to exclude water during rainfall.

Channel Lap Siding is normally supplied in partially seasoned (PAD) knotty grades with a rough saw textured face. Commonly available sizes are 1x6", 1 x 8" and 1 x 10". Clear grades are milled and priced to order.


1x10 Channel Rustic Siding Customer Select Grade installed on home in Indiana
1x10 Channel Rustic Customer Select Siding - IN
1x8 Channel Rustic Siding STK Grade installed on home in Kentucky
1x8 Channel Rustic Customer Select Siding - KY


Lately we are seeing more channel lap vertical applications. This is a variant on the new "Shadaw Gap" narrow 1/4" shadow line profile that is popular now.

If you choose to install channel siding vertically be sure to bevel cut the ends and install so water is directed to the outside.

PAINTED SIDING 1x10 CHANNEL RUSTIC LAP CEDAR MILL SELECT - FACTORY PRIME PAINT BARN RED HOME IN KENTUCKY
PAINTED SIDING 1x10 CHANNEL RUSTIC LAP CEDAR MILL SELECT - FACTORY PRIME PAINT BARN RED HOME IN KENTUCKY



The Channel Rustic pattern provides excellent weather protection and allows for maximum dimensional wood change (breathing) in climates of highly variable moisture levels between seasons - without adversely affecting the appearance of your channel lap siding.

Installers usually leave an 1/8” air gap between boards to allow the wood to expand and contract with the seasonal humidity.


Western Red Cedar 1x8 Channel Rustic Lap pattern factory finished PECAN Semi-Trans Stain
WRC 1x8 Channel Rustic Vertical Install - PRE-finished "Pecan" Semi-Trans stain - St. Louis MO
Channel Rustic Pattern Profile

There is only one standard Channel Rustic Lap pattern profile.

Channel Rustic Lap Pattern Profile - 1/2 overlap 1 inche curved reveal

The overlap between boards (E) is usually 1/2" leaving approximately a 1" square channel (F) revealed between. The overlap and channel width can be custom modified - sometimes ;-) 

Channel Lap Siding TRUE Measure

You might be wondering why our Buffalo diagram above has letters - A, B, C - instead of actual measurements. That is because siding measurements can vary from mill to mill and lumber yard to lumber yard. Using letters allows us to confirm the TRUE dimensions with the mill before we sell to our customers.

NOMINAL SIZES are for industry identification only. Even though a pattern is called 1x6" or 1x8" that does not mean it measures 1 inch thick nor 6 or 8 inches wide. Nominal 1x6, 1x8 refers to the size before the pattern profile is milled and NOT the board's final finished or "dressed" dimensions. 

CHANNEL LAP siding pattern - milled SMOOTH FACE
WRC Channel Lap Siding - milled SMOOTH Face
WRC 1x8 Channel Lap - Rough Face Factory Stained
WRC 1x8 Channel Lap - Rough Face Factory Stained


A 1" NOMINAL is usually 11/16ths inch thick. A 6" NOMINAL channel lap pattern is usually 5 3/8 - 5 1/2" wide including the overlap which results in 4 7/8 - 5 1/8 inches of exposed face depending on lap depth. An 8" NOMINAL channel rustic lap pattern is usually 7 1/8 - 7 1/4" wide including the overlap which results in 6 5/8 - 6 7/8 inches of exposed face depending on the lap depth.

This is called the pattern's "exposure" - the visible part of the board when installed on your wall. Read our Wood Siding SQFT to LFT Coverage and "Buyer Beware" warning to make sure you ask the right questions BEFORE you BUY.



Check your cedar siding SQFT to LFT coverage


CUSTOM MILLED 1x6 Channel Pattern Profile with 3/8 inch Shadow Gap between boards  - NEAR CLEAR GRADE - Missouri
CUSTOM MILLED 1x6 Channel Siding with 3/8" Shadow Gap between boards - NEAR CLEAR GRADE - Missouri


In the last few years a custom milled pattern has gained interest. The home in Missouri above built in 2011 was the first time we milled this pattern.

Sometimes called Shadow Gap, Shadow Line, Shadow Profile and Small Reveal this is combination of the standard Shiplap Siding "Flush Joint" and the Channel Lap patterns. The normal 1" Channel reveal is reduced to a fine narrow gap usually only 3/8 inch. When installed a "shadow line" effect is created.


CUSTOM MILLED 1x6 Channel Pattern Profile with 1/4 inch Shadow Gap between boards  - CLEAR VG CEDAR - New York
CUSTOM MILLED 1x6 Channel Siding with 1/4" Shadow Gap between boards - CLEAR VG GRADE - New York
CHANNEL LAP SQFT -> LFT Coverage

BUYER BEWARE WARNING: The actual "dressed" widths and "Exposed Face" measurements in our diagrams and coverage guide are suggested based on our experience in the industry. HOWEVER individual mills often have their own pattern standards which vary from the norm. When you get ready to buy be sure to ASK for the exposed width to make sure you are buying enough to complete the job!


Check your cedar siding SQFT to LFT coverage


Unit of Channel Rustic Lap Siding
WRC Channel Lap Siding unit - DELIVERED
Channel Rustic Siding wall profile close-up
Channel Siding wall closeup - INSTALLED
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