I am taking on a project to mill and install shiplap ash on the walls and ceiling of a small home office. I watched some videos about this and a few recommended putting a couple of saw kerfs lengthwise on the back of each board to help minimize warping/twisting. What are your thoughts on this? If I do this, how deep should they be?
I will be using 4/4 KD ash that I will mill down to 3/4 - 7/8" from rough, depending on the quality of the material I get. Shiplap will be cut using a dado stack.
The space will be climate controlled and dry. The shiplap will be installed over drywall.
Other questions for you:
I plan to use a nail gun to shoot through the tongue(?) of the boards so there won't be visible nail holes. The owner wants to mount computer monitors and possibly a TV to the shiplap. It will be difficult to locate the studs through the shiplap and drywall, so they will probably expect the shiplap to hold everything up by itself. I don't feel that 16ga nails shot through 3/8" of ash and 1/2" of drywall will be strong enough for this. What are my best alternatives?
How do I extend outlet boxes, switch boxes, etc. out through the drywall and 3/4" of shiplap?
They are considering having me build a desk out of ash as well. I would like to have a very smooth, hard surface for the top. I will be finishing with target coatings em6000, probably with the crosslinker added. What is the best way to fill the grain?
TIA for any suggestions.