What is V-groove cladding?
V-groove cladding (Dutch: puntschroot) is tongue-and-groove boarding whose visible face is chamfered along the long edges. When two boards are fitted together, the chamfers form a V-shaped joint. Walls and ceilings look neater and more refined than with flat boarding.
V-groove, beaded or flat?
| Profile | Face | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Flat (square-edge) boarding | No profile | Crisp, but every shrinkage gap and misalignment shows |
| V-groove | V-joint from chamfered edges | Calm rhythm of lines; hides small gaps and height differences |
| Beaded (TGV and bead) | Small rounded bead beside the joint | Traditional, cottage look |
The practical advantage of the V-joint: timber moves. When boards shrink slightly in the dry heating season, a narrow extra gap in a V-groove barely shows.
Uses
- Wall and ceiling cladding
- Wainscoting and panelling
- Ledged doors and cabinet fronts
- External cladding, where profile and species are suitable
Fitting tips
- Acclimatise the timber. Leave the packs in the room where they will be fitted for a few days.
- Fix battens at right angles to the boards, packed out plumb or level.
- Tongue up for horizontal external boarding, so water cannot sit in the groove.
- Secret fix: nail at an angle through the tongue with small pins, or use cladding clips in the groove.
- Leave a few millimetres of expansion gap at walls and ceilings and cover it with a trim or skirting.
- Ventilate behind the boards outdoors and in damp rooms.
- Start straight. Check the first board with a level or laser; any error carries across the whole wall.
- Finish before fitting where possible, including tongues and grooves, so bare timber does not show when boards shrink.
Related terms
- Tongue and groove
- Board-on-board cladding
- Chamfer
- Panelling
- Door and window trim
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