Shou-sugi-ban 焼き杉 is a Japanese method of charring cedar boards. The method is simple. You char the surface of the wood, scrape it with a metal brush and apply a sealant. The charring creates a protective layer and also, surprisingly, makes the wood more resistant to fire. The technique extended the life of exterior cladding in a country where wood was a precious commodity.
The technique fell out of favor with the advent of modern materials but has seen a revival of late in the contemporary architecture scene. Designers, I think, are drawn to the dark color of the wood as well as the sustainability of the practice. I defy you to find a recent issue of Dwell Magazine without a Shou-sugi-ban wall.
The video above shows a modern method using a propane torch. You can see an alternate method, based on the traditional technique, here. Like most exterior wood projects, it’s a good idea to apply new oil annually. I’ve seen two recommendations: tung oil and Penofin.
I’m pondering the method for some upcoming backyard projects and am wondering if any of you have tried Shou-sugi-ban. If you have leave a comment!
I’ve been interested in this for a few years now, and if I ever get to build that home in the country, this is how I’m treating the siding. It makes so much sense and it looks so nice!
hi, I was wondering if it’s possible to use this method for fire preserving visible wooden structures such as beams. I’ve been searching all over the net but found nothing yet.
hi, I was wondering if it’s possible to use this method for fire preserving visible wooden structures such as beams. I’ve been searching all over the net but found nothing yet.
THANK YOU for posting this! Our Brady Bunch era house designed for a Japanese family (and thus, with an interesting blend of the two styles, both inside and out), has a balcony that the flipper repaired with cheap wood, bad technique and paint, so 6 years later, and the thing is completely rotted out. I was struggling with what to replace it with, as to many of the materials out there are either cheap/look cheap, are more suited to a Spanish/mediterranean style home, require too much maintenance, and/or are eco disasters.
But THIS!!! This is lovely. And….I can actually, seriously contemplate doing this as a DIY, it’s to my eco-liking, and it totally fits with the overall aesthetic of the house. Dunno if it will be the whole construction or just part/some design elements of it, but THIS is definitely what has been missing from our “how to deal with this f-d up balcony situation” musings.
Yay! 🙂
Glad to of helped with at least one of the endless DIY conundrums we all face! Good luck with it! Erik here adds that he thinks the key is even burning technique, so it doesn’t look splotchy, and perhaps a dark stain to even it out more. Also he says he’s seen the wood ready made, but it is expensive,of course.
One of the YouTube channels I follow is building a tiny house, and they used the shou-sugi-ban method for their siding. The channel is called “Life Inside a Box” and here is the channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb0s0qC96lCcx2pO2za6mcw
Also, some specific links to videos if you are interested:
1. Tiny House Shou Sugi Ban How To: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kysxufAzp40
2. Tiny House Shou Sugi Ban: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YY97LJdYAw
3. Tiny House Shou Sugi Ban Staining and Sealing Siding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO5Fdz8Hj8s
4. Tiny House Shou Sugi Ban Siding Installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcJvUVnYkz0
5. Tiny House Shou Sugi Ban Siding Installation (Part Two): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGIhlq2eBl8
6. Back At It Again With The Tiny House Siding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vX1pRbT8q4
7. Tiny House Siding… is Complete!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVx-RLtjVdI
I hope that helps!
Best,
David
Wow–thanks!
Does it have to be cedar wood? Is the wood messy afterwards, meaning–will it rub off on a person or clothing?
Yes. Unless you brush then apply a finish, it will blacken your skin, clothes, etc.
You can use this technique on any wood but the effect will be somewhat different between them so you might want to do a test before starting a large project with a different wood. I have found it to give the best effect on wood with wide grain where the hardness between the pith and the grain is very different because much of the final appearance comes from these tow parts of the wood burning at different speeds. Cedar is perfectly suited for this. You can also do more than one round of burning and brushing and each pass will create more texture.
I used this process on a table I built for my wife and she filmed it:
https://youtu.be/sbUzmfyq3JA
To finish it, I used festool outdoor oil which has held up perfectly so far after a full year out in wahongton state rain under a large cedar tree (we just have to sweep it off and give it a wash before we use it).
Someone else asked if the char rubs off. Not at all if you finish with a drying oil. The surface will always be prone to scratches though so I would not recommend for anything that gets high traffic and you want to stay perfect.
I also used this technique on a raised garden bed as well as a small patio where I burned squares of wood cut from 4×4 then set them in the ground like pavers grain side up. On the end grain, the finish has been quite rugged and has held up well through the first year and can give it a touch up burn whenever it needs it with a hand torch.
After seeing my projects, my neighbor caught the bug as well and has done some chairs and other small projects.
Guard, forgive the sloppy typos, I am writing these on my phone…
Jason, thanks for the tips. I was wondering if it works on other wood. Looking around the web I’ve also noticed that it looks best when the burning is even and the wood a dark black.