The art of charred wood
Some things are just amazingly counter intuitive. One prime example in our industry is the art of Shou Sugi Ban. The Traditional Art of Charred Cedar. Shou Sugi Ban (or Yakisugi) is the ancient Japanese exterior siding technique that preserves wood by charring it with fire. Traditionally, Sugi wood or Japanese Cedar is the preferred wood.
Originally, Japanese carpenters who were looking for a unique finish that also improved durability chose to use recovered driftwood off the coast of Japan. Wood undergoes a unique process of weathering when exposed to saltwater and the appearance it gives became prized for its uniqueness.
Here is a stunning example of the look.
You can see how the siding is perfectly blackened to create a look without parallel in the world of exterior siding.
The practice of charring Sugi commonly referred to in the United States as Japanese Cedar has been commonplace in Japan since at least the 18th century. As modern products such as cement or plastic siding came online this practice fell away and was largely forgotten. It was for a time considered one of Japan's lost arts. But it is back and it is stunning.
Here are some great links to learn more about this fascinating practice.
Enjoy the videos and let us know what you think!
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