What is Shou sugi ban siding?
Shou sugi ban is an ancient Japanese carbonized wood finish created by burning the surface of wood to preserve it.The final product is also known as Yakisugi (yaki means to cook/burn and sugi is the Japanese name for cedar), but shou-sugi-ban seems to have won as the most commonly used term in English, and it is sometimes simply known as a carbonized wood finish.
Usually done with planks of cedar or larch, the thin film of carbon that is created during a very light surface burn protects the wood. This draws out moisture, and the resulting chemical compound protects the wood.
Cedar and larch are local, very durable and resistant to rot. This process can also be done with other common woods such as pine, hemlock, maple or oak and is the perfect finish to the exterior ofa variety of wood framing materials.
How carbonized wood finish is made:
Wooden boards are burnt on each side, which is usually done with a blowtorch. Using a stiff brush, carbon residue is then removed from the boards and the material is rinsed with water.
Once a board is dry, it's ideal to applya natural non-toxic oilto seal it. Colours usually range from a very rich natural wood colour to a deep black. The final appearance is determined by the species of the wood, the extent of the burn and how vigorously it is brushed. The colour can be further manipulated by using stain instead of oil.
Benefits:
- Durable and long lasting:the life expectancy of shou sugi ban is estimated at more than 80 years when properly maintained.
- Life-cycle:Wood is a renewable resource and no chemicals are required for finishing. We would be remiss not to acknowledge the fact that fossil fuels are required for the burn process, but the ensuing lifespan makes that sacrifice negligible.
- Aesthetics:根据你燃烧的深度和刷的深度,你可以得到各种美丽的颜色,以进一步改变或增强颜色——它也可以染色。
- Water resistance:碳化木材与油脂的结合,使木板防水、防霉。
- Fire resistance:信不信由你,燃烧的木材可以赋予它阻燃的特性。谁知道呢?
- Insect resistance:白蚁和其他问题昆虫讨厌烧焦的木头。
Maintenance:
If the intended use is to have it outside and exposed to weather (cladding, fences,long-lasting decking), it should be oiled about every 10-15 years, which is fairly standard for exterior wood treatment. It will retain its colour better and will remain water-resistant longer if it is well-maintained.
For interior purposes where it will mostly be seen and not touched, it will require virtually no maintenance.
When used as furniture, the required maintenance would depend on its use - a coffee table may take more of a beating than other pieces. But maintaining oiled wood is pretty simple; it takes little more than a quick hand-sanding if necessary, and wiping on a single coat of oil.
Shou sugi ban siding and torrefied wood:
There is a related wood treatment called torrefied wood or thermo-modified wood, where milled planks are baked in a high-temperature oven. Virtually all the moisture is removed during this process, which can change the crystalline structure of cellulose. This makes the wood more dimensionally stable and resistant to fungal growth but, at that point, it is less resistant to impacts and abrasions. Also, it is the charring of shou-sugi-ban that gives it its protection against UV rays. With torrefied wood, some of those advantageous characteristics are lacking; additionally, stains and oils do not adhere to it as well after processing.
How to make shou sugi ban wood siding:
In order to obtain a consistent-looking final finish you need to be very precise. The torch needs to be passed at the same speed and held the same distance from the wood to get a uniform burn. This can also be done using coals from a fire, but this will likely result in a far more inconsistent final finish.
Still important to be precise but not as easy to screw-up, would be brushing off excess carbon. Keep an even pressure on the brush, and always go with the grain. This stage may actually help you bring boards back to a desired colour if you over-burned them a bit in places, by brushing a little more vigorously.
When oiling the wood, spread it evenly over the surface with a rag or brush (going with the grain of course). Wipe off the excess and allow it to dry; a second coat of oil at this point is recommended.
You'd need to be okay with slight variations in colour and consistency if you want to try this yourself, but if you really want it uniform in colour, it is best purchased from a professional manufacturer. Alternatively,reclaimed timbercould also be an Eco-Friendly Shou sugi ban choice, as the burnt finish should equalize out the color differences of reclaimed timber planks.
So, this process is not complicated but should be done with safety in mind; remember you're playing with fire here. Keep some water close by and use goggles and a respirator when brushing and oiling Shou sugi ban siding boards - the perfect exterior finish for anyEco-friendly sustainable home design...
The beauty ofShou sugi ban Japanese carbonized wood finish© CDR Studio Architects
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Shou sugi ban black Japanese carbonized wood finishBl© Matsu Accoya Designer Studio DB
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© Shou-sugi-ban carbonized multi-toned used for interior finishing©Zwarthout.com
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I'm finding it difficult to reconcile these statements:
Once a board is dry, a natural oil is applied to seal it. ... The colour can be further
manipulated by using stain instead of oil.
...使用护目镜和呼吸器在刷牙和涂油时。
and:
...整理时不需要任何化学品。
这是一种全面的安全预防措施,因为擦掉烧焦表面的灰尘。这种颗粒物不利于呼吸,进入眼睛也不好玩。的问候。
我们正在完成的过程中,我们的小木屋的墙板燃烧的松木购买从大箱子木材。我们在每一块木板上都涂上油,烤焦。做了很多工作。我要补充的是,擦去烟灰是非常麻烦的。但最后的外观是惊人的小屋。
Can this process be done on finished or urethaned furniture??
Hi T Haupt
No, that would not be wise, only do this on raw wood so you aren't burning urethane. Unless I'm misunderstanding your question - I would have no problem doing this with raw wood, then building furniture and putting on a sealant or finish afterwards. I would first try it with a small piece of wood to see how it reacts to make sure you get a look you like. We would always avoid varnish and other toxic wood finishes, so have a look atnatural non-toxic wood finishes and sealants, it makes a really nice looking finish, its healthy to do and live with afterwards and easier maintenance.
Hi there. Just wondering at the very top of the page there is a picture of lightly burn and grey ish colour wood. How to achieve that look?
你好Chris,制作寿杉板并不是一门精确的科学,我能说的最好的方法是“试错”的方法,希望有更少的“错误”:)你得到的最终外观将由木材的种类决定,你烧了多长时间,你磨了多少,以及你是否在之后给它着色。这颗恒星非常微妙,所以与一些较深的黑色恒星相比,它肯定是轻微的燃烧。我自己拍了一张我看过的小房子的照片,遗憾的是我没有问建筑工人他的技术,对不起。我建议你找一些短端点的木头,如雪松或松树,尝试快速燃烧和重沙子,然后延长你的燃烧时间,可能会缩短磨砂。但是要记录你的结果!
我想说,这也是我最喜欢的实验之一,所以如果你做了这样的实验,想要分享,请给我们发送一些你决定的照片,以及你是如何做到的,我们可以把它包括在上面的故事中。好运!
We used shou sugi ban for the siding and overhangs on our new Passive House here in the Chicago suburbs. Although we still love the look of the siding, it hasn't been an easy process. You can learn about our experince in detail here: www.kimchiandkraut.net
I'm looking to use this method on some interior headers and pillars with some cedar planks using a heavier burn for a darker color. Will this draw enough moisture from the wood to prevent the boards from shrinking over time? I'm worried I'll go through the effort for this beautiful look only to see it end up with large gaps like you see in a cedar fence.
Hi David,
This wouldn’t do much at all to remove moisture and prevent wood from shrinking. Think of it a bit like searing a steak on a barbeque, you’re just burning the outside. To remove enough moisture so it won’t shrink you would either need to use kiln dried wood or let it air-dry first.
Thanks Mike,
How long should air drying take for 3/4"X 7 1/2' planks? I live in the Central Valley of California where it's already mid 70's in late Feb. 60 days?
这是新砍的树还是窑干的木头?这取决于你从哪里开始。一定要在四面都有空间,最好是阳光充足的地方,如果可能的话,最好是有微风的地方,如果是在地面上,你也可以先在下面铺上防水布,这样地面就不会提供水分,但要确保它有一点倾斜,这样水就不会在下面汇集。一般来说,干燥每英寸木材需要一年的时间,但在炎热干燥的加州,这样做也有优势。
To be really sure, you might want to get a moisture meter for the wood to check it. Ideal is if the wood you are installing matches the general humidity level of the home, that way it won't shrink OR expand.
And please get back in touch with us if you end up doing this and let us know how it worked out!
Hello! I'm pretty much set on cladding my winery, which we are building next year, with non brushed raw shou sugi. Luckily, we are building a garage this year and I can use it as a proof of concept. I was first considering eastern white cedar, but I was told that it has very thin growth rings, which makes the soot layer very fragile and flaky. This seemed to be the case of a house I recently visited which was done in white cedar last year. The owner did admit to not controlling the humidity of the wood prior to the procedure so that might have had an impact as well. Right now I'm doing some tests with eastern hemlock and it seems to require more flame than cedar, but the soot layer appears more durable. Any thoughts? What is the best humidity content of the wood before burning?
I built a raised veggie bed 5 years ago from Western Red Cedar. I was told it would last at least 15 years in its natural state. Last week I had all of the soil removed and found rot on the bottom run (against the ground and facing the soil on the inside). I don’t think the rot has penetrated more than 1/2” into the 1.5” actual thickness. I don’t have the means to get more wood to replace it. Can I use this burning technique on the rotted area if a managed to dig at least some of it out? (I would be doing the whole bed inside and out, but without disassembling it to get the edge faces). Would this increase the beds lifespan? Would it help if I raised the bed up on a single layer of loose bricks? Next year I want to build four more beds. If I burn and oil them (all faces) before assembly, what sort of lifespan do you think I might be able to expect? I am 60 years old, so 35 years would be good!
Hi! I want to use Shou Sugi Ban to seal my deck, Im just wondering if I need to strip off the current layer of stain thats on it, or can I just burn it off? And all of the places that talk about it say to oil it after, what type of oil can I buy that will bring out the beatiful look without having to heat it up or mix with other things? and is the oil just for the looks, or does it also seal the wood?
Ok - gotta a totally different kinda question... I LOVE the look & spa feel of teak as the flooring of a shower. Would you think Yakisugi would be another option given its resistance to mold & moisture? I'm guessing I'd need to oil it more often than every 10 years...but hopefully less often than teak? I made an outdoor table over the summer - it's BEAUTIFUL! I love Shou Sugi Ban!
Sorry - teak autocorrected to real. Meant - less often than teak. :)
Hi! I'm starting the project today and have a couple questions. I'd like to try to stick to the most authentic Japanese style, do I need to oil the wood after charring and how much of the plank do I char (do I char the ends?)
My brother in law built house in Tennessee and the woodpeckers are putting holes in it. Is there anything to stop them?
That's a tricky one, they could be doing that either because they think the sound is good for attracting mates, or it could be that there is food in the wood. Some people recommend wind chimes, hanging tin foil or mirrors, but of all the solutions we've heard of, the most appealing would be fake owls. They are pretty easy to find at most box stores or even get delivered to your door if you order one online.