BENEFITS OF CHARRING TIMBER
Discover our range of shou sugi ban charred timber finishes
Suyaki - Full Char
Gendai - Smooth Brushed
PikaPika - 2x Brushed
At The Blackwood Project, we seamlessly blend ancient Japanese craftsmanship with modern technology to offer an extensive selection of charred timber finishes. By reimagining the traditional method of Japanese charred timber cladding, we've curated a range of profiles and styles that cater to a variety of architectural designs.
Our commitment to quality and innovation shines through in every finish we offer, ensuring that each one delivers a unique look and style to elevate your project. Whether you're drawn to classic designs or seeking a contemporary twist, our charred timber finishes are sure to inspire.
What are the Benefits of Charring timber
Shou sugi ban, developed in Japan 500-600 years ago, enhances wood's resistance to fire, insects, and rot, thus extending its lifespan. This traditional method, born from practical necessity rather than aesthetics, involves charring durable timber at 1060°C.
The resulting charred timber cladding is low-maintenance, UV-protected, and visually striking. The char repels water and protects against rain, decay, and UV damage, gradually eroding to reveal the beautiful timber grain beneath.
Maintenance Free Timber Cladding
Shou sugi ban significantly reduces maintenance needs. Properly charred timber resists UV and environmental damage, seldom requiring upkeep. The charring process hardens the timber, enhancing its durability against the elements.
Traditional Longevity
In Japan, charred timber cladding has traditionally lasted over 80 years without oiling.
Modern Best Practices
Today, it's recommended to oil the timber once before installation and again within six weeks. Depending on local conditions, reapplication is only needed every 5 to 7 years.
Enhanced Durability and Aesthetics
Charred timber is stronger than natural timber cladding and improves in appearance over time. While some homeowners oil it every 5-7 years to maintain a fresh look, it’s not necessary.
Warranty Considerations
Although shou sugi ban is oil maintenance-free with some timbers, the timber manufacturer's warranties may require an oil maintenance cycle. where this is the case this requirement takes priority.
Stronger Stable Timber
The Japanese developed charring timber cladding as a way of improving the strength and performance of timber homes.
The process of charring timber case-hardens the outer cell layers through very high heat conditioning. The timber becomes both stronger and more stable from being exposed to high temperatures, much like the process used in the thermal modification by Abodo Wood.
Stability in timber is critically important when reducing cupping and shrinking caused by weather changes. With our charred timber cladding we choose naturally strong stable timbers and then improve their characteristics with our unique charring technology.
Improved Natural Resistance
Improved Natural Resistance
Charring timber cladding causes an important reaction making our timber more unattractive to bugs and fungi.
The cell structure of timber is 65 to 90% Hemi-cellulose which is a tasty sugar to bugs and fungi. The charring process causes this food source to be burnt off leaving strong, but not tasty, lignin behind.
No food source means the timber is of no interest to fungi or bugs. Additionally, the charred timber is now case-hardened making it more difficult for unwanted pests to penetrate.
The charred surface is also a natural hydrophobic protection against weathering, at the same time as being fire retardant.
Environmentally Correct
At The Blackwood Project, we ensure a clean, healthy future by enhancing timber stability, durability, and lifespan using fire, without chemicals.
We select naturally durable species and use a low-carbon flash firing process, avoiding the high energy consumption of kilns used for thermal modification.
Timber cladding locks away carbon, with each tonne of timber sequestering 1.7 tonnes of CO2. Shou sugi ban is a chemical-free, eco-friendly method that ensures your timber lasts a lifetime, benefiting future generations.
Yakisugi offers healthier, non-toxic, natural cladding, making it the right environmental choice. Rest easy knowing you’ve contributed positively to the planet.
Suyaki.
Traditional full charred finishes. Dark, moody textured timber.
Suyaki, the traditional finish for Shou Sugi Ban, showcases the original char of timber cladding. The 100% UV-proof char repels water, and slows photodegradation requiring minimal maintenance.
Dive into the timeless allure of Suyaki, where the timber is fully charred to achieve a deep, rich finish. This classic option exudes sophistication and durability, making it a perfect choice for both traditional and modern designs.
Charred at 1060°C and immediately spritzed to temper it, we apply the first oil coat at the factory for comprehensive coverage on all sides. This locks in char particles, preventing black residue and extending the char's life.
While it naturally erodes over decades, reapplying oil every 5-7 years ensures prolonged durability. Embrace the evolving finish, revealing the beautiful grain beneath, ultimately transitioning to a Gendai finish.
Before making yakisugi cladding part of our timber business, we needed to see the process and the product in its traditional setting. Our interest was sparked after supplying a large project in Auckland, that featured on Grand Designs, where the home-owner charred his own timber.
We flew to Japan to see how shou sugi ban was made by the masters, and hoped to learn why it works so well. We were impressed, and it was reassuring to see so many old examples of yakisugi 30 and 40 years old still looking great today, some examples were over 120 years old.
As timber professionals we could see excellent benefits to the end user from the yakisugi process that made the timber stronger, more stable and maintenance free.
With what we learnt in Japan, we started to experiment with yakisugi using different effective burning techniques. After 1000s of hours and tenfold as many meters of timber we made good progress. Now we are very excited to say we have been offering Yakisugi Japanese charred cladding since 2018.
Alto
Accoya
TMT Pine
TempleWood
Alto
Accoya
TMT Pine
TempleWood
Alto
Accoya
TMT Pine
TempleWood
Suyaki.
Traditional full charred finishes. Dark, moody textured timber.
Alto
Accoya
TMT Pine
Temple Wood
Suyaki, the traditional finish for Shou Sugi Ban, showcases the original char of timber cladding. The 100% UV-proof char repels water, and slows photodegradation requiring minimal maintenance.
Dive into the timeless allure of Suyaki, where the timber is fully charred to achieve a deep, rich finish. This classic option exudes sophistication and durability, making it a perfect choice for both traditional and modern designs.
Charred at 1060°C and immediately spritzed to temper it, we apply the first oil coat at the factory for comprehensive coverage on all sides. This locks in char particles, preventing black residue and extending the char's life.
While it naturally erodes over decades, reapplying oil every 5-7 years ensures prolonged durability. Embrace the evolving finish, revealing the beautiful grain beneath, ultimately transitioning to a Gendai finish.
Gendai.
Charred and smooth brushed. Enhanced grain , intriguing embossed patterns.
Gendai, our highly popular charred timber finish, features a smooth texture that accentuates the wood grain's inner beauty, yet carried a subtle embossed pattern from where the char once was.
Charred and Brushed: Experience the understated elegance of Gendai, a finish that combines the rustic charm of charred timber with a refined brushed texture. The result is a surface that offers depth and character while maintaining a sleek and contemporary appearance.
Achieved through deep charring followed by vigorous brushing with a high-speed quad head brushing unit, Gendai comes with a factory-coated oil stain in clear or black, enhancing the lifespan of the Yakisugi timber and showcasing its beautiful grain.
As the UV protective layer of char has been removed, to maintain colour reapply stain every 3-5 years to preserve its ebony black appearance. Or you can allow the colour to fade and slowly change over time.
Accoya
Western Red Cedar
TMT Pine
Temple Wood
Pika Pika.
Charred 2x Brushed. Highly textural, light colours
Alto
Accoya
TMT Pine
Temple Wood
Charred and Double Brushed: Elevate your space with Pika Pika, a finish that pushes the boundaries of traditional charred timber. Through a double brushing process, the grain clarity is enhanced, and a modern twist is introduced, adding a touch of sophistication to any setting.
Pika Pika offers a distinctive textural finish and striking contrast achieved through a single intense burn and double brushing process.
This specialized charred and brushed timber cladding finish is receptive to colored stains, excelling in absorbing oil stains and accentuating the wood's inherent beauty.
The second brush, a specialized head, intensifies timber textures, cleans residual char, and restores the natural color of the wood, with some timbers the winter grain retains its distinctive black ridges adding contrast to texture.
Why choose us?
Expertise:
With years of experience in the industry, we are experts in the art of Japanese charred timber finishes. Our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional results that exceed your expectations.
Innovation:
We pride ourselves on our innovative approach to traditional techniques. By combining the ancient art of charred wood with modern technology, we create finishes that are both timeless and cutting-edge.
Quality:
Quality is at the forefront of everything we do. From the selection of timber to the finishing touches, we uphold the highest standards to ensure that each product meets our rigorous quality control measures.