Shou Sugi Ban- Popular Japanese Wood Charring Technique Providing Several Benefits

Shou Sugi Ban also known as Yakisugi is an old Japanese technique for exterior siding which preserves the wood by charring it with fire. Sugi in Japanese means wood and it is also known as the Japanese Cedar which his normally used during the charring process. There are 4 stages in the process:

• Charring the wood
• Cooling it
• Cleaning post charring
• Finishing it with natural oil.

In English, Shou Sugi Ban (Japanese Wood Charring Technique) is also known as carbonized wood. The charring is usually done on thin planks of wood which draws out the moisture from the wood by protecting it through the resultant chemical compound.

What are the Benefits of Shou Sugi Ban?

There are quite a few benefits of this charring technique. They are:

• Durability- A lightly charred wood is expected to remain for 80 years thus increasing the life expectancy of your home. However, you have to maintain it properly.
• Pest Resistant- Termites and other pests hate the taste of burnt wood thus making the property pest resistant for good reason. It will also contribute to enhanced living.
• Fire Resistant- Charring of a wood piece can provide it with flame retardant properties. Isn’t that great?!
• Aesthetics- Charring of wood can contribute to the aesthetics as well. You will derive a number of attractive colors depending on how much charring the wood has incurred. You can also brush deeply to further enhance or alter colors. It can also be stained so that you get more variety in design for the wood. There are some interesting designs that can be found on the wood due to the charring and staining.
• Water Resistant- The fact that the carbonized wood is treated with oil makes it water resistant. Moreover, treating the charred wood with oil has also made it mold resistant along with being water resistant.
• Life-cycle- Wood is a renewable resource and no amount of chemicals are needed to provide a finishing touch to it. Fossil fuels are also required for the burn process to complete. The increase in lifespan makes the sacrifice insignificant.
• All these above mentioned benefits make the practice of charring wood feasible and significant.

Maintaining Yakisugi

Maintaining Yakisugi is easy. If the original purpose of using it is to have it installed outside and exposed to weather, it should be oiled every 10-15 years. This is the standard treatment for wood exposed to outside weather. It does not take much to maintain charred wood. Oiling the wood will help maintain its color in the most natural and original form while also making it water-resistant for a prolonged period of time.
All this treatment is only for the wood that will be exposed to outside weather. If the wood has been installed only for interior purposes, then does not even require oiling for maintenance. If the charred wood is used for the purpose of making furniture, then the maintenance routine will be different, though not complicated at all. For instance, if it is used for the purpose of making a coffee table, then it can be maintained with the help of oil and sand. However, only a single coat of oil is necessary for the purpose.