Charred wood siding

Yakisugi Wood from Japan

The exclusive aesthetics of charred wood siding convey powerful beauty and a natural appeal, while being highly durable when treated correctly. Charred wood siding, created using the Yakisugi technique , offers not only a striking appearance but also exceptional longevity. This traditional Japanese heat treatment, known as Yakisugi (or Shou Sugi Ban), involves charring the surface of the wood, creating a carbonised layer that naturally repels insects and water.

Charred wood siding stands out significantly from conventional siding solutions in Europe. Even world-renowned architects have recognised its unique qualities and are using it extensively, such as the contemporary Japanese architect and designer Terunobu Fujimori.

Choosing charred wood siding gives your property a distinctive and enduring finish, combining sustainable materials with timeless Japanese craftsmanship.

Benefits of Charred Wood Siding

Durable and Low-Maintenance Design Statement

In Europe, this Japanese wood treatment is still something of a rarity – which makes charred wood siding especially attractive for those who want an exclusive and eye-catching design for their property. The charring process not only gives the charred wood a unique texture but also makes it water-repellent and significantly increases its durability.

Thanks to the traditional heat treatment, Yakisugi is resistant to rot and thus achieves exceptional weather resistance without any additional protective coating. It effortlessly defies the most adverse conditions, be it humidity, moisture, extreme heat, or frost.

Yakisugi is characterised by its remarkable durability. Sugi (Japanese cypress) is by nature superior in durability compared to conventional European cladding timber. The Yakisugi heat treatment adds further decades of years to this natural durability: there are numerous buildings in Japan with Yakisugi façades which are over 80 years old and have lost nothing of their beauty and functionality.

The Nakamoto Forestry family business in Japan produces Yakisugi for over 60 years. Typical to Japan, we do think in generations. Sustainability therefore is top priority in all production and processing steps to ensure that future generations can continue to use resources responsibly.

The cypress timber used for our Yakisugi come from our own forest stands and are selected with the utmost care. The burning process, which has been refined over decades, is continuously developed to offer you outstanding quality for your building project.

Our Yakisugi is the Japanese original, made from Japanese cypress and burned exclusively in Japan. The Nakamoto family has been active in wood production for over one hundred years and has been refining the boards from its own production using the traditional Yakisugi method for more than 60 years.

Charred wood in Yakisugi Style

The Japanese Original

Our charred wood is perfect for those who seek nothing but the original from Japan. Nakamoto Forestry, a family-run business, uses only genuine Japanese cypress (Sugi). This wood naturally holds several advantages over conventional cladding woods from Europe: Sugi wood is lighter, dimensionally stable, provides high natural durability, and is virtually resin-free.

A Yakisugi charred wood siding offers an excellent environmental footprint, impressing with its sustainable production and processing. This traditional technique requires no chemical treatments or solvents to protect the wood.

The timeless design will impress homeowners and their guests for years and decades to come.

Order your Yakisugi charred wood siding!

Comprehensive Advice for Your Charred Siding Project

We offer Yakisugi in three traditional surface finishes: Suyaki, Gendai, and Pika-Pika. The appearance of the charred wood can be customised to your personal preferences using oils and stains.

We pride ourselves on delivering short lead times and the highest quality in both our products and customer service.

Our Yakisugi (Shou Sugi Ban) products

Overview of our Yakisugi varieties

SUYAKI

The original yakisugi

Suyaki is the original Yakisugi variety and the stand-out surface treatment. The firing process gives it a charred layer of midnight-black soot and its characteristic texture some compare to alligator skin. A definite conversation-starter and the choice for anyone who wants their project to stand out from the crowd.

GENDAI

brushed once

The silky-smooth finish of our Gendai products comes courtesy of a first-pass brushing of the soot layer, while subtly preserving the remnants of the charring process. This has become the go-to choice for many of our customers with outdoor installations and no wonder – it’s ideal whatever your concept and project.

PIKA-PIKA

brushed twice

The vivid contrasts and uneven texture of wood given the Pika-Pika (a Japanese onomatopoeic word meaning ‘shining’ and often used for something visually appealing) treatment come after the soot layer of the charred wood is twice-brushed. Already striking in its natural state, brushing twice along the wood grain intensifies its impact even more.