Shou Sugi Ban

Shou Sugi Ban, or yakisugi, is timber charred on the face by the traditional Japanese method. The burn brings up the grain, hardens the surface and leaves a black to charcoal finish that needs no paint or stain. It is used on facades, garden walls, fences, feature walls and fireplace surrounds, outside and in.

What we stock

• Widths: 70 mm and 120 mm boards
• Species: Callitris (native Australian cypress), Australian hardwood, or a BAL-29 rated Australian hardwood
• Bushfire: the BAL-29 hardwood option covers bushfire-prone sites to BAL-29; tell us the rating on your report before you order
• Finish: charred face, black to charcoal, with tone that varies by species and board

Choosing a species

Callitris is a native cypress, naturally termite resistant, lighter to handle and the lower-priced option. Australian hardwood is denser and holds the charred surface longer under weather, and the BAL-29 grade is the one to use in a bushfire zone. On a feature wall inside, either works; on a facade facing north or west, the hardwood earns its price.

Fixing and care

Fix over a breathable wrap and a ventilated cavity batten so the wall can drain. Pre-drill, keep fixings 12 mm from the ends, and use stainless steel within 1 km of the coast. A charred face can mark hands and clothing until it has been sealed, so ask us whether your boards have been oiled and, if not, coat them with a clear penetrating oil before or soon after fixing. Left bare the char weathers slowly to a softer grey-black; an oil every couple of years keeps it deep black.

Goes with

Ventilated cavity battens, CUTEK CD50 oil and stainless screws from our cladding accessories. Compare it with Blackbutt and grey ironbark cladding, or see the full external cladding range.

Stocked at 170 Settlement Road, Thomastown, with pickup or delivery across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Call (03) 9465 9875 with your wall sizes and BAL rating and we will quote the boards and battens.