Charred timber cladding
Charred timber cladding, also called burnt or scorched wood cladding is a technique of treating wood by burnt its outmost surface, originally to help improve its durability but today also for aesthetic reasons.
The technique originates from Japan where it may be referred to as yakisugi, yakisugi-ita, or yakiita, it may also be called shou sugi ban which is a specific and registered type of charred wood product, which started to be manufactured in large scale after the 1970's. The charring of the wood, burning or scorching its surface, draws out the natural resins and creates a layer of carbon on its face, this layer as a result has increased resistance to water, rot, pests and indeed fire.
Its origins seem to stem from the periods of re-unification in Japan, and population boom, as fires were quite common place the technique became popular because materials other than wood were not readily available. In the centres man traditional houses along with merchant warehouses were built using the technique as a way of forging extra protection for valuable goods stored in the warehouses as well as homes. There is also some indication that charred timber was used in the construction traditional houses in countries such as Finland and Sweden, thought red ochre, locally called Falun red (or Falu red) paint with high levels of iron oxide is more common.
Today charred timber cladding is used as much for aesthetic reasons as for durability, although with the gradual reduction in the use chemical timber preservatives and greater awareness of environmental impacts of building materials charred cladding has had some what of a renaissance.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.
The Community Housing Fund and built affordable homes
CLTN reviews the impact of the Fund and calls for extension.
The grading system of the Regulator for Social Housing
A background, an explanation and ten recent enforcements.
Construction, repair and maintenance. Book review.
Putting new life into a city with a 1900 year history.
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.
Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians
Call for a shake-up of the construction industry highlighted on radio.
Digital sustainability through future AEC tools
Bringing together industry and academia to meet challenges.
Skills gap for net zero highlighted to Minister for Industry
ECA convenes roundtable discussion at Portcullis House.
Evidencing Net Zero with the new UK buildings standard
Pilot version with detailed excel proforma out now!
Scottish Building Safety Levy, in consultation
From direct remediation and the RPDT, to the costs and alternatives.
Waves of warmer homes grants for the rental sector
Boosting energy efficiency standards for all rented homes.
A refocus of the National Planning Policy Framework
Key terms described in brief, as the consultation closes the evening of the 24th.
Fortified farmhouses of the unruly 16th-and 17th-century borders.