HOW BEST TO LOVE YOUR SHOU SUGI BAN: Top tips to extend the life of your Shou Sugi Ban charred wood.

Shou Sugi Ban might be a time-honored method for preserving wood with flame, but the modern-day maintenance of your Shou Sugi Ban siding or cladding might be a bit of a mystery. So, we have compiled a few easy to remember bullet points.

•  Keep it simple: don’t power wash it.

Power washing will remove the top layer of your finish and permanently alter the look of your product.  

•  Give it space inside or outside: avoid repeated abrasion.

Scuffs, wear marks, and abrasions are permanent once they penetrate the char layer of the wood.

•  Keep landscaping away as rubbing branches or other obstructions will damage the surface of the wood over time.

Landscaping and foliage can scuff and scrape through the char layer of the wood as the wind blows against them causing damage.

•  Leave distance between the ground and the first row of planks to minimize water marks and surface erosion.

Installing wood siding too close to the ground, also known as the “splash zone”, can cause repeated prolonged contact with rainwater and backsplash from the ground level leading to rot and decay. 

• Prevent furniture from contacting the surface.

Scuffs, wear marks, and abrasions are permanent once they penetrate the char layer of the wood.

•  Celebrate its char: don’t try to burn it more!

Allowing the char layer change, age, and evolve is part of what make Shou Sugi Ban such a special process.

•  Let the wood breathe - install it with a proper rain screen (for exterior applications).

Siding must be protected from moisture with good air circulation for longevity.

BONUS NOTES!

• Step-by-step: follow your installation guide: Customer Resources | Pioneermillworks

• Keep a damp cloth handy to wipe away any loose soot created during installation.

For more on Shou Sugi Ban: 

Shou Sugi Ban Siding Installation Tips & Tricks

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW (BUT DIDN’T DARE ASK) ABOUT SHOU SUGI BAN

HISTORY OF SHOU SUGI BAN (YAKISUGI)