Traditionally Inspired, American Made
Pioneer Millworks Shou Sugi Ban is our dramatic take on the centuries old tradition of Yakisugi, charred wood, or burned siding -- but made right here in the United States at our employee-owned mill in Oregon. Protecting quality, American jobs, supply chain, and timelines.
Textured Black
For a traditional Shou Sugi Ban look, with an iridescent black choose from our Deep Char options. With our Deep Char finishes the wood burned deep leaving an "alligator" texture that will wear over time and with exposure to the elements reveal the wood beneath.
To add longevity to this specific aesthetic we apply a black exterior finish on top of the alligator char. You can maintain this finish over time, or let the siding naturally weather embracing the Japanese wabi sabi or an aesthetic that appreciates the beauty of nature that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".
Swiring Color
Most of our charred wood options are "brushed", preserving the char in the late wood grain, adding a luxurious texture and accentuating the early wood in an array of colors. This Shou Sugi Ban siding is protected with low-VOC exterior finish.
For those interested in black but without the maintenance or aging of Deep Char, we suggest our Carbon and Charcoal finishes with black-ness that is easier to maintain over time.
Installation
Proper installation of exterior wood siding is KEY to its success. ALL of our siding options, including Shou Sugi Ban, require a rainscreen when installed. Acclimation of your siding at the job site, and proper storage of material until installed, is also important. You can find our installation and acclimation guides here.
Maintenance
Like all exterior wood siding, Shou Sugi Ban needs to be maintained over time to keep it looking good. What "looking good" means is defined by you. Many of our charred siding finishes are designed to age over time allowing the wood to change in look but stay strong in protecting your building or home. Others in our Shou Sugi Ban line are designed to be up-kept so that color can stay as bright at the day they are installed.
Either way, the side of the building and its exposure (or not) to sun, wind, abrasion will affect the timeline of your maintenance. Talk with our sales team about the best species and finish option for your project's situation.
On Cedar
Pioneer Millworks Shou Sugi Ban uses PEFC-certified Larch as an alternative to Cedar, the traditional softwood of Yakisugi (which literally translates to "burned cedar"). With the demand on cedar, its unreliable supply chain and over-foresting, the quality of today's cedar doesn't match its historic accolades. Larch is a domestic species out of the Pacific Northwest, is equal or better in longevity to today's cedar, and is a bi-product species to the harvesting of Douglas fir. If you want to read more about why we love Larch, hop over to our blog on the subject. Oh -- and it takes a burn BEAUTIFULLY.
Charred for Interior
Don't forget that Shou Sugi Ban makes a great interior paneling. When using charred siding inside, we recommend our brushed Shou Sugi Ban options which have less char exposed (which means less soot and no flaking). Interior burned paneling is a great place to play with color, the visual texture from a well-installed Shou Sugi Ban (shown here in a chevron) is unmatched. Pair it with Pioneer Millworks wide Natural Expressions flooring for a grounding element to your space and a whole-room solution.
