The traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique, originally performed with Japanese cedar (Sugi), is renowned for its unique method of wood preservation. By carefully charring the wood, a natural carbon layer is created that protects against fungi, insects, weather, and even fire.
Japanese cedar is originally a softwood, straight-grained, and easy to work with. Despite its long history of use, this wood is not optimal for durable cladding. The resulting carbon layer is too soft and wears relatively quickly when the material is exposed to prolonged rain and wind. The same applies to larch, spruce, and pine, which are also too soft.
At Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban, we therefore deliberately choose other wood types, species that have been proven to develop a strong, hard, and lasting carbon layer capable of withstanding extreme weather for decades. This is essential for high-quality, durable, and low-maintenance facades.
For us, quality means using only wood that meets the highest standards in terms of lifespan, stability, durability, and aesthetics. We exclusively select wood species that:
After extensive testing, we only select wood species that optimally respond to our unique charring technique. This results in facades with an exceptionally long lifespan and a consistently high-quality appearance.
For our Marugame product, we use Accoya®, made from fast-growing Radiata Pine from sustainably managed forests. Accoya is globally recognized as one of the most durable wood products: it is structurally enhanced through acetylation, placing it in durability class 1.
Our carefully controlled Shou Sugi Ban process creates an impressive “crocodile skin” pattern that remains stable for years, even under harsh weather conditions.
Our Yoroi product is made from thermally modified FSC® bamboo by MOSO® Bamboo X-treme. Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource and an excellent ecological alternative to tropical hardwood.
The fire-resistant properties remain for the entire lifespan because they originate from the intrinsic material density, not from surface treatments or flame-retardant impregnation.
Our Douglas comes from FSC®-certified Dutch forests. Douglas is naturally strong, relatively durable, and resin-rich, providing better protection against rot and fungi.
Untreated Douglas lasts approximately 10–15 years, but our Shou Sugi Ban technique at least doubles its lifespan, creating a durable protective carbon layer.
Our variants range from fully charred (Naoshima) to beautifully brushed with visible grain structure (Shodoshima, Sakaide, Takamatsu), each with a unique visual effect.
For Nakatado and Kyushu, we use thermally modified Pinus Radiata from FSC®-certified forests in New Zealand. Heating the wood to 230°C upgrades it to durability class 1 (EN350).
Both variants are brushed and stained after charring, resulting in a unique texture with depth and character.
Fraké, also known as Limba or African oak, is a beautiful hardwood from FSC®-certified West African forests. Thermal modification with steam and heat upgrades Fraké to durability class 1. The wood is preserved throughout, so operations like cutting or milling do not affect its lifespan.
Fraké is therefore an aesthetically distinctive wood for premium, durable cladding. The hard black carbon layer of Omiyama develops a beautiful bronze glow in sunlight. The deeply charred layer has a natural look with an irregular structure and withstands weather conditions well, making Omiyama highly suitable for durable facade finishes.
Wood species such as larch, spruce, and pine are sometimes charred on the market, but at Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban, we deliberately avoid them.
These woods are:
Since Shou Sugi Ban is intended to preserve wood, using species with too soft or weak a base is simply not responsible for high-quality, long-lasting facades.
The right wood type combined with the correct charring technique determines the lifespan of Shou Sugi Ban.
If you want to know which Shou Sugi Ban product is best for your project and how to apply it optimally, feel free to contact us for a consultation.
We have put together two Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban sample boxes: one for interior design applications and one for façade cladding.
That way, you can experience the attention, care and love we pour into each piece of wood yourself. And, of course, the beauty and exclusive looks the various textures have to offer.
