What is Yakisugi & How to Finish with Oil
Finishing Yakisugi with Oil
Ziggy Liloia
Yakisugi, the traditional Japanese wood preservation and finishing method, has been increasing in popularity outside of Japan for the past 5-10 years. Note that I’m referring to “shou sugi ban” here, which is actually a mistranslation so I’ll be using the original “yakisugi” terminology here.
What is Yakisugi?
Yakisugi is the process of charring the exterior face of siding boards to enhance the durability of the wood. The idea is that this layer of charcoal can improve fire resistance, protect against insect damage, and help repel water – all very desirable for wood siding in challenging climates. Not only that, but the stark black appearance is very striking as well.
The charring methods and aesthetic have since been used on all sorts of other wood surfaces other than siding, including furniture and timbers. We’ve heard from customers experimenting with yakisugi finishing on raised garden beds, timber frames, and fine furniture.
Can You Finish Yakisugi?
For the most part, traditional yakisugi siding would have been charred and installed without any additional brushing or finishing. Again, we now have many individuals and companies experimenting with brushed surfaces and oil finishes to enhance and further protect the wood. So can you use our oil products on yakisugi?
In a word, yes! Our oil finishes rapidly penetrate and are absorbed by yakisugi wood surfaces, which can enhance the appearance and performance of the wood. Because the charred wood is so obviously dry, you can easily douse the wood with oil. You do not need to wipe it down, in fact you are encouraged not to because it can mar or disrupt the delicate surface.
What are the Advantages of Oiling Yakisugi?
The big advantage of oiling yakisugi wood surfaces is that it can actually help stabilize the soot. Ordinarily, untreated yakisugi will naturally flake and weather, gradually losing the outermost layer of charcoal. Oil can help bond this charcoal layer to the wood, increasing the longevity of the dramatic charred appearance.
More generally, oil will also help with repelling rainwater and the elements. For any exterior yakisugi projects, we recommend our Original Finish. You do not specifically need the UV and mildewcide additives in our Exterior Finish, since yakisugi is naturally mildew and UV-resistant.
We encourage you to experiment with this beautiful finishing method, and see what interesting aesthetic effects you can achieve with yakisugi and our Original Finish.
Sources:
https://nakamotoforestry.com/japanese-flame-treated-wood/
https://japanwoodcraftassociation.com/traditions/techniques/yakisugi-shou-sugi-ban/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakisugi
https://pioneermillworks.com/blog/history-of-shou-sugi-ban-yakisugi