History of perfection

Taming fire might have been the main achievement of humanity. The fire has helped us to survive as a species and develop our civilizations.

For thousands of years, people have been burning wood to cook food, warm their houses, mark religious celebrations or destroy their enemies. Ask anyone, and they will tell you that fire is the worst enemy and biggest threat for wood. But one day, people realized that it is the fire that can make wood undefeatable.

At first sight. It is the main principle that lies in the Shou Sugi Ban or Yakisigi technology. The exact name for the procedure may vary according to dialect and traditions in different regions of Japan. However, in both cases, the term’s translation is more or less the same – a Fire Board.

We all know that Japan has, for a long time, stayed a pretty discreet region that has been zealously guarding its traditions and history as well as technologies. Therefore today, it is pretty hard to say when the Shou Sugi Ban technology was invented and give any precise facts about its application history. However, most archeologists and historians agree that Shou Sugi Ban dates way beyond our era. Some of the most spectacular and ancient Shou Sugi Ban samples, known today, are as old as 1,300 years.

The very fact that those samples of furniture and architecture have been found preserved in their original state for so many years demonstrates the unique effectiveness of this technology.

Today the look that outdoor furniture obtains as the result of Shou Sugi Ban is the hottest trend that you may find on the pages of the most reputable design magazines and blog profiles. However, in addition to the undeniable aesthetic appeal, Shou Sugi Ban has some unique practical benefits for the wood.

As astonishing as it might sound, through the Shou Sugi Ban care technique, fire makes a wood insect and water-resistant and… fireproof.

Let’s take a closer look at those incredible effects of Shou Sugi Ban.

Insect and pest-resistant wood

Once you chose to invest in natural wooden decking for your property or prefer natural wooden outdoor furniture, termites and other pests and insects may become your ultimate nightmare.

Not only they will constantly devalue your property or furniture, but their hunger may lead to serious safety issues, forcing you to spend fortunes on the maintenance and prophylactics for your wooden belongings.

Shou Sugi Ban solves this problem instantly by making wood absolutely unedible for all those saboteurs. In fact, those pests and insects are hungry for a particular element in a wood called Hemicelluloses. When the wood is burnt properly during the Shou Sugi Ban procedure, hemicelluloses evaporate from the wood, making it absolutely unattractive for any vermins.

Even if termites or any other pests will decide to taste your wooden furniture, likely, they will eventually consider it inedible and leave your property.

Fire makes wood water-resistant

No matter how dense and polished it is, wood is an incredibly porous material. Once the tree is rowing as a plant, those pores are crucial for the balanced circulation of air and moisture. Once wood becomes a piece of furniture or a part of the architecture, this porous structure becomes the main threat to is durability. Technically, the wood starts to soak water like a sponge. It compromises both its looks and durability.

Shou Sugi Ban shrinks those pores in seals them. Take a closer look at two pieces of wood before and after the procedure, and you will instantly notice that the difference between the two samples is like between a sponge and a rock.

Due to the Shou Sugi Ban technique, the wood loses its ability to soak water. You may use such wooden decks and furniture next to the swimming pool or pond, leave it out during the rainy season and forget about rotting, soaking and annual waterproof maintenance.

Fire makes wood fireproof

This might be the most confusing effect of Shou Sugi Ban. Therefore we have left it for the desert. Everyone knows that fire is the main threat to the wood. So, how can it actually protect it and make your wooden furniture or decking fire-resistant?

The answer lies in the very structure of wood. If you look at a cut of a wooden plank under a microscope, you will notice that just like our skin, wood has several layers. However, unlike our skin with its most durable layer on the surface, a piece of wood is covered with a soft and most vulnerable layer.

Once exposed to fire, this layer starts to burn easily, and if the fire is not managed, the burning continues, turning into a fire. During the Shou Sugi Ban procedure, we burn this soft and vulnerable outer layer. Simultaneously, as we have already described, the wood piece starts to shrink and close the pores in the deeper layers. The art of Shou Sugi Ban is to catch the precise moment and manage the fire accordingly.

That is why it is highly recommended not to turn it into a DIY project and address a qualified professional who will take responsibility for the procedure and ensure fire safety. For example, here at Sydney Staining Services, we always transport the items to the workshop to perform Shou Sugi Ban correctly and guarantee your safety and convenience.

During the Shou Sugi Ban procedure, the soft outer layer of woods turns into carbon, making the wood significantly more durable and fire-resistant.

Except for the obvious safety benefits, Shou Sugi Ban saves you a lot of time, nerves, and fortunes maintaining the wood. After this procedure, you don’t have to worry about your wooden furniture during the hottest summer, coldest winter, in the autumn or snowmelt season – it will always stay strong and firm. Shou Sugi Ban makes wood unattractive for insects, pests and resistant to all kinds of mould. The procedure’s effect lasts for about 80 years, therefore from now on, you may look at your woodwork as a lifetime investment, a legacy that you will proudly leave to your heirs.

Benefits of Shou Sugi Ban

Now that we have described the principles and practical effect of Shou Sugi Ban let’s take a closer look at its benefits that have made this ancient technique one of the hottest trends of modern design

Highlighting the beauty of natural wood

Once you truly appreciate the texture and aesthetics of natural wood, you may want to find a way to preserve it without the thread of altering or vulgarizing it. In a way, it is the inevitable effect of most varnishing and staining methods available today.

Due to various technique possibilities, Shou Sugi Ban does not just protect the wood. It makes it more durable but instantly highlights each piece’s unique texture, brings out its natural lines, and enhances the colour tones.

Unlimited space for creativity

Combining different techniques on the same sample of wood or various types of wood in one item, a professional Shou Sugi Ban master creates truly unique woodwork masterpieces. This technique allows you to obtain truly one of a kind design that will last for decades, becoming a part of your family tradition.

Turning every piece of wood into a designer item

While a true professional knows the peculiarities and hidden gems of every wood type, through Shou Sugi Ban, one may create designer pieces that will fit into any property exterior or become an ultimate centrepiece. Once you trust an expert, you may be sure that your bravest design fantasies or the most challenging mix-and-match puzzles will be solved instantly, and you will get a piece of woodwork to be proud of for many decades.

Do you need help to do it?

As you see, Shou Sugi Ban is a truly unique solution. It allows you to save a lot of time and money on wood maintenance, protect your outdoor furniture and make it safer. Moreover, Shou Sugi Ban provides an inimitable aesthetic effect that will instantly turn any piece of wood into a designer item, enhancing and highlighting its best qualities.

However, it is essential to remember that all those benefits result from hard work, expertise and knowledge. Shou Sugi Ban is not a DIY project. It requires the highest level of relevant skills and experience. Not to mention the equipment and safety code, which are crucial for success.

Here at Sydney Staining Service, we treat your property with great attention and respect. With our years of expertise and experience, we guarantee our customers hi-quality work and comprehensive service at every stage.

Contact us today and learn how your outdoor furniture may benefit from Shou Sugi Ban and our various other services!