Shou Sugi Ban Technique: How Degmeda Makes Charred Wood

Shou Sugi Ban is the widely recognised international name for a wood-charring technique associated with traditional Japanese exterior cladding; Yakisugi is the established Japanese term, and the terminology article sets out the distinction. Degmeda applies controlled modern production to suitable timber species, creating defined charred wood products for contemporary architecture.

Degmeda’s production sequence begins before a board reaches the furnaces. Timber inspection, burning, brushing, oiling and packaging are connected by quality checks so the finished product follows its defined appearance and specification.

Before Production: Timber Inspection

Every timber delivery is inspected when it arrives. The team checks the boards and sorts them where needed before production begins. This first step helps ensure that the raw material is suitable for the intended Degmeda product.

Wood is a natural material, so grain, knots and tone vary from board to board. Inspection does not remove that character. It helps the team work with the natural variation in a controlled and visually balanced way.

The Four Manufacturing Stages

1. Burning

The boards pass through Degmeda’s furnaces, where fire creates a carbonised surface on the exposed face. Every board follows the same controlled burning process. Every board leaves the furnaces as Deep Char; what happens after that decides which product it becomes.

The boards are inspected before moving to the next stage.

2. Brushing

After burning, the surface is treated according to the finish being produced. For brushed finishes, the carbonised surface layer is removed to reveal the wood grain beneath. The final appearance depends on the species, as each timber has its own grain pattern and natural variation — best wood types compares them.

Deep Char is not brushed back to the exposed grain. It retains the carbonised surface created during burning, giving the boards their distinctive texture.

The surface and overall condition of the boards are checked after brushing.

3. Oiling

Oil is applied according to the selected product finish. It gives the boards their specified colour and adds protection to the surface. On brushed finishes, the grain and natural variation in the wood remain visible through the colour, and the colour guide explains how to judge a tone before ordering.

The colour, coverage and surface are checked before the boards move forward. When choosing a product, compare samples of the same species, colour and surface finish you intend to specify.

4. Packaging

The finished boards receive a final quality check before packaging. They are packed to protect the finished surfaces during storage and transport.

Each package includes storage guidance. After delivery, the boards should be stored, handled and installed according to the instructions supplied with the product.

Quality Control at Every Stage

Quality control is not limited to the final package. It accompanies the full workflow: incoming timber inspection, burning, brushing, oiling and packaging. Each stage provides an opportunity to identify a board that needs attention before it moves forward.

This structure helps Degmeda maintain a consistent product direction while respecting the natural variation that makes real timber distinctive.

From Product Sample to Production Order

A physical sample is the best starting point for confirming species, surface, colour and texture. Charring a piece of timber by hand is a different exercise altogether, covered in how to give wood a burnt look, and it is worth understanding why a hand-charred sample and a manufactured board are not the same product. Because timber varies naturally, a sample defines the product direction rather than promising that every grain pattern will be identical.

For larger projects, a multi-board sample or agreed reference area can help the designer and client understand variation across several boards. The final order should clearly record the product name, species, finish, profile and intended use.

How the Process Shapes the Product Range

The manufacturing route creates different families of Degmeda charred wood. Deep Char surfaces preserve a strong carbonised texture. Brushed products reveal more grain, while oiled finishes introduce carefully selected colours. Species such as spruce, larch and Thermo Pinus Radiata add their own natural character, and the styles guide shows how each finished surface reads.

The result is not one generic “burnt wood” appearance. It is a defined product whose surface, colour and use should be specified accurately.

Learn More About the Technique

This article explains Degmeda’s production workflow. For the broader background, terminology, design uses and performance considerations, read the What Is Shou Sugi Ban. For how the boards behave once they are installed, see durability, water resistance and cleaning.