Yakiita

Yakiita is a remarkable wood processing technique that’s becoming more and more popular as time goes by. That’s because people around the globe simply can’t resist the elegant looks and benefits of charred wood as a building material. If you’ve never heard about this technique but are interested in lumber as a construction material, it might be time to learn about it. Read on to discover how burnt timber can stylize your home, inside and out.

DEGMEDA Light Grey Charred Larch Wood

DEGMEDA Shou Sugi Ban Dark Grey Accoya® Wood

DEGMEDA Shou Sugi Ban Deep Char Accoya® Wood

DEGMEDA Dark Brown Burnt Larch Wood

DEGMEDA Red Amber Charred Spruce Wood

DEGMEDA Deep Char Charred Larch Wood

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What Is Yakiita Wood?

If you’re interested in burnt wood, you may be already familiar with Shou Sugi Ban and Yakisugi. In brief, these are two methods of lumber preservation through scorching aimed to make timber more durable and aesthetically pleasing. The difference between these techniques is that the first method is related to charring various woods, while the second is about burning cedarwood.

Things are a little different when it comes to Yakiita. While the previous two methods are more specific, this lumber preservation technique covers all wood types for charring. With this method, one can burn timber sawn in different shapes and sizes. Since the method works with all kinds of lumber for charring, the possibilities for creating a spectacular, unique burnt wood structure are limitless.

In terms of the change the timber undergoes when scorched, it all comes down to breaking complex carbon molecules. Obviously, this is not different from the changes wood goes through during Shou Sugi Ban and Yakisugi. That’s understandable because, after all, there’s only one way to char lumber. Of course, it is up to customers to decide how deeply burnt they want their timber to be. Their decision has to do with how they want the wood to look at the end of the process.

Processing Wood With the Yakiita Technique

Turning lumber into Yakiita wood is something that only professionals know how to do best. Due to the several steps involved in this technique, some experience is essential to get the best results. After all, it was the knowledgeable craftsmen who helped the tradition of this wood-burning style find its place in modern architecture. Therefore, don’t try any DIY experiments before you know how to actually char lumber.

The first step of the technique is, of course, scorching the timber. To do this, professionals use propane torches or simply put the wood in a specialized oven. This step requires a lot of skill and is followed by brushing the excess soot from the lumber. This second step will define the wood’s looks depending on how deep and long you brush the planks. Once the timber is scorched and brushed, the professionals will wash off the wood’s surface and let the boards dry.

After all this, the craftsmen decide whether to finish the wood or not, depending on their clients’ requests. While unfinished wood preserves its natural appearance, applying oil enhances the lumber’s durability and helps it last longer. Since this wood-burning method can be applied on sawn timber, there’s a lot of room to get creative and complete a truly unique project. Professionals can help you develop your idea by using their skills and vast experience in this ancient craft.

Yakiita Wood Siding

Your house facade could reflect your aesthetic tastes, and the Yakiita technique can definitely help you achieve that. Siding/cladding your home with scorched timber will draw attention, even if you decide to use this material partially. Burnt wood perfectly complements other building materials and gives a fresh, unique feel to the entire structure. Because of that, charred timber is widely used in countries like Sweden, Canada, and the USA.

However, having a facade made of burnt planks is more than aesthetically pleasing. Thanks to the burning process, this wood is incredibly resistant to harsh climates and unpredictable weather conditions. Fire destroys the cellulose in the upper layers of the plank and shrinks the wood’s pores. These changes in the lumber structure make it water, fire, wind, and insect resistant, transforming it into the perfect outdoor building material.

Since this method of preserving wood works great with different wood types, you can decorate your house with many beautiful, original grain patterns. Furthermore, because Yakiita transforms sawn wood into state-of-the-art structures, you can design the siding to fit your taste down to the last detail. The planks’ shape will let you turn all your design ideas into a reality without compromising even the most demanding ones. This is how Japanese woodworking tradition can stylize and improve the look and feel of your house.

Yakiita Wood Deck

Yakiita wood is also the perfect material for your deck. Nothing like the satisfying sound of timber when you put your feet on it, right? Also, these decks look beautiful, feel soft, and are very comfy to walk on. This is due to burning the wood, but also because the timber becomes smooth after being properly oiled. At Degmeda, we use either hybrid water-based or natural oil to make your decking dream come true.

Oiling the planks doesn’t only make them look pretty, however. Treating the wood this way actually helps it endure harsh weather factors, like water and snow. These elements often have people suspicious when considering wood as an option for their outdoor flooring. But that’s not something to be concerned about when burnt wood is in question. Its moisture-resistant properties make it a fantastic material for your deck.

Because decks are outside, the lumber used for them should be charred well. If the manufacturers of scorched boards fail to burn the wood correctly, it may not be as resistant to exterior conditions. Properly preserved planks are scorched at 1100 °C and have darker colors. However, their grain is still exposed and looks phenomenal. Overall, timber that’s left in the hands of professionals will be both beautiful and long-lasting.

Yakiita Wood Fence

Your fence doesn’t have to be a stainless steel fortress that doesn’t match your garden’s natural landscape. Instead, you can choose to secure your home with charred wood. The lumber and its grain pattern will look magnificent outside, regardless of the season. In fact, the wood’s resistance to the elements will help it grace the outer borders of your home with beauty and longevity.

Fences show the true worth of the Yakiita method. Unlike decorative charred lumber used inside a house, fencing doesn’t only decorate your yard but keep you safe as well. If burnt timber was delicate and had a tendency to rot, people would’ve witnessed its decay in front of their homes. However, preserved wood can endure heat, cold, water, and insects, and last for 10, 50, or even 100 years with proper care!

Again, we have to remind you that we’re talking about wooden boards here. Still, they’re burnt, and, unlike unprocessed wood, they can’t rot or decay quickly after being put around your house. Furthermore, they won’t be releasing any hazardous substances into your garden’s soil and contaminate your plants. Therefore, if you’re looking for an eco-friendly solution for any issues you’re experiencing with fencing, scorched wood is a great choice.

The Characteristics of Yakiita Wood

Yakiita wood has a lot of beneficial characteristics that make people choose it as their construction material. For starters, charred timber looks fantastic whether you use it indoors or outdoors. Its particularly decorative texture and unique grain patterns leave room for the execution of fantastic creative projects. You can use burnt lumber only or experiment by mixing different materials – the choice is yours. The process of preservation doesn’t impact the wood’s breathability, however.

Of course, no one would’ve been interested in scorched planks if it wasn’t for their outstanding resistance to elements and insects. Aesthetics alone wouldn’t have been enough for outdoor structures to endure weather changes or insects. Fortunately, the process of burning shrinks the wood’s pores and makes cellulose evaporate. Because of this, burnt boards are fully resistant to water, mold, and moss. Also, they can’t become a source of food for insects.

Another interesting fact about lumber preserved with fire is that this wood is fire-resistant. Naturally, scorched timber is hard to reignite. That said, this type of lumber offers excellent protection from different hazards and can last you a lifetime with appropriate maintenance. To treat it as needed, professionals will often lubricate the wood with natural or hybrid water-based oil. This practice preserves boards’ natural look, making them more durable, and it’s also eco-friendly.

Best Wood for Yakiita

Yakiita works best on softwood and its softer structure. Although some might perform the technique on hardwood as well, it’s a fact that fire-treating this type of lumber is more challenging. Because this compromises both its durability and aesthetics at the end of the process, most professionals apply the method on softwood only. That said, the best types of timber for charring are the following ones:

– Accoya

– Cedar

– Pine

– Spruce

– Larch/Siberian larch

Accoya wood is actually acetylated pinewood which cannot absorb moisture, so it’s perfect for all sorts of outdoor projects. Cedar trees are naturally moisture and rot-resistant, so they’re ideal for garden structures, including decks and facades. Thanks to its durability and shock-resistance, pinewood is often used in floors and areas designed for walking. Spruce is a great decorative material, but it is also sturdy enough to find its place on roofs, decks, and furniture. Larch is mold and insect-resistant, and it has an attractive grain pattern that can grace walls, floors, and facades.

Because of how flexible this charring lumber technique is, you can choose the type of wood you want to build into your home. You can also go for a combination of two or more timber types and design your home exactly the way you want it. All the types of lumber that we mentioned are available at Degmeda, and our professionals are happy to assist you anytime.

Why Degmeda Is a Reliable Manufacturer of Yakiita Wood

At Degmeda, we get our inspiration from the centuries-old tradition of making Yakiita wood. For us, the old, customary wood charring practices are always the best, and only they can leave the blueprint of their history on the lumber. That’s why we have no intentions of altering the Japanese method of burning timber. Instead, we want to preserve the technique that many generations of woodworkers used before us.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that we take the planks, make a tipi-like construction, and burn them like in the past. The methods that we use to process the wood are sophisticated and leave no clients waiting for ages to get the lumber they’ve ordered. That said, we have all the technologies needed for a modern, fast, and efficient timber treatment with fire. We also offer eco-friendly services and have great respect for nature and the resources it gives us.

Naturally, we respect our clients’ wishes, and we’re open to their ideas and project plans, no matter how challenging they might seem. In fact, it is clients that inspire us to continuously improve our skills and be better. In case you’d like to know about the products and services Degmeda offers, here is a list of them:

Wood charring
Siding/cladding
Flooring
Decking
Fencing

Get a Quote

If you’re interested in any of our products, we recommend you to first get a quote. You can see the price of the charred product you want to buy by going to our ‘Get a Quote’ section and entering the product dimensions. Then, select the wood profile and insert your contact information in the specific field. Once we receive all this data, we’ll get back to you and tell you how much it’ll cost to fulfill your requirements.

If you have more questions about our services or products, go to the ‘Contact Us’ page on our site, and get in touch with us. You can use the contact form or give us a call. Whatever you decide to do, we’re happy to help! Don’t hesitate to check out the site, reach out, find out more about what we offer, and learn more about the Yakiita technique!

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