If you mentioned the phrase ‘Shou Sugi Ban’ in Japan, it would mean nothing. In the country of origin, this traditional process of preserving wood is called ‘yakisugi’. With yakisugi, controlled timber charring was a technique used to promote the longevity of wooden buildings. The fact that it looks amazing is of secondary importance.

Examples of yakisugi buildings can still be found across Japan, but in the second half of the 20th Century, it was barely used. Concrete became the construction material of choice. With a focus on sustainability and biophilic design, charred wood is seeing a revival.

Superior Timber Cladding Product

Shou Sugi Ban® is a brand name. Both the name and the logo are our registered trademarks and our intellectual property.

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Exterior Solutions Ltd applied for these trademarks in order to protect our customers and our business reputation. Our applications were accepted in 2017 and 2019.

Our expert team have trained in the art of yakisugi. In our on-site workshop, they transform sustainably sourced timbers with a range of tried and tested processes. We are directly involved in the process and check each order to maintain the highest quality standards. With the trademark in place, we can state that Shou Sugi Ban® is a superior timber cladding product.

Barn finished with Shou Sugi Ban

Not all Charred Timber is Equal

The challenge is that other companies have assumed that Shou Sugi Ban is the Japanese name for charring timber. They have adopted this name for their own product range. They have failed to understand that Exterior Solutions Ltd has exclusive rights to this brand name.

We have notified a number of companies of the trademark infringement, but at present, you can still find others using our name.

If you are an architect, house developer or self-builder, please be aware that the only way to ensure that you are receiving genuine Shou Sugi Ban® charred timber, is to order from Exterior Solutions Ltd.

If you would like to receive a Shou Sugi Ban® brochure or sample of our charred timber for exterior or interior design, please contact us on 01494 711800.