FAQ

Yakisugi is a Japanese technique that chars the surface of wood. Depending on the product, the charred layer may be retained, brushed and given a protective finish. Its appearance and performance depend on the species, profile, process, finish and intended use. Learn about the Yakisugi technique.

Yakisugi and Shou Sugi Ban commonly refer to the Japanese surface-charring technique. “Charred wood” or “burnt wood” are broader terms and may describe other processes. A product specification must identify the species, profile, finish, application and documentation, not just the name of the technique.

The usual process chars the surface under controlled conditions and adjusts the degree of brushing to achieve the desired finish. Oil or pigment may then be applied. The degree of charring and brushing affects the texture, colour, carbon transfer and maintenance requirements. See the charring process.

They are not the same. Thermo-D is thermally modified wood; Yakisugi is a surface-charred finish. A product may combine both processes when confirmed by its technical data sheet. Performance characteristics from one technology must not be attributed to the other.

Yakisugi provides a charred texture and a choice of wood species, profiles, shades and degrees of brushing. Its suitability for a facade, decking, fence or interior depends on the product, exposure, installation system and maintenance. Compare the technical data sheet, sample and intended use before making a decision.

No. It remains wood: the system must drain water, reaction-to-fire performance must be documented for the exact configuration, and the finish requires inspection and maintenance. Charring does not make it waterproof, non-combustible or maintenance-free.

It depends on the quotation. The supply may include boards, finishing, machining, fixings, substructure, transport, unloading or installation. Only items listed in writing in the quotation are included; installation is never included by default.

La gama principal de Zenwood está formada por abeto, Thermo-D y alerce. La Exclusive Collection reúne maderas especiales para proyectos premium. La disponibilidad depende del acabado, perfil, dimensiones, aplicación y cantidad; la referencia exacta debe confirmarse antes de especificar o presupuestar.

Abeto: fachadas, revestimientos verticales, vallas e interiores. Thermo-D: cuando se priorizan estabilidad dimensional y menor movimiento por humedad. Alerce: fachadas, celosías y exterior expuesto cuando se busca veta marcada y resistencia natural. Exclusive Collection: proyectos premium con necesidades específicas de uniformidad, durabilidad o expresión material.

El catálogo principal se presenta en este orden: abeto, Thermo-D y alerce. Los tres pertenecen a la gama principal; ninguno se presenta como premium por sí solo. La categoría premium corresponde a la Exclusive Collection. La elección final depende del uso y las prestaciones necesarias, no de una jerarquía de calidad.

The range includes unbrushed Deep Char, brushed and unoiled Natural, and pigmented finishes such as Ebony, Silk Char, Amber, Ruby, Burnt Earth, Dusk, Lunar and White Ash. Availability depends on the species and profile. A sample confirms the visual direction, not an identical shade on every board. View the finishes.

Finishes with exposed char may transfer particles when rubbed. The amount depends on the brushing, oil, sealing and wear. For interiors or accessible surfaces, request a sample and confirm the behaviour of the selected product.

Zenwood uses AB-quality wood. Sound knots are normal, and limited variations such as resin pockets, small cracks or roughness around knots are permitted. Soft rot, blue stain and insect damage are not permitted. Shade and grain vary between boards and batches; a sample defines a range, not an exact copy.

For cladding and fencing: 18 or 20 mm thick, nominal widths of 95, 120 or 145 mm, and lengths from 3 to 5.4 m. For decking: 28 mm thick and the same nominal widths. Standard profiles are UYS and PAR. Zenwood does not supply boards longer than 5.4 m. Confirm the coverage width and availability.

Yes, subject to confirmation. The species, profile, treated faces, finish, colour, length, quantity and lead time must be defined. A special development may require an approved sample and its own minimum order quantity.

It may be suitable if the product and complete system meet the project requirements. The substructure, cavity and drainage, fixings, membranes, flashings, fire barriers where required, height, substrate, wind loads and regulations must all be coordinated. A board alone does not certify the complete facade. See facade applications.

Yes, when the product is documented for exterior use and installed within a solution that permits ventilation, drainage and inspection. It is non-structural cladding and must avoid permanent contact with the ground, trapped water and details that prevent drying.

Yes, with a product and finish suitable for the intended use. For walls, ceilings or accessible areas, confirm carbon transfer, cleaning, finish emissions and the required reaction-to-fire performance. A visual sample does not replace the technical data sheet. See interior applications.

A suitable interior product may be viable in a ventilated bathroom. Inside a shower or directly wetted area, a specific solution is required for the waterproofed substrate, joints, ventilation, finish and maintenance. Wood never replaces waterproofing.

Yes, when using a 28 mm product designed for horizontal exterior use. Unbrushed Deep Char is not recommended for walked-on decking because abrasion can damage its charred layer. The substrate, drainage, underside ventilation, fixings, joints, slip resistance and maintenance must be resolved. See terrace applications.

Only when the product is documented for decking and for the intended exposure. Wet slip resistance, wear, surface temperature, drainage, fixings, treated water and maintenance must be checked. Not all charred boards are suitable for pool surrounds.

It can be used if the assembly is designed for wind, weight and wood movement. The frame, supports, fixings, top detail, ventilation, drainage and clearance from the ground must be defined. Gates also require checks for rigidity, hardware and operation. See fence applications.

Yes, if coordinated with the specific construction system. The substructure, fixings, cavity, drainage, tolerances, joints between modules, protection during transport and installation sequence must be defined before production. Read the guide for modular projects.

Each exposure requires a different assessment. Coastal projects require checks for corrosion and fixings; high solar exposure affects colour and maintenance; rain or snow require effective drainage, ventilation and flashings. The product and construction details must suit the location, orientation and use.

It is designed as a system: substrate and membrane where required, substructure, ventilated and drained cavity, cladding, fixings, joints and flashings. The final detail must match the profile, orientation, height, wind loads, substrate and building regulations.

As Zenwood’s standard recommendation, position battens at 400–600 mm centres, never exceeding 600 mm, and ensure that board joints fall on a batten. Closer spacing may be required depending on the profile, thickness, substrate, building height and wind loads.

Use A2 stainless-steel screws under normal conditions and A4 in coastal or aggressive environments. Use two screws per board at each batten, with supports at 400–600 mm centres, without sinking the head below the charred surface. Screw length and pre-drilling depend on thickness, substrate and distance from the edge.

Yes, when the profile and system permit it. Orientation changes the substructure, junctions, fixings, joints, material consumption and water drainage. It must be defined before the cutting plan, while maintaining continuous ventilation and drainage.

Store it horizontally on flat, aligned supports in a dry, ventilated place, protected from rain, ground moisture and direct sunlight. The pack may be covered, but it must not be sealed with water or condensation trapped inside.

At least 72 hours before installation. During this period it must remain dry, protected from direct moisture and supported flat. If it arrives wet or there is a large difference in moisture conditions, it needs more time before installation.

Cuts, end grain and repairs must be treated with the compatible touch-up system for the product: oil, end-grain protector or another specified product. Do not apply alternative paints, sealants or oils without checking compatibility, method and drying time.

Yes. The wood is dried to a moisture content of 10–16%, but then adapts to its environment: it expands with moisture and contracts during dry periods. After acclimatising for at least 72 hours, observe the joints and clearances specified for the profile and actual on-site moisture conditions.

Only when the profile and system are designed and documented for them. The clip, screw, support spacing, ventilation, joints and wood movement must be confirmed. Not all species, thicknesses, orientations or finishes are suitable for concealed fixing.

It depends on the product, species, finish, exposure, drainage, ventilation, installation and maintenance. There is no universal service life for all Yakisugi wood. Any estimate must be tied to a defined product and set of conditions; it is not the same as a warranty.

Basic maintenance consists of inspecting the surface, fixings, joints, flashings and water-prone areas; cleaning with compatible methods; and repairing damage. Re-oiling is mainly used to renew or retain the colour and may be optional if natural ageing is accepted, unless the product data sheet or warranty states otherwise.

Not always. If the colour is to be renewed, typical guidance is every 5–12 years outdoors and every 2–5 years for decking, depending on the finish and exposure. Re-oiling may be unnecessary if natural ageing is accepted. Inspection, cleaning and damage repair remain necessary.

The colour evolves and develops a natural patina; this does not automatically mean deterioration or a defect. If this change is part of the design, the wood can be maintained through inspection, cleaning and damage repair. To restore the intended colour direction, re-oil with a compatible product in accordance with the finish data sheet.

Follow the finish data sheet. As a cautious general approach, use water and a soft cloth or brush, and test any product in an inconspicuous area. Avoid close-range pressure washing, wire brushes and aggressive cleaners unless written instructions state otherwise.

A finish with exposed char may transfer particles, and some oils may give off an odour while curing. The intensity and duration depend on the product. For interiors or accessible areas, confirm the finish, request a sample and provide the planned ventilation.

Zenwood provides a 15-year warranty against rot or deterioration for eligible products, subject to the current policy and correct installation and maintenance. The applicable policy defines the covered products and countries, start date, exclusions, documentation, inspection, claims process and remedy.

Failure to comply with the published conditions for storage, a minimum 72-hour acclimatisation period, installation, ventilation, drainage, fixings or maintenance may exclude or limit coverage. The complete list and claims procedure are those in the current policy.

Reaction to fire measures how a product contributes to fire, smoke and flaming droplets. Fire resistance measures how long a building element maintains its function. These are different performance characteristics, and neither makes wood non-combustible.

Zenwood does not assign one generic class to the entire range. If a project requires a higher classification, a configuration with the unbrushed deep-char finish, Deep Char, may be requested and can achieve up to B-s1,d0. The configuration must be defined and documented for the project.

The unbrushed deep-char finish, Deep Char, can be configured to achieve up to B-s1,d0 when required by the project. It must be requested from the outset because the species, thickness, treatment, substrate and installation must match the applicable documentation.

Depending on the product, Zenwood may provide a technical data sheet, AB-quality specification, profile, tolerances, installation and maintenance instructions, finish information, warranty, and applicable declaration/CE, reaction-to-fire, FSC or EPD documentation. Each file must identify its product, scope, version and validity; no document automatically covers the entire range. Request the documentation.

CE marking is linked to declared performance where applicable; it does not approve the whole project. FSC verifies a chain of custody and a specific supply claim. An EPD reports environmental impacts within its declared scope. Always check the product, holder, validity and applicable transaction.

Not by definition. The species and origin, process, finish, transport, service life, maintenance and end of life must be assessed. For eligible products, Zenwood can provide the FSC claim for the transaction and the applicable EPD, always within their scope and validity. Read about Zenwood’s approach to sustainability.

Charring uses heat, but the finished product may contain oils, pigments, sealants or fire retardants, depending on the product. Composition, precautions and intended use must be checked in the current technical and safety data sheets. It must not be described generically as “chemical-free”.

Send the application, location, area, preferred species or finish, profile, lengths, required date and delivery address. Include drawings or photographs when available. Zenwood will confirm the product, availability and scope in a written quotation. Request a quotation.

The quotation must identify the species, finish, profile, dimensions, quantity, treatment and applicable documentation. It must also state which accessories or services are included, transport and unloading conditions, lead time, payment terms and validity. Nothing not included in writing is considered part of the supply.

The standard minimum order is 20 m² per product: each combination of species, profile, thickness and finish is calculated separately. Different products are not automatically combined to reach the minimum; any exception must be confirmed in writing.

Provide the application, location, approximate area, finish of interest and delivery address. Zenwood will confirm the product, sample format, availability, transport and lead time. A sample allows you to assess colour, grain, texture and carbon transfer, but wood retains natural variations between boards. Request a sample.

The quotation distinguishes availability, preparation and transport. Lead time depends on the product, quantity, length and destination and starts after the order is confirmed, the product is approved and the agreed payment is received. The quotation must state a delivery date or window and unloading conditions.

Yes, deliveries outside Spain are confirmed for each project. The quotation will state the destination, quantities, lengths, access, unloading, transport conditions and lead time. Coverage or a delivery date must not be assumed without written confirmation for the specific address.

Boards are between 3 and 5.4 m long. Before dispatch, confirm the length, number and weight of pallets, vehicle, access, manoeuvring space, schedule and unloading equipment. Unloading is included only when expressly stated in the quotation.

Zenwood specialises in Yakisugi and works with architects, carpenters, builders and private clients. The projects section shows completed projects with photographs and, where authorised, the product, finish, application and location. Comparable references may also be provided when the client permits them to be shared.

Zenwood helps select the species, finish and profile; provides samples, quotations, documentation, quantities, lengths and logistics; and gives guidance on installation and maintenance within the agreed scope. Engineering, regulatory compliance, site supervision and execution remain the responsibility of the appointed professionals and installers.

Location, application, area in m², height, orientation, exposure, substrate, preferred species or finish, profile, lengths, required date and fire requirements. Include drawings, photographs, delivery address, access and unloading equipment, and state whether you require boards only or also accessories, transport or installation. Send your project details.