ello everyone,
I am in the process of designing a new patio and am looking for some flooring ideas. I have been exploring different options, and one that really caught my eye is charred wood decking (Shou Sugi Ban). The rustic look and durability, especially with its weather resistance, seems like a perfect fit for outdoor spaces.
However, I’m unsure if it’s better to go the DIY route and char the wood myself, or if I should buy charred boards from a supplier. I’m exploring different suppliers, like TimberSol, but don’t want to jump in without doing some research. Has anyone here used charred wood on their patios? How does it hold up over time, especially in terms of maintenance and wear and tear? Do you have any supplier recommendations? I’d really appreciate any advice or suggestions from those who have worked with this material before.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Hey @liamellis!
I haven’t used shou sugi ban for decking, but have gone the DIY route for planter boxes and have to admit I’m not sure I would recommend DIY for an entire patio deck.
We used cedar for our planter boxes. Before I did my whole setup, I tried torching a few boards first to see exactly how dark or light I wanted the char. It’s definitely a learned skill. Getting an even char was not as easy as I had hoped. It was fine for our planter boxes, but I don’t think I would be happy with an uneven char for an entire patio.
In terms of maintenance, they have been pretty minimal. We wanted to keep the dark look so we sealed our planter boxes with an exterior oil sealant. If we didn’t, I think the dark char would lighten over time.
I have also considered shou sugi ban for my house siding when I eventually reside and have ordered samples from TimberSol and Real Shou Sugi Ban Co., and I was really happy with the sample finishes.