Shou Sugi Ban Fencing

Stone Soup Gardens is so up on our design trends!  Recently, a client of ours asked us to do a Sugi Ban Fence for their front yard in order to create a bit of privacy between them and their neighbors, while creating a beautiful long-lasting fence.  Not afraid of a challenge, we dove right in.  

What is Shou Sugi Ban, you ask?  Shou Sugi Ban is an ancient Japanese technique that preserves the wood, particularly cedar, by charring it with fire. Shou Sugi Ban is an environmentally friendly way to preserve timber and (paradoxically) it actually makes it fire-resistant. Chemical preservatives, paints, and stains become unnecessary as the burning also preserves the wood, and it becomes insect, rodent proof, and weather resistant.  It is said to last 80 years with little to no maintenance. 

While the process takes time, and can be a bit dangerous, the end result is a stunning and appealing option for our rainy northwest climate.  

Here is a look at the project before we got started: 

And here is the sexy Sugi Ban effect: