The cornucopia of new products and techniques in the construction world is certainly never ending and keeping an arsenal of ever evolving product knowledge is an absolute must! The latest and greatest products can and do change the construction industry forever. Can we say Zip System sheathing!
Now having said that, there’s always the dichotomy of Yin and Yang. There are Products that have stood the test of time for decades, centuries, even thousands of years proving sometimes, the old ways really are the best ways!
One of my favorite examples of this is Shou Sugi Ban (Yakisugi). The traditional Japanese art of burning wood. Used by the working class as far back as 1603 as a cheap way to preserve and protect structures. Once charred the wood becomes fire-resistant, mold and rot resistant, and lasts up to 80 years without maintenance.
Our first experience with Yakisugi was with the New Way house project, incorporating burnt cedar accents into the homes exterior. Today, 12 years later it has proven to have been an excellent choice.
On our latest project we once again find ourselves looking back in time utilizing products that have been used for thousands of years. The Maggie Mount project is a full gut renovation that’s adds a third level and modern architecture to a 1980s vacation house. Our client envisioned a sleek all black Yakisugi exterior made from the trees on their property but time constraints made the endeavor unrealistic. In a stroke of genius, the client suggested black Swedish pine tar. Often referred to as Stockholm tar it is a pure, natural wood preservative with fantastic UV protection for wood in damp, humid climates, as well as dry locations or direct sunlight. manufactured in Sweden since the dawn of the iron age. Pine tar was used on Viking ships and ancient Scandinavian churches that still stand today. It was and still is, prized for its ability to create a water repellent vapor barrier on wood and rope, as well as for its antiseptic and insect repelling properties.
After our fair share of research, we decided to move forward staining and racking each piece of pine siding in the middle of an incredible explosion of fall color. A second coat will wait till Spring, after installation. We are excited to see the finished product but can already see this will be the stunningly dramatic look we were hoping for.
