Choosing your charred cladding
Charred cladding profiles and finishes
The profile and the depth of char together define the character of a charred facade. A square edge board with a light brush looks very different from a shadow gap board charred deeply, even on the same wall. This page helps you compare the options before you order samples.
Charring is a finish, not a fire treatment, so the choice of profile is about appearance, detailing and how the boards will be fixed.
Profiles
| Profile | Look | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Square edge (SH) | Clean, flat boards with a simple joint | Rainscreen and open-joint facades, feature walls |
| Shadow gap tongue and groove (UTS) | Deep reveal, strong shadow lines | Contemporary external and internal cladding |
| Other profiles | Board-on-board, rhombus, feather edge | On request |
Open-joint and rainscreen layouts show whatever is behind the gap, so a black breather membrane is the usual choice. Tongue and groove hides the membrane and gives a continuous face, while a shadow gap profile keeps a deliberate dark line between boards.
Ask about lengths and sizes. We can also quote for bespoke milling.
Choosing a finish
- Ebony: a deep, dark and dramatic black for striking facades.
- Misty Grey: a softer, more natural tone that works with greenery and stone.
- Deep Charred Larch: strongly textured, with the characteristic charred grain.
Colour and texture differ between batches and species, which is part of the charm. Order samples and compare them in daylight, against the other materials on the building.
Brushed or unbrushed
The amount of brushing after charring changes the look more than most people expect.
- Unbrushed: the full, cracked, alligator-skin char, very black and very textured. It marks hands and clothing more easily when new, so sealing matters.
- Lightly brushed: loose soot is removed but much of the texture stays, a good balance of depth and cleanliness.
- Heavily brushed: the soft surface is brushed away, leaving a raised grain with a grey, silvery tone.
Whichever you choose, a sealed surface limits soot transfer. Ask us how each finish we supply has been brushed and sealed.
Species and stability
Larch gives a strong, pronounced texture. Cedar is the traditional yakisugi species and gives a finer pattern. Thermally modified timber and Accoya are stable bases that take a char well. Species affects both appearance and how the boards behave once fixed, so tell us where the cladding is going.
Horizontal, vertical or mixed
Vertical boards emphasise height and shed water quickly. Horizontal boards make a building look longer and lower. Both work with charred timber. Vertical boards are fixed to horizontal battens, which need counter battens behind them so water and air can still move through the cavity.
Pairing with other materials
Charred timber pairs well with natural stone, brick, glass and weathering steel, and contrasts nicely with lighter timbers such as cedar and larch. Using charred boards as an accent, around entrances or on a single elevation, is a popular approach.
Shop and specify
Frequently asked questions
Talk to our timber team
Tell us about your project and we will recommend the right species, profile, finish and fire performance. Free samples are available, and we can quote for bespoke milling.