- Deep charred Siberian larch (Shou Sugi Ban): £100–£130 per m² boards. Zero maintenance for 25–40 years.
- Brushed stained black / grey / nut / clear: £75–£100 per m² boards. Stain refresh every 5–10 years.
- Installed total: £103–£177 per m² — materials, membrane, battens, fixings and professional installation.
- 30m² elevation fully installed: £3,090–£5,310.
- Lead time: 14–21 days from order for all charred products — allow more time than standard cladding.
- vs painted black softwood: Charred is more expensive upfront but has zero 30-year maintenance cost. Painted black softwood requires repainting every 5–8 years — on a house elevation with scaffolding, that is £4,000–£15,000 over 30 years.
Charred timber cladding — Shou Sugi Ban inspired, permanently black, zero maintenance — is one of the most searched and most poorly-priced specifications in the UK exterior cladding market. Most online guides either give a vague range that mixes all variants together, or do not mention that the real cost comparison is not against other timber species but against the alternative most buyers actually consider: painted black softwood. This guide gives you accurate 2026 pricing for every charred cladding product we stock, a proper deep charred vs brushed stained comparison, the whole-life cost case, lead times, and the painted black softwood comparison that changes how most buyers see the value proposition.
How Much Is Shou Sugi Ban Cladding? — All Variants Priced
Charred timber cladding comes in two distinct categories with very different performance profiles. Deep charred is the authentic Shou Sugi Ban technique — the timber surface is burned until a thick carbonised layer forms. Brushed stained is a lighter charring process where the char is wire-brushed back to expose the grain, then a coloured stain is applied. They are related but not interchangeable products with different long-term cost implications.
Deep Charred — Permanent, Zero Maintenance
| Product | Species | Board cost/m² | Installed/m² | 30m² installed | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Charred Larch | Siberian Larch | £100–£130 | £128–£177 | £3,840–£5,310 | 14–21 days |
Deep charred larch is the premium specification and the strongest whole-life choice. Siberian larch's Durability Class 3 beneath the char layer means the base timber is independently durable — the char layer adds a further layer of protection on top. Together the combination delivers 25–40 years of genuine zero-maintenance performance. The alligator-skin surface texture, permanent matte black, and zero scaffolding-dependent maintenance for life make this the most frequently specified charred product for architect-designed residential projects.
Brushed Stained — Wider Colour Range, Lower Upfront Cost
| Product | Finish colour | Board cost/m² | Installed/m² | 30m² installed | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charred Stained Black | Deep black | £80–£100 | £108–£147 | £3,240–£4,410 | 14–21 days |
| Charred Brushed Grey | Charcoal grey | £80–£100 | £108–£147 | £3,240–£4,410 | 14–21 days |
| Charred Brushed Nut | Warm brown-nut | £80–£100 | £108–£147 | £3,240–£4,410 | 14–21 days |
| Charred Brushed Clear | Natural grain revealed | £75–£95 | £103–£142 | £3,090–£4,260 | 14–21 days |
| Charred Larch Brushed Black | Black — larch base | £95–£120 | £123–£167 | £3,690–£5,010 | 14–21 days |
| Charred Larch Brushed Nut | Nut — larch base | £95–£120 | £123–£167 | £3,690–£5,010 | 14–21 days |
The brushed stained range gives the widest colour choice — from deep black through charcoal grey, warm nut, and natural grain-reveal clear. The larch-base variants (brushed black and brushed nut) give the durability of Siberian larch beneath the char and stain. The spruce-base variants are more affordable upfront — but the base timber is less durable if the stain finish is not maintained. All charred products are available with 14–21 day lead time — allow more time than standard cladding when planning your project schedule.
Deep Charred vs Brushed Stained — Which Is Better Value?
| Deep Charred Larch | Brushed Stained Black (spruce base) | Brushed Stained Black (larch base) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board cost/m² | £100–£130 | £80–£100 | £95–£120 |
| Maintenance | Zero — ever | Stain refresh every 5–10 yrs | Stain refresh every 5–10 yrs |
| Service life | 25–40 years | 15–25 years (spruce base) | 20–35 years (larch base) |
| Surface texture | Alligator-skin — highly distinctive | Smooth — grain visible | Smooth — grain visible |
| Colour stability | Weathers to charcoal grey — permanent | Stain fades over time | Stain fades over time |
| 30-yr whole-life/m² | £100–£130 | £100–£160 | £110–£165 |
The 30-year whole-life cost of deep charred larch is comparable to brushed stained products once stain refresh cycles are included — but deep charred delivers a longer service life, a more distinctive aesthetic, and genuinely zero maintenance obligation. For house elevations where stain refresh requires scaffolding, deep charred is consistently the better whole-life specification. See our full deep charred cladding guide for complete specification detail.
Charred Timber vs Painted Black Softwood — The Real Cost Comparison
Most buyers researching the cost of charred timber cladding are also considering painted black softwood as an alternative — lower upfront cost, familiar material, widely available. The upfront comparison looks strongly in favour of painted softwood: £20–£35 per m² for boards versus £75–£130 per m² for charred timber. The 30-year comparison looks very different.
Black painted or stained softwood on a house elevation needs repainting every 5–8 years. Each repainting cycle requires scaffolding (£800–£1,500 for a typical house elevation), stripping the old paint if it is failing (£200–£500), preparation, and two coats of exterior paint or stain (£150–£400 in materials plus £200–£400 labour). A conservative estimate for a 30m² elevation over 30 years:
| Specification | Upfront board cost (30m²) | 30-yr maintenance cost | 30-yr total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painted black spruce | £600–£1,050 | £8,750–£21,600 | £9,350–£22,650 |
| Deep charred larch | £3,000–£3,900 | £0 | £3,000–£3,900 |
The 30-year total cost of deep charred larch is consistently lower than painted black softwood on any elevation where scaffolding is required for maintenance. The crossover point — where deep charred pays back its premium — is typically the first or second repainting cycle: 5–10 years after installation. For a complete analysis see our charred vs painted timber cladding guide.
Lead Time — What to Allow for Charred Cladding
All charred cladding products have a lead time of 14–21 days from order to delivery — longer than standard cladding (7–14 days) because the charring and finishing processes are applied to order rather than held as finished stock. Allow for this in your project programme — particularly on projects where the external cladding is on the critical path.
Order as early as possible in the project programme. If your project has a specific hand-over or completion date, confirm your order at the same time as the main contract is placed, not when the frame is complete. Missing the charred cladding delivery by 1–2 weeks on a tight programme is a common and avoidable issue.
Charred Timber Fencing — Same Aesthetic, Lower Cost per m²
The same Shou Sugi Ban charring technique is also applied to our charred timber fencing range. For garden projects where the visual language of black charred timber is wanted throughout — cladding on the house or garden room, fencing at the boundary — charred timber fencing allows you to carry the aesthetic consistently at a lower per-m² cost than house cladding (lower board specification, no scaffolding, simpler installation). Browsing both ranges together gives the most coherent and cost-effective specification for projects where charred timber is the design material throughout the garden.
Deep charred larch is the right specification when: the bold black architectural aesthetic is the brief; the building is on a house elevation where future scaffolding costs make painted alternatives expensive whole-life; and the zero maintenance obligation is a genuine priority rather than a secondary consideration. Brushed stained variants are right when: a specific colour tone (nut, grey, or grain-reveal clear) is needed that deep charred cannot provide. Both are available from UK stock with 14–21 day lead time. Browse the full Shou Sugi Ban cladding range.
How much does charred timber cladding cost in the UK?
Deep charred Siberian larch: £100–£130/m² boards. Brushed stained products: £75–£100/m². Installed total (inc membrane, battens, fixings, labour): £103–£177/m². For a 30m² elevation: £3,090–£5,310 fully installed. Allow 14–21 days lead time from order.
How much does Shou Sugi Ban cost in the UK?
Shou Sugi Ban deep charred larch costs £100–£130/m² for boards in 2026. Installed total approximately £128–£177/m². For a 30m² elevation the total installed cost is approximately £3,840–£5,310. Zero maintenance for 25–40 years — no painting, treating or scaffolding maintenance ever required.
Is charred timber cladding expensive?
More expensive upfront than most alternatives — £75–£130/m² versus £35–£70 for larch. But deep charred requires zero maintenance for 25–40 years. On house elevations where painted alternatives need scaffolding every 5–8 years for repainting, the 30-year total cost of deep charred is consistently lower than painted black softwood. The break-even is typically 5–10 years after installation.
What is the difference between deep charred and brushed stained charred cladding?
Deep charred burns until a thick carbonised layer forms — alligator-skin texture, permanent deep black, zero maintenance ever. Brushed stained applies a lighter char then wire-brushes and stains — smoother surface, wider colour range (black, grey, nut, clear), but the stain finish needs refreshing every 5–10 years. Both are available from UK stock with 14–21 day lead time.
How long does charred timber cladding last?
Deep charred Siberian larch: 25–40 years, zero maintenance. Brushed stained (spruce base): 15–25 years structurally, stain refresh every 5–10 years. Brushed stained (larch base): 20–35 years structurally, stain refresh every 5–10 years. Structural durability is unaffected by stain maintenance.
Charred Timber Cladding — All Finishes, UK Stock, 14–21 Day Lead Time
We supply deep charred larch, charred brushed stained in black, grey, nut and clear, and charred larch brushed stained. FSC and PEFC certified. Contact our team with your wall area for a precise quantity and quote. Nationwide delivery in 14–21 days from order.