SSB Charred Brushed Stained Clear - KYOTO

Charred Timber Cladding Clear Sealed UK – Yakisugi Authentic | KYOTO

KYOTO is the most authentic finish in our charred timber cladding range — Nordic Spruce charred, wire-brushed, and finished with a transparent clear seal. No colour stain is applied. What you see is the charred timber exactly as the process produces it: the natural grey-black tones of the carbon surface, the subtle grain relief of the wire-brushed spruce beneath, and the gentle tonal variation that comes from the charring process across different boards. No colour overlay, no pigment uniformity imposed, no stain modifying what the fire created. Just the material in its most honest form — sealed and stabilised, but not coloured.

The yakisugi technique originated in Japan not as a decorative finish but as a functional surface treatment — wood charred to protect it from fire, insects, and moisture. The original finish was the char itself: no stain, no paint, no colour applied after the fact. KYOTO is the product in our range that most closely honours that origin. The clear seal stabilises the surface, reduces carbon transfer on contact, and provides UV protection to slow natural weathering — but it does not alter the appearance. The finish you see on KYOTO is the finish that the charring process produces.

The Aesthetic of Clear Sealed Charred Timber

Clear sealed charred cladding has a subtly different appearance from black stained charred cladding, and the difference matters architecturally. A black stain unifies the surface — it applies a consistent, pigmented tone that suppresses natural tonal variation between boards and between areas of the same board. This gives the black stained finishes their characteristic reliability and architectural cleanliness. KYOTO does the opposite. The clear seal preserves variation — the slight differences in char depth between boards, the natural variation in grain density across the surface, the way the carbon layer catches and reflects light differently at different points across the elevation.

Under direct sunlight, KYOTO reads as a deep, warm grey-black with subtle texture from the wire-brushed grain. Under overcast UK skies, the tone shifts slightly cooler and the variation between boards becomes more visible. In low winter sun, the raking light picks out the wire-brushed grain relief and creates shadow lines across the surface that shift and change through the day. No black stained finish behaves this way — the uniformity of the stain reduces these effects. KYOTO's clear sealed surface maximises them.

This is precisely why KYOTO is typically specified by architects for whom material authenticity is non-negotiable — projects where the building's materials are meant to be experienced as genuinely what they are, rather than as colours applied to underlying substrates. For black timber cladding UK specifications on cultural buildings, private houses for discerning clients, and projects where the architect's intention is to let materials speak for themselves, KYOTO is the right choice.

Natural Weathering and Long-Term Appearance

All charred timber cladding, whether clear sealed or stained, will lighten gradually with UV exposure over time. The natural weathering trajectory of KYOTO is towards a silver-grey — the same direction that natural untreated timber travels, but significantly slower due to the charred surface's reduced moisture absorption and better UV resistance compared to raw wood. The rate of change depends on orientation, elevation, and exposure — south-facing boards will lighten faster than north-facing; exposed coastal locations faster than sheltered urban settings.

For clients who want to maintain the original grey-black tone, periodic reapplication of a clear exterior seal is all that is required. For clients who prefer to let the building age naturally and develop its own weathered patina, KYOTO can be left without maintenance beyond basic cleaning — the charred surface continues to protect the underlying spruce without the stain, and the weathered grey that develops over time has a quality and character of its own.

Profiles and Dimensions

KYOTO is available across the full range of cladding profiles in 20mm and 21mm thickness, widths of 90mm, 120mm, and 140mm, and lengths from 2000mm to 6000mm. Profiles include Batten PAR, Half Lap, Shadow Gap, Shadow Gap V Joint, Tongue and Groove V Joint, Tongue and Groove V Joint Extra, Tongue and Groove V Joint Secret Fix, Rainscreen, and Rainscreen TIGA. Bespoke sizes and profiles can be made to order. Download the full profile schedule (PDF).

Installation Guidelines

Install as part of a ventilated rainscreen façade system with minimum 25mm clear cavity, breathable membrane, and minimum 150mm ground clearance. Use stainless steel fixings throughout. Handle boards with gloves during installation — the clear sealed charred surface will transfer carbon on contact before the seal is fully cured. Seal all cut ends with a compatible clear exterior end-grain sealer. Where reaction-to-fire performance is required, KYOTO can be supplied with fire-retardant treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions