SSB Charred Stained Black -NAGANO

Charred Timber Cladding Black Stained UK – Texture Retained | NAGANO

NAGANO is a charred and black stained Nordic Spruce finish where the char surface texture is fully retained — not wire-brushed. The boards are charred using the Shou Sugi Ban technique to create a carbonised surface with natural texture and relief, then finished directly with a black stain without disturbing the char. The raw texture of the burn is preserved in full while the black stain provides consistent colour across the board run — textured charred timber cladding with a controlled, reliable black appearance.

This places NAGANO in a distinctive position within our charred timber cladding range. It is neither the smooth, refined surface of the brushed black finishes, nor the deeply dramatic and variable texture of the deep charred larch. It occupies the middle ground — more surface relief and character than a brushed finish, more colour control than an unsealed deep char. The char ridges are visible and tactile, the grain of the spruce reads through the texture, and the black stain ties it all together into a coherent, intentional exterior cladding finish.

Understanding the Three Black Charred Finishes

We supply three distinct black charred timber cladding finishes, and the differences between them are significant enough to affect how they read on a building and how they should be specified:

KOBE — Nordic Spruce, charred, wire-brushed, black stained. The most refined, consistent, and architectural of the three. A smooth black surface with subtle grain texture visible beneath the stain. The right choice for large commercial elevations and contemporary residential projects where a clean, controlled black is the brief.

NAGANO — Nordic Spruce, charred, black stained without brushing. The char texture is retained in full — raised ridges, grain relief, natural variation from the charring process. The black stain controls the colour while the surface texture is preserved. The middle-ground choice for projects where texture is part of the design intent but colour consistency is still required.

NAGASAKI — Siberian Larch, deep charred, treated and sealed without stain. Maximum texture, maximum authenticity, natural tonal variation between boards. The most dramatic and raw of the three — the right choice for statement architectural applications where authenticity and material drama are paramount.

Why Texture Matters in Exterior Cladding

Flat black surfaces — whether painted timber, fibre cement, or composite panels — have a tendency to look uniform and lifeless on a building façade. They absorb light without reflecting it, and at different times of day and in different weather conditions they can look flat to the point of dullness. Textured surfaces behave completely differently. The raised ridges of NAGANO's retained char create shadow lines that shift through the day as the sun moves — at low winter sun angles the texture is highly pronounced, at high summer sun it is more subtle. The result is an exterior cladding that has life, depth, and visual interest across the full range of UK light conditions.

This is one of the core reasons that black timber cladding using the Shou Sugi Ban technique continues to grow in specification despite the availability of cheaper black cladding alternatives. The charred surface is not merely a colour — it is a material transformation that changes the way the timber interacts with light, weather, and time.

Profiles and Dimensions

NAGANO 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. The retained char texture means the surface is tactile before the stain is fully cured — handle with gloves during installation and store boards flat and covered. Seal all cut ends with a compatible exterior end-grain sealer. Where reaction-to-fire performance is required, NAGANO can be supplied with fire-retardant treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions