reSAWN TIMBER co. recently returned to their Longport, NJ residence project to get a more complete understanding of how their SURETO shou sugi ban exterior siding and HAWAITO shou sugi ban exterior siding weathers in a real-world application. This material was specified by Philadelphia Design Co., known for high-end residential design. Materials were specified with a 5″ wide face and shiplap milling with a 1/8″ reveal. Installation is being done by Seashore Exteriors, a 4th generation company specializing in residential and commercial exteriors in the south NJ area.
reSAWN's exterior products are meant to age in place and will weather naturally over time. Prior to specifying the material, it is crucial to understand how shou sugi ban weathers, and have reasonable expectations of how the material will change.
To maintain the original aesthetic of brushed designs (such as HAWAITO, SURETO, AKA etc.), a top coat will need to be re-applied. These designs have been brushed to remove some of the charring, revealing the cypress wood grain and then sealed. The exposed cypress wood grain will fade naturally to grey. This is not a defect, but a natural process of wood. Any wood siding product will grey and will require some form of maintenance including such materials as ipe, teak and soft woods such as cedar, cypress, hemlock.
The photos below show more weathered photos from the Longport Residence project (2018).
