How Much Does Shou Sugi Ban Siding Cost?

Average Cost of Shou Sugi Ban Siding

Estimating Shou Sugi Ban Siding Costs

When estimating Shou Sugi Ban siding prices, you’ll need to account for the cost of materials, the availability of Shou Sugi Ban craftspeople in your area, and the experience level of the professional you hire.

Materials

The cost of wood siding makes up a big portion of what you’ll pay for Shou Sugi Ban siding. Shou Sugi Ban is not a particular type of wood; rather, it describes a process of charring the wood. This means that you can purchase wood siding from any vendor for use in this project.

Siding prices vary based on availability. In some areas of the country, certain types of wood may be more popular than others due to local availability. For example, pine is readily available almost everywhere, so pricing tends to be consistent. On the other hand, many quality hardwoods only grow in certain locales, so the cost for this wood may increase to account for transportation costs.

Location

Metropolitan, populous areas of the country tend to embrace different architectural styles more readily than rural portions of the nation. If you live in New York City or Los Angeles, charred wood may be a more popular type of siding than in rural parts of Kentucky or Wisconsin. As such, you may have an easier time finding a pro in NYC than Racine.

Experience

The experience level of the professional you hire to make and install your Shou Sugi Ban siding will affect the price you pay for this project. While the charring process seems straight-forwarding, it takes the right skills and equipment to produce an attractive, uniform look. Installers who specialize in this type of work may charge less than installers who do it only occasionally.

How Much Does Shou Sugi Ban Siding Cost per Square Foot?

The average materials cost of Shou Sugi Ban siding is $5 to $16 per square foot.

The cost of having a professional complete the Shou Sugi Ban charring process amounts to about $10 per square foot in labor costs.

When you include wood siding installation costs of $2 to $5 per square foot, your total average cost of buying and installing Shou Sugi Ban siding is $7 to $15 per square foot.

How Much Does It Cost to Make Shou Sugi Ban Siding Yourself?

Should you decide to take on the job of charring wood siding in the Shou Sugi Ban style, you can expect to spend at least $200 in materials, not including the wood siding itself. Here’s a breakdown of the materials you’ll need:

• Large propane torch: $25 to $75

• Propane tank: $30 to $60

• Wire brushes: $25 to $50

• Linseed oil: $125 to $225 per 5 gallons

Note that while this cost may work out to be much less than the $10 per square foot that a contractor will charge, it doesn’t account for the time you’ll spend learning the Shou Sugi Ban process, nevermind mastering it to produce a quality result.

Completing the Shou Sugi Ban process is laborious, requiring you to slowly char your wood siding to produce a deep, even burn. After the charring, you must allow time for the wood to cool completely before undertaking the tedious processes of scraping off the charred timber with wire brushes and then sealing the wood by applying linwood oil.

Cost to Make It Yourself vs. Hiring a Contractor

The cost to DIY Shou Sugi Ban siding is less than $1 per square foot. Considering that a professional siding installer typically charges $10 per square foot, it’s easy to see that you can save a significant amount of money by undertaking the job yourself.

However, it’s very important to keep in mind that while it’s easy to explain the steps of the Shou Sugi Ban process, putting them into practice is a totally different thing. 

At the very least, the process of charring wood is a long and laborious one. Practically, it’s unlikely that you’ll achieve the quality you want if you don’t already have extensive experience with this type of work.

For these reasons, it’s a better idea to contact a local siding installer to have them complete the job the right way.

How Much Does Shou Sugi Ban Cost by Wood Type?

The type of wood you use for charred wood siding plays a significant role in the overall cost of this project.

The traditional wood choice for this process is cedar, which will cost you $13 to $20 per square foot on average. 

If you’re looking for an economical solution, consider pine, which typically costs $11 to $15 per square foot.

What Factors Influence the Cost of Shou Sugi Ban Siding?

The main factors affecting the cost of Shou Sugi Ban siding are the cost of materials and the cost of labor.

Materials

If you don’t already have existing wood siding at your home, you’ll need to purchase it from a local lumber yard or home improvement center. Hiring a professional takes this burden off you as the installer will have their own sources for materials that they can generally acquire at a lower cost than you can.

There are several types of wood that work best for Shou Sugi Ban siding. Cedar is the traditional choice and is in the middle of the road in terms of costs. Pine wood is typically the least expensive wood siding, while hardwoods like oak are the most expensive.

Labor

The average cost to have a siding installer apply the Shou Sugi Ban method of charring to wood siding is $10 per square foot. Note that this cost is highly dependent on how popular this method is in your area and the availability of installers who are experienced with this process.

FAQs About Shou Sugi Ban Siding

What are the benefits of Shou Sugi Ban siding?

Shou Sugi Ban siding boasts a range of benefits, the most important of which is increased durability. The charring process gives wood a strong outer layer that naturally protects against rot, insects, and sun damage. Shou Sugi Ban siding also offers a unique look and texture that can only come from charred timber. 

What are the drawbacks of Shou Sugi Ban siding?

A major drawback of Shou Sugi Ban wood siding is that the process of evenly charring wood and applying a protective oil is labor-intensive. While unique, the inconsistent finish that comes with burnt wood may be a turn off to some homeowners. Lastly, there are safety concerns with the use of burning wood around structures, such as when you are applying the Shou Sugi Ban method to existing siding.

What’s the best wood for Shou Sugi Ban siding?

Cedar wood is the traditional wood of choice for charred wood siding, but which qualifies as the best will come down to your own personal preferences. Each type of wood will produce a different result, from a light gray look to a deep black burn.

How long does Shou Sugi Ban siding last?

With regular maintenance, you can expect your Shou Sugi Ban wood siding to last 30 to 50 years. Maintenance involves regularly checking the wood for signs of damage and reapplying new coats of oil to preserve its finish.