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Margerita deKwant of Pentarch Forest Products explains the magic of yakisugi. What is this construction material?This is yakisugi – charred Japanese cedar. Architects and builders have used sugi, Japanese cedar, in homes here, yet until now the timber has stayed under...

A centuries-old Japanese timber tradition brings sustainable beauty to Tauranga’s newest design showroom. WORDS JO FERRIS / PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN + SUPPLIED Centuries’ old Japanese philosophy and unique timber is catching eyes with the opening of a brand-new showroom...

At Pentarch, we’re a bit obsessed with how timber is treated. The way it’s charred, cooled, brushed and oiled is the difference between “nice cladding” and architecture that genuinely stops people in their tracks. That’s why we partner with Chartek. Chartek is a...

At Pentarch Forest Products, we believe beautiful timber deserves an equally thoughtful finish. That’s why we’re proud to shine a light on Duncan and the team at Natural House Company – quiet pioneers who have been putting “timber with a conscience” into practice for...

Pentarch Forestry has officially opened New Zealand’s first dedicated Sugi showroom in downtown Tauranga – a bold step in bringing Japanese timber innovation directly to local architects, designers and builders. Located in the heart of the CBD, the new Sugi Showroom...

Short answer: yes... Why sugi is the gold standard for charring Short answer: yes—sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica) is the benchmark for traditional yakisugi. It isn’t the only option, but it consistently delivers the most stable, beautiful, and usable char...

Yakisugi is the classic deep-char, unbrushed form of sugi (Yaki simply translates as charred or burnt)— Its jet-black tone and ‘Dragon Skin’ surface read as both ancient and graphic, a quiet nod to wabi-sabi: beauty earned by time and use. Before you choose it for a...

Short answer: Yakisugi is a traditional Japanese finish created using the Shou Sugi Ban technique which chars the surface of sugi to create a durable, low-gloss, textured finish. Correctly specified and detailed, it delivers a stable, weather-resistant cladding with...