Outdoor Shower

Shou Sugi Ban is an ancient Japanese technique that preserves cedar with the very force that might also destroy it: fire. Charring the wood to just the right degree of burn activates the natural oils that help weatherproof it and dramatizes the natural beauty of the grain. We began by framing in the shower, allowing for a 4 x 4 wet area and bench. Laying the cedar blanks side by side, we used a blow torch with 80,000 btu to char each plank on both sides, as well any ends that would be visible once built. A nylon bristle brush removed thick layers of ash, readying the planks for installation. Builder details include stainless steel finish screws for ease of replacement and durability and an oil-based polyurethane clear coat painted on to seal in the ash and give the shower a mild sheen.