Yakisugi

A lot of the older craftsman houses in West Baltimore are faced with yakisugi, or scorched cedar, an adopted Japanese technique for weather- and bugproofing exteriors. Despite being effectively a thin layer of charcoal, done properly it can last over a century – its durability well in evidence in many buildings out here where that’s exactly what happened. Traditionally the effect is accomplished by lashing a bunch of boards together and lighting them on fire, but these days a welding torch will work in a pinch for smaller jobs.

With some creative use of shielding, the latter process even makes it possible to shape the flame to retrofit around existing construction.