Burnt wood is an ancestral technique of Japanese origin, called Shou Sugi Ban. It consists in burning the exterior of a wooden cladding board to toughen it. This technique was used by the Seto Inland Sea fishermen for the facades of their wooden houses. Today, some examples can still be seen on some of the traditional tea houses, particularly in the old quarters of Kyoto and Nara. The term ‘Shou Sugi Ban’ comes from the ‘Sugi’, the conifer, Japanese Cedar or Cypress used to majestuously decorate the doorways to Japanese temples or oratories.
Its virtues are undeniable : once the board has been burnt, the carbon layer which has been created protects the wood fibrefrom fungal or insect attacks. The cladding board is tougher and longer-lasting. This carbon layer also means that the boards require no maintenance.
Burnt wood is linked to Wabi-Sabi esthetics. The spirit of Wabi is based on authenticity, the patina of time and the simplicity of raw, untreated, imperfect, recycled or rustic materials. ‘Wabi’ conveys simplicity and ‘sabi’ refers to the beauty created by the passage of time. Consequently Noirdebois cladding boards will age beautifully. They bear witness to passing time, a way of staying in contact with the cycle of nature.
Today, Noirdebois is the history of men and women , who love wood and the authenticity of this material, who use all their skills to offer the best burnt wood solutions…

The history of Noirdebois begins at the other end of the world, in Japan, during a journey of discovery of Japanese culture. When travelling across Japanese islands and countryside, we discovered a wood-preserving technique: Shou sugi ban. Widely used on the facades of traditional houses, this technique consists in burning the wood to make it rot-resistant and durable.
On our return to France, we were convinced that this corresponds to a certain demand and with support from specialists, we set out on the adventure: adapting this ancestral method and using its virtues of toughness and durability in contemporary construction.
Today, Noirdebois is an association of architects, engineers and business men and women, who all love wood and the authenticity of this noble material. We are a member of the SYLVAGREG family group, which has 40 years’ of experience and our business has become the biggest French burnt wood producer and a regional reference in the design and construction of optimised homes.

Our mission is to create interior and exterior cladding solutions. To this end, we add strong values to our passion for the crafting of wood.
Innovation and creativity.
Your needs continually evolve and our priority is to accompany you in each of your projects. This is why Noirdebois has embarked upon a process of continual research and improvement, constantly clarifying each detail of its procedures. It is our pleasure to innovate for you !
High-quality know-how. We are committed to a constantly quality improvement process in our to satisfy your needs : the perfect solution to your needs is the fruit of meticulous work over many years. Our know-how is ‘Made in France’ !
Integrity and eco-responsibility. CSR is an intergral part of NOIRDEBOIS’s business. Respecting Nature and Mankind is our motto !
Esthetics. From the darkest black to chocolate, there are a thousand ways to work with burnt wood. From brushed finishes, to more or less visible veins or many degrees of a cracked look, burnt wood will magnify both the inside and outside of your home.
More than just a company, NOIRDEBIOS will be your burnt wood reference.

By sourcing wood from our French forests, producing our burnt wood in our workshops in the Hauts de France, we wish to participate in the sustainability of the business and employment in the French wood production chain.
We wish to contribute to limiting greenhouse gas emissions by minimising the transport of our raw materials.
No other material comes close to equalling the unique advantages of wood. The only renewable construction material, wood is also a natural and sustainable solution to the climate change challenges of our century.