Fire has a way with wood. It can turn it into light or it can make it better at heavy-lifting. Three hundred years ago the Japanese discovered a technique for weather-proofing cedar siding. Shou sugi ban. We decided to use the method for our roof timbers. It turns out scorching the surface of wood makes it water resistant, bug repellant, and fire retardant. Plus it was a fun and easy way to give our timbers the rich chocolate color we desired. An added bonus, we can look up for years to come and remember that a little bit of pain and suffering can bring a wealth of good.