Kevin Kowal - TerraMai: Faux Sugi Ban® - Charred Wood Reimagined for Health & Sustainability

Описание: Learn how TerraMai revolutionized the charred wood aesthetic by developing a healthier alternative that eliminates smoke, particulates, and petroleum-based finishes while delivering the texture and matte finish designers seek.

Key Topics Covered:
**TerraMai Background**: 25+ years pioneering reclaimed wood industry, scaling from pickup trucks to commercial A&D specification market
**Traditional Shou Sugi Ban/Yakisugi**: Japanese wood preservation technique involving burning wood surface - releases smoke, particulates, CO2, often requires petroleum-based top coats
**Innovation Driver**: Employee health priority - using no-VOC finishes before commercial market demanded it
**The HBO Project (2011)**: Origin story of Faux Sugi Ban® finish developed for HBO New York office

The Innovation Story:
**Client Requirements**: Burned finish that wouldn't come off, no transfer to white surfaces, no staining on clothing
**Challenge**: Traditional polyurethane sealers created unwanted gloss, char kept falling off
**Solution**: Textured reclaimed wood + dark stain + no-VOC black oil = same aesthetic without burning
**Key Insight**: Client wanted texture + matte finish + no mess - burning was just one pathway, not the only solution

Product Features:
**Materials**: Reclaimed oak (old barns, fences) with original saw marks and patina, or newer wood heavily wire/nylon brushed
**Finish**: No-VOC stain and dark oil system
**Applications**: Slats, acoustic ceiling systems, acoustic wall systems, interior and exterior use
**Performance**: Easy reapplication for maintenance without sanding
**Health Benefits**: No smoke exposure, no VOC emissions, protects workers during application

Sustainability Approach:
**Reclaimed Materials**: Post-consumer reclaimed wood (weathered redwood from California fencing, barn wood, factory wood)
**Solar Operations**: 880 solar panels at TerraMai facility
**Employee First**: VOC-free finishes prioritized for worker health even before market demand
**Hedonistic Sustainability**: Making sustainable choices that also deliver superior aesthetics and performance

*About the Presenter:*
Kevin Kowal is Vice President at TerraMai, specializing in exterior wood products and executive sales. He describes himself as a pioneer of "Hedonistic Sustainability," bringing reclaimed and sustainable wood solutions to architects, designers, and builders. TerraMai works with water-reclaimed wood and other unique sustainable materials, committed to sustainable operations including their installation of 880 solar panels. Kevin is a Prescott College graduate with nearly a decade of experience in the reclaimed wood industry.