Where is merbau wood found?
A beautiful hardwood timber species deriving from a few locations around the world, merbau comes from the Kwila tree. The species is found in tropical climates in locations such as Queensland, Australia and Indo Pacific islands like Fiji, and Samoa, as well as Tanzania, India, and Madagascar.
What color is Indonesian Merbau?
Merbau wood color is between gray-brown to blackish. There are also yellow-brown and reddish-brown ones. Merbau wood feels slippery when touched.
Is merbau a good wood?
Merbau is known for its durability. It has a Class 1 durability rating when used above ground and a Class 3 rating when used in-ground. This means that – when used as deck planks, boards or rails – it can last for over 40 years (with an average life expectancy of 25 years).
What kind of wood is Merbau?
rainforest hardwood
Merbau is a South East Asian rainforest hardwood that is also known as Kwila. It is a durable, dark reddish brown timber that is high in tannin content. Merbau may require repeat applications of Intergrain UltraPrep Timber Cleaner prior to coating. It is commonly used for decking, fences, flooring and panelling.
Do termites eat Merbau?
Merbau is so tough even termites hate it and want nothing to do with it whatsoever.
Is Merbau the same as teak?
Merbau Timber is one of the most used timbers in the furniture industry. Many factors set apart the Merbau wood from its counterparts of Teak and Oak. Revered as “God’s tree”, the Merbau sawn timber is specially used to construct temple doors, chariots, and other holy infrastructures.
How do you identify Merbau?
Merbau (Intsia spp.) Color/Appearance: Has an orangish-brown color when freshly cut, which ages to a darker reddish-brown. Color between boards can be highly variable. There are also small yellow mineral deposits found throughout the wood, making it easier to separate from other lookalikes.
Is Merbau better than pine?
Merbau vs Treated Pine Decking
As far as the best hardwood for decks goes, merbau is right up there with the greatest.
Do termites like Merbau?
Does Merbau need to be oiled?
Merbau is straightforward to work with as this wood is complex, making it popular and one of the best choices available in the market for decking purposes and it requires oiling every 12 months to maintain its looks.
Can Merbau get wet?
Merbau Timber’s tannin washes out on exposure to rain but When it comes into contact with any liquid or chemical such as paint, even if it does not come into contact with rain, Merbau Decking Timber can bleed. Especially when there is a fresh cut and the end grain is left unprotected or bare.
Can you paint oiled Merbau?
Products like 70mm x 19mm x 1.8m Pre Oiled Merbau Picket Blanks come pre-oiled and, due to the penetrative nature of the oil, it will prevent the effective uptake of paints. Un-coated Merbau can be painted, but it would be worth either letting it weather naturally or doing a new timber prep on it.
Does Merbau go grey?
If Merbau is not oiled, it will weather to a distinctive silver grey colour. To maintain the natural colourings of the timber it is suggested that a periodic application of oil be used. This consists of using a lint free cloth and wiping either Hardwood Oil, or a Clear Oil over the exposed areas.
Does Merbau need to be treated?
Whilst most timbers need to be meticulously treated after harvesting, merbau’s strength comes from the abundance of natural oils contained inside the wood. These oils offer powerful protection against natural forces and prevent the timber from shrinking, cracking and splitting.
How long should you leave Merbau before oiling?
The instructions read: “allow new Merbau timber to weather for 6 to 8 weeks prior to applying Aussie Clear” and “… any excess oil remaining on the surface after 2 hours should be wiped off.” Over oiled Merbau deck.
How long does Merbau last?
Durability. Merbau is a favourite choice for decking projects because of its excellent durability. With a durability class of 2, you can expect your decking to last for 15 to 40 years without decay.
How do you keep Merbau looking natural?
Our Favorite combination for Merbau decking – 2 Coats of Light Oak with added Jarrah to maintain the natural appearance of the timber. We recommend Natural/Light Oak with a touch of Jarrah decking oil due to the minimal use of pigments which helps prevent further darkening of your timbers.
How can you tell if wood is Merbau?
The bushy tree will often form a spreading canopy. Once cut, the heartwood will initially appear as yellowish-brown or orange-brown before deepening to a pale to dark reddish brown. This contrasts with the merbau sapwood, which appears white, pale yellow or buff.
What is the best oil to use on Merbau?
We recommend Natural/Light Oak with a touch of Jarrah decking oil due to the minimal use of pigments which helps prevent further darkening of your timbers. A good natural decking oil will showcase your timber whilst giving strong UV protection.