Decking, Fences & Trellis : Merbau Timber

Description

Merbau is a Heavy Hardwood that is yellowish to orange-brown when fresh, darkening to brown or dark red-brown on exposure.

Also known as Kwila (Australia); Merbau (Brunei); Krakasprek (Cambodia); Vesi (Fiji); Besi kesia, Ipil, Kayu besi and Merbau (Indonesia); Tat-takun (Myanmar); Komu (New Caledonia); Bendora and Kwila (Papua New Guinea); Ipil, Ipil laut and Malaipil (Philippines); Ifilele (Samoa Islands); Lumpha, Lumphor thale, Lum-por and Maka-mong (Thailand); and Gonuo (Vietnam).

USES

Merbau is a very attractive wood, with its growth ring figure and deep colour. The timber is suitable for interior finishing, paneling, mouldings, office fittings, flooring (heavy traffic), superior joinery, cabinet-making, musical instruments, ornamental items and carvings. The timber is widely used for the manufacture of reproduction antique furniture and strip flooring in the country. It is also suitable for heavy construction, power transmission poles, railway sleepers, decking, columns (heavy duty), door and window frames and sills, fender supports, staircase and heavy duty furniture.

SHRINKAGE

Shrinkage values are particularly low. Radial shrinkage averaging 0.9% and tangential shrinkage averaging 1.6%. 

STRENGTH PROPERTIES

The timber falls into Strength Group B (Engku, 1988b) or SG 4 (MS 544:Part 2:2001).

Strength Properties of Merbau