Is merbau native to Australia?
Merbau grows naturally in South East Asia, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea and is imported to Australia from these countries. Merbau grows in Australia in a specific region by the Johnstone River and in the Daintree area of Far North Queensland.
What is merbau?
Merbau is a hardwood. Literally. It is one of the hardest and most durable timber species available. It is so tough and durable that special machinery — and a lot of saw blades — are needed to harvest, process and manufacture the timber.
Is merbau a Jarrah?
Jarrah can be highly polished and accepts most finishes well. It is commonly found on flooring, panelling, joinery, decking and furniture. 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.
Is kwila and merbau the same?
Merbau, also known as Kwila, is a common hardwood timber used for decking, screening and external joinery, which is sourced from Northern Queensland and South East Asia. It is reddish brown in colour and offers class 1 durability in above ground applications for outdoor use.
Do termites eat Merbau timber?
Merbau is a timber often found in mangrove forests. The material is naturally oily and has a high tannin content, making it resistant to weathering and termites.
Can you burn Merbau in a fire pit?
Merbau is one of the seven timbers that have been approved for use in regions of Australia that are known to be bushfire prone. It is a timber that does not catch fire easily, unlike many others that are more flammable.
What type of tree is Merbau?
Intsia bijug (Johnstone River teak, Pacific teak or scrub mahogany) is a timber that grows in the Southeast Pacific Rim which, of course, includes Northern Queensland. The tree is a species of flowering tree in the pea family and has a variety of common names including ipil, merbau and kwila.
Is merbau a 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.
Is Merbau more expensive than Jarrah?
The downsides of Jarrah are that it is on the more expensive side and requires a bit more maintenance and care than other decking timbers.
Is Merbau better than treated pine?
Some woods are better than others for that purpose. For instance, Merbau is classified as a hardwood and if taken care of properly, Merbau will last longer as well as stand up to dents and scratches far better than treated pine.
What is merbau made from?
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.
Can you bend merbau?
The best thing about merbau is that it is extremely easy to turn and bend. It is one of the most malleable hardwoods out there. It not only provides you with strength and durability, but it also offers good workability.
Is Merbau a teak?
What is Merbau made from?
Is merbau wood termite resistant?
Merbau (pronounced MER-boo), also known as kwila or ipil, is a tropical timber which inhabits mangrove forests. The wood is naturally oily with a high tannin content, making it highly durable and resistant to weathering, decay and termites.
What wood is similar to Merbau?
Cumaru is a very hard, dense South American hardwood known for exterior decking and interior hardwood flooring. Teak is a close-grained hardwood with high natural oil and rubber content.
Which is better Merbau or treated pine?
Is Blackbutt better than Merbau?
Merbau vs blackbutt decking Merbau is a cheap and attractive timber, but is unsustainably sourced and prone to tannin leach. Blackbutt looks great and requires less maintenance than other decking, but is prone to splitting.
What is merbau wood?
Merbau is a popular hardwood derived largely from areas in South East Asia, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific islands, and northern Queensland. With its high degree of natural durability and strength it is used externally in engineering, construction and marine applications.
Where do Merbau trees grow?
The tree thrives in the wet settings such as swamps, floodplains, riverbanks, and rain forests. Some of the trees can be found in the last remaining rainforests of Indonesia. Merbau is a favorite in Southeast Asia because of its natural resistance to decay and its superior strength, relative to teak.
What does Merbau look like when cut?
Color:The heartwood of merbau is typically a brownish orange when first cut and becomes a darker reddish brown upon exposure to air. Grain:The grain of merbau can be straight or wavy and has a course texture.
Is Merbau a good flooring for offices?
The dark coloring of the flooring as well as the durability makes merbau an excellent choice for most indoor locations with low to moderate foot traffic. While it can be used in corporate settings, there are other hardwoods that are better suited for heavier use.