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Meranti Timber

Meranti timber is a durable hardwood known for its stability and moderate to low resistance against decay. Dark Red Meranti has a Modulus Rupture of 9, while Light Red Meranti has a Modulus Rupture of 6.9, indicating moderate strength. The higher the modulus, the harder the wood material. For a more detailed comparison, please refer to the attached Wood Comparison Table.

Meranti timber is versatile and well-suited for various home improvement applications. It is commonly used in construction and manufacturing, particularly in furniture production, plywood manufacturing, and veneer production.

Genus Name
Distribution
Characteristic
Usage

Dark Uniform Colour (DUC) Meranti

Meranti (“DUC” or Dark Uniform Color), grown in Malaysia, is a mixture of several species of Meranti with similar color and grain.

Meranti Seraya

A medium red Meranti (Shorea) species variant

Red Balau

Red Balau is just one of the species in the Shorea genus and has been on the market as a decking product for many years as well. It is an excellent tropical decking solution with superior insect and rot resistance.

Keruing

The wood is also sold under the name Apitong, or less frequently under the somewhat wishful name of Asian Mahogany.

Bekak

Visually, it resembles genuine mahgany (though perhaps lacking a bit of its color contrasts), but it also has a lingering scent that’s been compared to cedar.

Geronggang

Geronggang is a strong timber, with strength properties comparable with those of oak.

Mengkulang

Mengkulang is poorly durable to fungi and is durable to dry wood borers; sapwood demarcated (risk limited to sapwood). It also cannot be used in marine environment or in brackish water.

Merbau

Merbau is a very attractive wood, with its growth ring figure and deep colour.

Kedondong

One of the lesser-known timber species found in Asia. This wood is typically used for boxes and crates, as well as interior joineries, paneling, and furniture components.

Kembang Semangkuk

The broad rays and the terminal bands of parenchyma produce a very attractive figure for many woodworks. In Thailand, it has been successfully used in the manufacture of match splints.

Nyatoh

Nyatoh is a very popular timber for furniture and solid door.

Meranti Bukit

A deep red brown Meranti (Shorea) species variant

Meranti Nemesu

A dark red (deep red) Meranti (Shorea) species variant

Surian Batu

This is a monotypic timber. Equivalent to the famous "Indian wood"- chikrassy, which is highly prized as a high-class cabinet wood.

The Origin of Meranti Timber

Meranti wood originates from Southeast Asian islands such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. While it is sometimes referred to as "Philippines Mahogany" due to its color resemblance to Mahogany, it is genetically distinct from Mahogany.

The Variety of Meranti Wood Species

There are some differences in terms of colour on Meranti Wood, which include:
  • Dark Red Meranti is native to Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. This species is moderately durable and stable.
  • Light Red Meranti is found naturally in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. It is less durable compared to Dark Red Meranti.
  • White Meranti is usually used for light construction for its lightweight properties. It has low durability and strength.
  • Yellow Meranti is native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. It is a lightweight hardwood with moderately durable properties.

Malaysia The Latest Meranti Wood Exporter

In terms of export, Malaysia was the largest exporter of Meranti timber in 2018, with a total trade value of $5,267,430, according to Worldbank data. Pine Horizon, as one of the top wood suppliers in Malaysia, offers a wide selection of high-quality Meranti wood.

The Apparent Properties of Meranti Hardwood Timber

Meranti has a higher modulus of elasticity than other common woods, with a value of 13.9 GPa for Dark Red Meranti and 11.9 GPa for Light Red Meranti, which gives Meranti a better resistance to the composite material bending.

The flexibility, strength and lightweight properties of Meranti make it easier to cut and process into any shape needed for various purposes, including furniture, home décor and crafts.

Wood Colour

The colour of Meranti is one of its apparent characteristics. Different Meranti species exhibit a wider scheme of colours, ranging from light reddish Light Red Meranti to darker reddish Dark Red Meranti. Generally, the colour of heartwood is darker than sapwood, although the colouration may differ depending on the species.

Wood Grain

Meranti wood grain may be straight up or interlocked. It may also have a rough texture with a low natural lustre. Meranti also has a porous end-grain with huge pores in an irregular arrangement.

The Durability, Density and Resistance of Meranti Wood

Meranti wood is categorized as a soft to medium hardwood, moderately durable and stable. It has mild resistance to rot and insects but is susceptible to termite attacks. It is commonly used for indoor applications such as decorative panels, countertops, and bathroom vanities.
It also influences other properties such as:

Wood Density

The density of the wood is often used to evaluate the wood quality and determine if it is appropriate to be used for any desired purpose. Wood density may differ according to weight; the lighter the timber, the lower the density. As a light hardwood timber, the density of Meranti wood is between 415-885 kg/m3 air dry.

Easy Workability Value

With soft and medium hardwood properties, Meranti wood is easier to handle and work with machines and hands. The wood glues and stains easily, it adheres to nails and screws and can be prepped without sanding.

Fast Drying Properties

Meranti is known to dry easily and quickly, both by nature and in the oven. The moisture level in Meranti wood can drop from 60% to 18% in just 2-3 months.

The Versatility of Meranti Timber

Meranti wood is more suitable for interior work due to its moderately durable feature. It is commonly used as plywood, interior furnishings, veneering, cabinetry, buildings, doors, windows and boats.

Lower tangential and radial shrinkage is better for wood as it demonstrates that it is not as susceptible to shrinking and warping when it dries. Meranti timber also has a lower tangential and radial shrinkage percentage than other woods such as Sapele, African Mahagony, and White Oak.

The tangential shrinkage for Light Red Meranti and Dark Red Meranti is 4.9% and 4.1%, respectively, while the radial shrinkage for Light Red Meranti is 1.8% and 2% for Dark Red Meranti.

Different Meranti Wood Species and its Usages

Dark Red Meranti Wood Main Uses

  • Framing
  • Cabinetry (high-end furniture)
  • Open boats
  • Veneer for back or face and interior plywood
  • Panelling
  • Glued Laminated
  • Exterior and Interior joinery
  • Built-in furniture or mobile item
  • Flooring
  • Sliced veneer
  • Sculpture
  • Marquetry

Light Red Meranti Main Uses

  • Framing
  • Boxes and crates
  • Veneer for back or face and interior of plywood
  • Panelling
  • Interior joinery
  • Sliced veneer

Meranti Timber Product
Production Process

How is Meranti Timber Different from Other Woods?

Below is the comparison table that is helpful to shed some light on the differences between Meranti and other types of wood:
Species Scientific Name Density (kg/m3 Carbon Footprint References
Light Red Meranti Shorea spp. 747 211 This study
Dark Red Meranti Shorea spp. 768 337 This study
Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii 510 353 Milota et al. (2005)
Western Hemlock Tsuga heterophylla 429 258 Milota et al. (2005)
Pine Pinus radiata 550 398 McCallum (2009)
Ash Fraxinus spp. 449 407 PE International AG (2012)
Hard Maple Acer saccharum 833 394 PE International AG (2012)
Sweet chestnut (air dried sawn timber) Castanea sativa Mill. 560 95.2 Martinex Alonso and Berdasco (2015)
Pine Horizon Sdn Bhd is currently one of the fastest growing timber suppliers in Malaysia. We are a one-stop center from logging to providing complete logistics solution for a wide variety of timber species throughout Malaysia and the continents of North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Contact Details

Lot 1080, Kawasan Perusahaan Kilang Papan, Batu 7 1/2, Sungai Gadut, Jalan Tampin, 71450 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
+60 17-288 2678
+60 17-288 2678
pinehorizonsb@gmail.com
PEFC/34-31-278 and MTCC/31-278
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