MTC: Beautiful Meranti

Yellow Meranti featured at Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa.

BEAUTIFUL MERANTI

A feature by Malaysian Timber Council

Meranti is a lovely and versatile timber from the genus Shorea. It has high commercial value and can be easily found in Malaysia. Meranti can grow well over 50 metres in height with diameters ranging from one to 1.5 metres on average. There are over 190 species of Shorea that come in different colours in the heartwood but share somewhat similar characteristics in terms of texture, grain, and workability. Meranti is often found in grey or yellow blending to reddish depending on where it is harvested. It ages to golden brown with continued exposure to light while its heartwood can vary from dark red/ purple to a straw yellow or pale white. The wood is straight grained but often interlocked producing a distinctive ribbon striped appearance. Malaysia’s expanse of lush tropical forest provides for excellent high-grade Meranti timbers, which are sought-after by discerning buyers from Europe, United States of America,

Australia, and Japan. It is the recommended hardwood for outdoor and indoor applications due to its durability, strength, and attractive grains. Meranti is mainly used for manufacturing windows, doors,

and frames, among others, due to its good technical properties and wide availability. It is one of the tropical hardwoods that are sustainably produced in the country. A legally harvested timber, Meranti’s demand has grown over the years and is set to remain as a key export to Europe.

There are two large groups of commercial Meranti – Dark Red Meranti, and Meranti “DUC” or ‘Dark Uniform Colour’ comprising a mixture of several Meranti species of similar colour and grain.

DARK RED MERANTI (DRM)

Dark Red Meranti or DRM is generally found in well-drained forests, on low hills as well as the top and upper slope of ridges throughout Malaysia. The sapwood is not clearly defined from the heartwood, which is medium red to deep red-brown in colour. The texture is moderately coarse and even.

DRM is a light hardwood with a density of 450-700kg/m3 air dry. It is one of the easier hardwoods to work with. It easily machines, cuts, mills, and sands. It has a course, fibrous texture with open pores. The straight-grain composition of Meranti means it is friendly to planers.

Major species of Dark Red Meranti that are widely available are Meranti Bukit, Meranti Nemesu and Meranti Seraya.

MERANTI NEMESU

Meranti Nemesu is a deep red timber that has a density of 500-650kg/m3 when it is kiln-dried at 15% moisture content. Its colour ranges from dark brown to reddish brown and as it ages, acquires a beautiful silvery patina (unless a UV protectorate is applied). It machines easily, glues and stains well too. The timber is extensively used for manufacturing staircase, as well as for boatbuilding, millwork, including window and door applications.

Meranti Nemesu is comparable to Sipo and Sapele in terms of colour, stability and durability.

MERANTI SERAYA

Meranti Seraya, on the other hand, is medium red in colour with a density of 450-550kg/m3 when kiln-dried at 15% moisture content.

Occasionally referred to as “Philippines Mahogany”, Meranti Seraya is dark red to purple-brown in colour with white streaks. It also has straight and interlocked grains. It’s durable, easy to work with, paints and stains equally well. The aesthetically pleasing timber is most commonly used for manufacturing window frames, in addition to millwork, window and door applications, and boatbuilding.

It is comparable to Khaya and Spanish cedar in colour, stability and durability.

MERANTI “DUC”

Meranti “DUC” refers to a group of Meranti timbers that are in dark uniform colours and grains. The Meranti species under “DUC” are widely distributed in well-drained lowland forests and hill dipterocarp forests. The sapwood is clearer in colour – usually greyish – and distinct from the heartwood. The hardwood timbers have colours ranging from smooth pink to soft red with densities from 400-500kg/m3 when kilndried at 15% moisture content. They are also easy to work with, either by hand and can be easily glued, stained/painted, and nailed.

It is commonly used for marine and millwork applications and is similar to Okoume and Red Grandis in colour, stability and durability.

WHY MALAYSIAN MERANTI?

• Attractive. • Certified legal and sustainably sourced. • No additional chemical is needed for protection against fungal infection after proper kiln-drying. • Available under Malaysian Grading

Rules (MGR) 2009 – Select, Standard,

Serviceable, Utility and Merchantable.

Hotel Viceroy Maldives.

Applications

Doors & Windows/Frames Decking & Poles Staircases

Interior Furnishing Fascia Boards

Furniture

Outdoor Furniture

Boat Building

PROPERTIES:

Dark Red Meranti

Ease of planning Quality of planning finish Ease of boring Quality of boring finish Ease of turning Quality of turning finish Ease of treatability Nailing

Meranti Bukit

0

MERANTI “DUC”

0

Ease of planning Quality of planning finish Ease of boring Quality of boring finish Ease of turning Quality of turning finish Ease of treatability Nailing

Note: Working properties are rated from Poor (0) to Excellent (5). Treatability is rated from Very Easy (0) to Very Difficult (5).

Meranti Nemesu Meranti Seraya Meranti “DUC”

1 2 Scale

3 4 5

1 2 Scale

3 4 5

Cost

Weight

Hardness

Stability

Durability

Strength

Toxicity

MERANTI AT A GLANCE

Workability