Is Balau wood strong?

One of its important highlights is its durability. It is harder, stronger, and heavier than most of the well-known hardwood types. So it is the best for marine applications. In Malaysia, because of its durability, they call it Balau but in the regions of Sarawak, Brunei, and Sabah it is known as selangan batu.

What type of timber is Balau?

Malaysian hardwood timber
Balau is a Malaysian hardwood timber, light brown in its natural form. We stock carefully selected 1st Grade reeded and smooth Bangkirai Balau decking sourced from the best suppliers. Our decking is machined from kiln-dried timber and with proper care this very durable and suitable for use as exterior decking.

What is Balau wood used for?

Balau is a very good, hardy and durable wood to use in outdoor wooden decks and other outdoor projects. It contains toxins that limit insects eating it and it is high in resins and oils which naturally repels water and limits rot.

Is Balau wood sustainable?

Balau is an imported hardwood, it’s versatile, fungi resistant with a Class 2 durability rating. has long been a popular timber for decking, fencing, cladding. It’s important to us to source timber that is FSC compliant and to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum and encourage sustainable practices.

Do you have to treat Balau decking?

Because this wood is naturally oily, unfinished balau must be oiled regularly. If your balau deck is exposed to direct sunlight for much of the day, the wood can become parched and cracked if you don’t oil it at least annually. Sealed balau does not need annual oiling, as the sealant holds in the wood’s natural oils.

How long will Balau decking last?

between 20-30 years
Balau is a type 2 decking which means that it has a life span of between 20-30 years depending on the treatment of the decking. We recommend oiling your decking boards as soon as they are laid, and then once every 12 months going forward.

Do you have to treat Balau wood?

Is Balau wood termite resistant?

Description: Yellow Balau is a very dense wood that is bright yellow-brown in color, which fades into a dark grey-brown shade when exposed to direct sunlight. Properties such as excellent water resistance, fungi and termite resistant, make this wood ideal for use as outdoor decking that is exposed to the elements.

Is Balau a hardwood?

Native to Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, balau is a dense hardwood used mainly for heavy construction. The heartwood of balau is yellow to brown, which is distinct from the paler sapwood. Its moderately fine and even texture presents an interlocked grain, which produces a stripe figure on the radial surface.

What is Balau timber?

Balau are very common throughout Malaysia and being large hardwoods growing within a range of 30 to 60 metres high. The timber is a Heavy Hardwood with a density of 850-1,155 kg/m3 air dry.

Can Balau be kiln dried?

Surface checking is common with Balau as it is a “wet” timber, (because of its density it dries over a very long period of time and therefore cannot be accelerated with kiln drying) this is however common to all hardwoods in this category.

What are the different types of hardwood trees in Malaysia?

Major species include S. atrinervosa, S. foxworthyi, S. glauca, S. laevis, S. materialis, S. maxwelliana, S. submontana and S. sumatrana. Balau are very common throughout Malaysia and being large hardwoods growing within a range of 30 to 60 metres high.

Do resin pockets occur in Balau?

Resin pockets do occur. Surface checking is common with Balau as it is a “wet” timber, (because of its density it dries over a very long period of time and therefore cannot be accelerated with kiln drying) this is however common to all hardwoods in this category.