Building Investment (July-August 2021)

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/m 3 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/m 3
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/m 3 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
Hotel Viceroy Maldives.
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/m 3 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.
July-August 2021 | www.b-i.biz 19