BANGKIRAI / BALAU

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BANGKIRAI / BALAU

In addition to numerous commercially used wood species from the Shorea genus, such as red, white and yellow Meranti, the heavy and durable kinds of this genus are especially important for outdoor construction.

Description

Botanical name: Shorea spp.
Overall character: The color and structure of this mostly homogenous wood have a medium to coarse texture and a high density. Resin canals (light stripes) appear on its longitudinal planes and cross sections.
Color and structure: The fresh heartwood has a yellowish brown color that often darkens to an olive brown. The sapwood is slightly lighter, though that isn’t always noticable.
Characteristics/features: The great natural durability of the heartwood allows for easy outdoor use without specific protection and in the long term.
Areas of use: Used as a construction wood outdoors as well as in port engineering that requires medium to high mechanical strain, terrace boards and pier decks.
Sources: https://www.holzvomfach.de

JELUTONG

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JELUTONG

Jelutong is widespread in Malaysia, where it is especially popular on the island of Borneo. Transregionally, Jelutong is also known as Malaysian pencil cedar.

Description

Botanical name: Dyera costulata
Overall character: A yellowish white wood with no visible transition from the splint to the core. It is diffuse-porous, homogenous and simple.
Color and structure: Jelutong sapwood is a pale yellow to white-grey color. The structure of the wood is homogenous and simple with medium-sized pores that are easily visible and bring about a low density of Jelutong.
Characteristics/features: Low bulk density of about 0.35 - 0.40 tons/m3. Drying is unproblematic, but there is a risk of blueness. The shape stability is good, but the timber is not durable.
Areas of use: Often used for ledges, pencils and light construction wood. But it is heavier than Balsa.
Sources: https://www.holzvomfach.de

KAPUR

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KAPUR

In its growth area, Kapur is a very important economically. It’s mainly used for construction and as raw material for the manufacture of peeled veneers used for plywood.

Description

Botanical name: Dryobalanops spp.
Overall character: The color and structure of this mostly homogenous wood have a medium to coarse texture and a medium density. Resin canals (light lines) appear on its longitudinal planes and cross sections, respectively curled spots.
Color and structure: Sapwood is reddish grey to light brown and easily distinguishable from the orange to reddish brown heartwood that develops a brown color when exposed to light.
Characteristics/features: This timber has a good resistance to wood-destroying fungi and termites and is fit for long term outdoor use in temperate climates in without earth contact.
Areas of use: Used as construction timber in exterior construction for load-bearing building components of medium mechanical stress as well as in gardening and landscaping and as a peeled veneer for plywood.
Sources: https://www.holzvomfach.de

KEMPAS

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KEMPAS

The Koompassia genus encompasses 3 kinds of wood: K. excelsa, K. grandifl ora and K. malaccensis. Only the latter is commonly used and of economical relevance, however.

Description

Botanical name: Koompassia malaccensis
Overall character: Evenly colored and strikingly structured wood with a coarse texture and glossy striping on its radial surface.
Color and structure: Fresh heartwood is brick red, then develops a dark orange or reddish brown color. Easily distinguishable from the narrow, yellow-white to straw coloured sapwood.
Characteristics/features: In temperate climates, this timber is durable and also suitable for outdoor use.
Areas of use: Kempas is a versatile wood for interior construction. It has great qualities (without enclosed cortical tissue) and is are processed into terrace boards, parquet, as well as floors for industrial plants. Rarely, it is used for decorative sliced veneers.
Sources: https://www.holzvomfach.de

KERUING

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KERUING

About 70 kinds of wood are part of the Dipterocarpus genus and called Keruing. They are widespread in South and Southeast Asia.

Description

Botanical name: Dipterocarpus alatus
Overall character: A brownish hardwood rich in resin with a sleek yet porous structure.
Color and structure: The sapwood is 4 to 18 cm wide with a reddish grey to pale brown color. The heartwood is reddish brown to slightly violet and develops a more brown color.
Characteristics/features: The natural durability of Keruing varies. Durability class 3 (moderately durable) pursuant to DIN EN 350.
Areas of use: In Southeast Asia, Keruing is used for the production of high-quality plywood.
Sources: https://www.holzvomfach.de

MERANTI

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MERANTI

Meranti woods are among the most used timbers of South Asia. They resemble each other in structure, but differ considerably in color, strength and sometimes processing characteristics.

Description

Botanical name: Shorea assamica
Overall character: Very evenly structured and generally porous moderately heavy wood with a slightly tinted core. This wood is similar to timbers from the White Seraya and Yellow Meranti groups.
Color and structure: Fresh sapwood is yellow-white and 4 to 6 cm wide. The heartwood is yellowish to white and only slightly different from the fresh sapwood. It develops a pale yellow to yellow-brown color once it dries and has a demi-matte finish. There is no harsh contrast between the splint and the heartwood.
Characteristics/features: The strength properties of white Meranti resemble tropical hardwoods of the same weight, e.g. African woods such as Framire and Limba.
Areas of use: White Meranti is suitable for the production of peeled, specially hauled decks and sliced veneers.
Sources: https://www.holzvomfach.de

MERBAU

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MERBAU

The Intsia genus is prevalent in South and Southeast Asia, as well as in Madagascar. It is closely related to the Afzelia kind, which is mostly found in Africa.

Description

Botanical name: Intsia bijuga
Overall character: Merbau is not to be confused with other woods species from Southeast Asia that are sold under similar names (such as Merbatu (Parinari salomonensis) or Merpauh (Swintonia spp.) In 2006, the genus Intsia was proposed for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Appendix III, but it initially wasn’t accepted.
Color and structure: Sapwood is 4 to 8 centimetres wide and has a yellowish white color. The heartwood is clearly contrased by a light to reddish brown colour, later developing into a brown/dark copper brown. The pores often have an almost black (sometimes yellow) filling.
Characteristics/features: Wood species pursuant to DIN 1052-1* group B (not listed).
Areas of use: Thanks to its great physical, biological and mechanical properties, Merbau is especially suitable as a solid wood: it works in exterior construction, if surfaces are protected appropriately. Windows and doors are an example for this. In interior construction, it can be used for floors, stairs, handrails, frame constructions, highly loaded tables and shelves.
Sources: https://www.holzvomfach.de