Merbau
From Floor Coverings
Contents |
Wood Species
Merbau
Biological name
Intsia bijuga
Originates from or commonly found in
India, Philippines, Indonesia and Australia
Physical appearance
The Merbau tree is 50 feet tall and has a trunk of 5 feet in diameter. Its bark varies from gray to light brown and light red. The Merbau’s fruit looks like a thin, flattened pod and contains large seeds. While the sapwood of the Merbau tree is white, the heartwood is a lot darker with brown and red-brown colors.
Flooring Properties
Merbau is a hard and dense, yet attractive hardwood which features ribbon figuring. This figuring gives the wood particular yellow or gold flecks that make its surface seem speckled with gold. Its texture is fairly coarse, and its grain can be straight, interlocked or wavy. After being cut the wood is a yellow-brown to orange-brown color, and darkens to more brown and reddish with time. Carbide cutting tools are highly recommended because Merbau's toughness gives it a tendency to dull tools. The species does sand and finish exceptionally well.
Janka Rating
Merbau has a hardness rating of 1925,
