Wood description:
Meranti trees reach impressive dimensions in height and diameter too. Trunks usually have a regular vertical growth and they don’t taper too much. There are several types of meranti, is common to divide them depending on colour: white, yellow, light red and dark red. Difference between sapwood and heartwood is not so noticeable on the light species as it is on the darker ones. Sapwood is greyish or pink-greyish, heartwood reddish to dark red.

Histological structure:
Grain: straight, sometimes interlocked;
Texture: coarse.

Characteristic defects:
Numerous strong internal tensions;
Quite vulnerable to wood-boring insects;
Small splits on the fragile heart.

Working properties:
Sawing: easy with care to resin;
Drying: medium with risk of checks;
Planing: presence of silica to be taken into consideration;
Glueing: easy
Nailing and screwing: pre-boring is advisable;
Finishing: easy.

Main uses:
Carpentry for interiors and exteriors;
Construction;
Sliced decorative face veneers for panels;
Scantling.

Mechanical properties:
Tensil strength : 95 N/mm²
Compressive strength : 50 N/mm²

Specific weight:
green 800 kg/m³ , dried 450 kg/ m³