Merbau Decking – Advantages & Disadvantages
What is Merbau Decking?
Merbau is an imported hardwood timber from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia that has become increasingly popular for deck builders in Western Australia. Below, we detail the advantages and disadvantages of Merbau decking to help you decide whether it is suitable for your project.
The Advantages
Merbau decking has many advantages including but not limited to the following:
Class 1 Hardwood
Within Australia, all timbers are given a durability rating (Class 1 – 4) which provides an indication of the resistance of the heartwood to decay, termite and fungal attack. Merbau is a Class 1 Hardwood above ground which is estimated to have 5 – 15 years ‘in-ground life’ subject to conditions and 40 years above-ground exposure.
Termite Resistant
Termites potentially cause millions of dollars worth of structural damage to Australian homes every year. For those who are located within a termite prone area, it is important to select a termite resistant timber such as Merbau.
Ideal for WA
Because of it’s high durability rating and termite resistance Merbau decking is ideal for the harsh West Australian climate. It meets the BAL 29 rating.
The Disadvantages
Merbau has a few disadvantages including the following:
Tannin Leaching
Merbau is a naturally tannin-rich timber and planning your project around this is important. Ideally, washing surface tannins off and then applying a sealer will lock in the residual tannins preventing potential leaching issues.
Finger Jointed Merbau
Finger jointed Merbau boards are typically a combination of shorter timber lengths interlocked together to make a longer board. The ends are glued together which can create several issues, particularly in harsh weather conditions. Generally, non-finger jointed boards have a longer life-span. Finger jointed Merbau is not available from Timber Decking Supply Shed.
Find Out More
Click here to learn more about Merbau decking or Contact Paul today for free expert advice.
“It is very a rare and beautiful thing to be so warmly welcomed into a business by the owner operator and have them be so generous in sharing their time and wealth of knowledge on timber, preparation, finishing products etc. The selection of different woods, sizes and alternative materials is fantastic and the pricing competitive. All with the added bonus of being able to take away samples for viewing in-situ. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Paul (Timber Decking Supply Shed) and can’t wait to work with him on my upcoming pool/verandah decking.”
Heidi Jannetta“These guys have become my one stop shop for all outdoor living and decking supplies. The high quality of all their timber products, matched by their friendly, efficient service and competitive prices means a lot to my business.”
Scott Turnbull, Turnbull Building Solutions“I have been building decks for years and have tried numerous suppliers. Timber Decking Supply Shed is one of the rare bunch that go out of their way to actually prevent problems. No wonder I choose do deal with them!”
Justin Sherrell, Builder“After discovering Timber Decking Supply Shed my worries were over. I have never met people so passionate about their timber. Their knowledge of products and installation has been brilliant and my project looks great!”
Adrian and Michelle Penny, DIYers