What is Red Balau decking?
Red balau decking construction is a great option for homeowners looking to extend their living to the outdoors. Also like ipe, properly sealed balau is highly resistant to scratching and scuffing. The density of the wood also helps prevent infestations from wood pests, weather damage, and mold.
What is Batu/Red Balau?
Applications: Batu / Red Balau is idea for exterior decking, millwork, railing, porch flooring, siding, soffit, wainscotting.
Does Red Balau need to be sealed?
Since red balau is a naturally oily wood, it must be properly sealed with oil, otherwise it can dry out and/or absorb spills quite easily. Modern sealants do a good job of protecting the wood but when the wood density it needs to be reapplied often.
Is Balau a premium hardwood?
It is considered a premium hardwood, free of defects and knots. Red Balau is one of the hardest woods around. In fact, Red Balau is thought to be four times the density of Redwood. It is recommended that if the product is being used outdoors that an oil finish be applied to help prevent weathering and UV damage.
Where does Red Balau wood come from?
IndonesiaThis type of wood typically comes from Indonesia, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. Aside from being one of the homeowner's favorite because of its extreme durability, Red Balau wood is also preferred by many because of its unique aesthetics.
What is the difference between red and yellow Balau?
Yellow Balau timber is yellow-brown, with a strong similarity to the hue of straw in that respect. Red Balau is a much darker red-brown colour. The grain in the wood can often be interlocked and the texture of the timber is quite coarse or harsh.
Is Red Balau wood sustainable?
Balau wood is generally sustainable thanks to its carbon sequestration. But the decline in natural habitat, the widespread illegal logging (with its adverse impact on the ecosystems), and long transporting distances make it less sustainable than timber from local temperate forests.
Is Red Balau toxic?
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Balau in the Shorea genus has been reported to cause eye, throat, and skin irritation.
How much does Red balau cost?
Red Balau Decking Price Range Red Balau 5/4x6 S4S E4E with a random tally (8-22 evens) ranges in price from $2.80 to 2.96 per lineal foot. Red Balau 5/4x6 PG for hidden fastener system with a random tally (8-22 evens) ranges in price from $3.67 to $3.88 per lineal foot.
Is balau wood waterproof?
Balau wood is very commonly used in outdoor furniture industry because of its sustainability & waterproof such as decking, pergola awning, door, bench and many more. The balau has a good life expectancy when used above ground that is, the heartwood has fairly good natural resistance to decay and most insects.
Is Balau wood toxic?
Toxicity: Balau never causes serious irritation, but it belongs to Shorea genus, so it may cause eye or throat irritations. It contains poisons that limit bugs entering into it and it is good in resins and oils which normally repulses water and cutoff rots. All wood will in the long run rot.
How do you maintain a Balau deck?
To keep you deck in great shape we recommend re-oiling 2 times a year “depending on the wood” and the area. When you deck is varnished you can expect to apply a new coat of varnish every 8 months depending on the area you are in. Many clients leave their decks too long and then the whole process becomes a headache.
What type of wood is Balau?
hardwoodNative to Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, balau is a dense hardwood used mainly for heavy construction. The heartwood of balau is yellow to brown, which is distinct from the paler sapwood. Its moderately fine and even texture presents an interlocked grain, which produces a stripe figure on the radial surface.
What kind of oil do you use on a Balau deck?
Finishing. Because of Red Balau's natural density and alkaline characteristics, many finishes will not dry properly when applied. Test any product on several sample boards to determine compatibility. The finish we sell and recommend is Ipe Oil™.
How do you seal wood Balau?
We recommend homeowners coat their Red Balau decks with a penetrating oil finish. Our experience is that oil-based finishes reach deeper into the pores of the wood's cellular structure to add protection while enhancing the grain. When applying the actual oil finish, it's critical not to let the oil puddle up.
How do you treat Balau wood?
Balau decking can be left untreated to weather down over time, or, can be treated with penetrating oils. Treatex, which is also available at Round Wood, is an exterior wood finish that can slow the ageing process of your decking boards.
What is Red Balau decking?
Red Balau Decking is a durable hardwood decking material, often compared to mahogany. Its rich reddish-brown color and extreme durability make it a superb decking material. Red Balau also boasts a very consistent color from board to board compared to other popular decking woods.
How do you treat Balau wood?
Balau decking can be left untreated to weather down over time, or, can be treated with penetrating oils. Treatex, which is also available at Round Wood, is an exterior wood finish that can slow the ageing process of your decking boards.
What is the density of Balau wood?
64 Lbs/Ft3Average density of 64 Lbs/Ft3 / 1020 kg/M3.
What kind of wood is Nyatoh?
Nyatoh is a trade name for wood of a number of hardwood species of the genera Palaquium and Payena growing in rainforest environments in southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia and the Philippines. Nyatoh wood is reddish and most species are easy to work with and takes to stain and polish well.
How versatile is Red Balau?
Red Balau is one of our more versatile types of hardwood. It’s not as dense as Tigerwood, making it easier to cut, saw, and nail. Depending on your...
What kind of resistance does Red Balau offer?
Like most of the lumber products we have in stock, Red Balau is resistant to decay, rot, termites, and extreme weather conditions. Red Balau also p...
Should I choose Red Balau or Ipe?
These two woods are very similar. Both styles are highly dense making them incredibly durable and reliable. Both are resistant to scratches, wood b...
Red Balau
Top quality premium hardwood decking, manufactured from all clear heart premium grade selection of Red Balau.
RED BALAU
MANGARIS™ RED, commonly called Red Mangaris, is produced from a genuine Red Balau specie. It is an extremely hard, clear grade, tight and interlocked grain wood with an extremely consistent color. It is a deep red with a minor amount of fine brown ribbon stripes. It has the richness of Mahogany.
Detailed scientific and mechanical properties for Batu Wood, Red Balau Hardwood Lumber
Description: Meranti Batu / Red Balau resembles the rich classic look of Genuine Mahogany.
Batu, Red Balau Lumber Scientific Properties and Technical Specifications
Durability Rating: Excellent. Nova offers a 25 year warranty on Meranti Batu against rot and decay in temperate climates.
Red Balau Decking or Ipe?
More and more homeowners are choosing to have their outdoor decks constructed with exotic, tropical, imported woods. This isn’t just a stylistic choice either—in many cases, these woods offer a lot of functional benefits in addition to a unique, aesthetically appealing look.
What is Ipe Wood, and Why is it Good for a Deck?
Ipe (pronounced “Ee-pay”) has become quite popular in the past ten or so years, and for good reason. It’s a tropical hardwood from the rainforests of Brazil, and ipe decks have garnered so much attention stateside as a result of its beautiful appearance and extreme functionality.
What is Red Balau Wood, and Why is it Good for a Deck?
Red balau, comes from the tropical rainforests in Malaysia and is another very dense wood that’s become popular in recent years due to its extreme durability and attractive price.
Other Considerations About Ipe and Red Balau
Even though ipe and red balau woods are both imported and shipped in from Brazil and Southeast Asia, respectively these woods are surprisingly affordable.
Improper Drying
Before it is ready for use in decking, balau wood must move through a specific drying process to ensure that it doesn't crack or warp. Balau wood is generally kiln-dried for 30 to 60 days. After it has undergone kiln-drying, the wood is dried in the sun for several days to produce its yellowy-orange hue.
Importation Needs
Balau wood is not native to North America. These trees grow in hilly regions of Southeast Asia, so any balau wood used in American decking must be imported. Because the wood is imported, it is generally more expensive than domestic woods such as oak and pine.
Staining
Balau decking is highly porous, so any spills will absorb into the wood if the stain is not wiped up immediately. If you intend to use your deck as an outdoor eating space, you must guard against spills and wipe them up promptly to avoid staining.
Upkeep
Balau wood is similar to teak in its maintenance requirements. Because this wood is naturally oily, unfinished balau must be oiled regularly. If your balau deck is exposed to direct sunlight for much of the day, the wood can become parched and cracked if you don't oil it at least annually.