What is shorea wood used for?
Similar to teak or ipe wood, shorea is a tropical hardwood that is used for many of the same purposes as teak, including garden furniture and boat flooring. Like teak and other hardwoods, shorea is resistant to damage from insects, fungus, and moisture decay.
What is the difference between Teak and shorea wood?
There are nearly 200 closely-related species of tree that produce this tropical hardwood, which are all native to Southeast Asia. Like teak, shorea wood is very strong and dense, and it’s also highly resistant to damage from both insects and water. Choosing shorea furniture over teak doesn’t mean settling for an inferior product.
Why is shorea wood not well-known?
One reason that shorea wood might not be as well-known as it deserves to be, per Teak Wood Supply, is that it is often sold under a number of wood pseudonyms. Shorea wood is also known as Meranti wood, Philippine mahogany, or Balau wood, among others.
What is another name for Shorea?
Also Known As: Shorea robusta, sal, sal tree, hardwood, tropical hardwood Examples: Due to its strength and durability, Vanessa's shorea garden table has outlasted the other patio furniture in her backyard.
Is acacia or teak wood better?
Teak has the edge of being a more durable and weather-resistant material than acacia. This in turn results in teak wood being used in more higher-end patio furniture and having a higher price than acacia.
Is teak a hardwearing?
Teak trees are native to South and Southeast Asia and are a dense, close-grained tropical hardwood with a high natural oil content. This makes it extremely weather resistant, hard wearing, rot resistant, termite resistant, and almost impervious to the effects of the sun, rain, frost and snow.
Is meranti wood good for outdoor furniture?
This popular Asian timber is a good bet for crafting outdoor furniture and the colours vary from dark brown to even golden hues. It is hugely durable with rich oil content as well. Meranti is used across the spectrum right from building window frames and joinery to panelling, mouldings and furniture.
Why is my teak furniture turning black?
Teak wood contains natural oils which help prevent it from rotting or deteriorating in the marine environment. Unfortunately, these oils also cause teak to turn gray or black due to mold and mildew feeding upon the oil.
Which is stronger teak or oak?
Teak is hard, but not so hard to be difficult to work with. Though the silica will blunt sharp tools, plantation teak actually mills and accepts stains very well. On the Janka Hardness scale for all woods, teak has a rating of 1,155 lbs, which is slightly harder than English Oak at 1,120 lbs.
What are the disadvantages of meranti?
No Resistance To Insects: One of the major disadvantages of Meranti wood is it has little or no resistance to insects or decay. Maintenance: While compared with other timber woods meranti wood needs regular maintenance such as regular varnishing.
Is meranti more expensive than oak?
Oak and Accoya™ is 30 to 40% more expensive than meranti, and account for around 30% of customer orders.
Is meranti like mahogany?
Meranti, in a lot of ways, is similar to Genuine Mahogany. The density and grain structure are similar with a nice homogenous feel that allows it to be milled easily and hold details really well. Plus, it is much lighter than the African exterior wood options like Sapele, Utile, and African Mahogany.
Is teak wood mold resistant?
Teak can withstand many of Mother Nature's extreme highs and lows without cracking or warping. It's also resistant to mold and rot. However, this doesn't keep mildew from accumulating on the surface of your teak.
Will teak turn grey indoors?
Teak naturally ages with exposure to UV light and varying weather conditions from its original honey-gold colour to its instantly recognisable silver-grey patina. Naturally, being indoors will limit this exposure and thus slow this transition to maturity.
How long does it take for teak to turn gray?
It is the oil that remains below the surface that gives the wood its durability. Left to age naturally outside the furniture will turn a handsome silver gray color. This process will take approximately 9-12 months depending on the amount of ultraviolet light and the rain the teak is exposed to.
Is teak wood good for cutting boards?
There are a few common wood types used for cutting boards. The best woods are hardwoods like walnut or teak, as softer woods will become easily scratched or dented, and can dull knives after repeated use. Also look for close-grain woods which have smaller pores and woods that are non-toxic.
Why do Shorea spp. bloom?
The majority of Shorea spp. are general flowering species, which is an event that occurs at irregular intervals of 3–10 yr, in which nearly all dipterocarp species together with species of other families bloom heavily. General flowering is thought to have evolved to satiate seed predators and/or to facilitate pollination. Both explanations apparently hold merit. Flowering is thought to be triggered by droughts that occur during transition periods from La Niña to El Niño. The magnitude of a flowering event is suggested to be dependent on the timing of the droughts associated with the El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) cycle, with the largest events occurring after an interval of several years with no flowering.
How many species of Shorea are endangered?
Of the 148 species of Shorea currently listed on the IUCN Redlist, most are listed as being critically endangered. Some concerns exist regarding the IUCN's listing of dipterocarps, as the criteria used to assess the level of threat are based mainly on animal population characteristics. This is thought to overstate the threat assessment, when applied to long-lived, habitat-specific organisms such as trees. Furthermore, one species reportedly extinct on the IUCN Red list, Shorea cuspidata, is reported to be common in the Bako National Park and also present in the Lambir National Park. The Shorea species page gives threat classifications.
What is the name of the tree that is Shorea?
Genus: Shorea. Roxb. ex C.F.Gaertn. Sections. See List of Shorea species for complete taxonomy to species level. Shorea is a genus of about 196 species of mainly rainforest trees in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The genus is named after Sir John Shore, the governor-general of the British East India Company, 1793–1798.
How tall is the Angiosperm?
The tallest documented tropical angiosperm is an 88.3-m-tall Shorea faguetiana in the Tawau Hills National Park, in Sabah on the island of Borneo, and in that park at least five other species of the genus have been measured to be over 80 m tall: S. argentifolia, S. gibbosa, S. johorensis, S. smithiana, and S. superba.
What are the predators of dipterocarps?
Seed predation and mortality have an impact on the reproduction process of dipterocarps such as Shorea. In Singapore, crab-eating macaque and moth larvae are known seed predators.
What is the name of the tree that is named after Sir John Shore?
The genus is named after Sir John Shore, the governor-general of the British East India Company, 1793–1798. The timber of trees of the genus is sold under the common names lauan, luan, lawaan, meranti, seraya, balau, bangkirai, and Philippine mahogany.
Where do Shorea faguetiana live?
In west Malesia and the Philippines, this genus dominates the skyline of the tropical forests. The tallest documented tropical angiosperm is an 88.3-m-tall Shorea faguetiana in the Tawau Hills National Park, in Sabah on the island of Borneo , and in that park at least five other species of the genus have been measured to be over 80 m tall: S. argentifolia, S. gibbosa, S. johorensis, S. smithiana, and S. superba. Borneo is also the hotspot of Shorea diversity with 138 species, of which 91 are endemic to the island.
How big is Shorea tree trunk?
There are standards and rules in place that have got to be adhered to before permission is granted to harvest the tree. The trunk has to be larger than 20″. Thanks to the restrictions, there will never be a shortage of Shorea! Shorea is still a very valuable hardwood.
What is Shorea wood used for?
Shorea is the leading hardwood in the boat building industry today. Due the woods great resistance to moisture and the elements of the weather, it is perfect for boat decks! As a matter of fact, Europe is using large quantities of Shorea Wood in its boat building industry.
Is Shorea wood good for carving?
This wood is not something that would be good for carving, but next to that it is just as beautiful as Teak and makes beautiful outdoor furniture.
Is Shoreawood a heavy hardwood?
Its great strength makes it the leading hardwoods in the industry of veneer work. It is rated a “Group A Heavy Hardwood”. ShoreaWood has been found to resist any decay of any kind, even after being exposed for extended periods of time to the moist and harsh outdoor elements.
What are the advantages of Shorea wood furniture?
Shorea has several great advantages when used for making hardwood furniture: Strong wood. Shorea is a strong and dense hardwood with very tight grain. It’s actually more dense than teak wood. Pest resistant. Due to its density, termites, ants, and other insects stay away. Rot resistant.
What is Shorea wood?
Shorea has several great advantages when used for making hardwood furniture: 1 Strong wood. Shorea is a strong and dense hardwood with very tight grain. It’s actually more dense than teak wood. 2 Pest resistant. Due to its density, termites, ants, and other insects stay away. 3 Rot resistant. It’s protected naturally from water decay, as well as damage from mold and fungus. It should easily last 30 years or more even when left outdoors. 4 Looks beautiful. New shorea wood has a nice warm glow with a reddish-tint, and it will fade to a stately silver over time if left untreated, much like teak.
Why are Adirondack chairs so popular?
The angle of the seat and backrest is the other main factor that makes Adirondack chairs so popular. You lean back just enough that your weight is supported more by the chair instead of putting all the strain on your lower back. Heck, they’re even comfortable enough to fall asleep in. If you’re looking for a really nice quality Adirondack chair or 2 for your backyard, this model from Oxford Garden is a good one to buy.
What kind of wood should I use for a tiki bar?
While bamboo is a fun option for a Tiki bar, you’ll find that a tropical hardwood such as shorea will hold up over time much better.
How much does a Shorea armchair weigh?
The armchairs have square seats of 23″ x 23″ and have a listed weight load of up to 250 pounds. Make no mistake, shorea is a dense and heavy hardwood, and these chairs are solidly built. So if you happen to come in at a little over 250 pounds I highly doubt that you’ll see one of the chairs breaking on you.
What are the disadvantages of Shorea wood?
The one minor disadvantage of shorea wood deserves mention too: Moderate checking. Some slight checking of the grain can be expected as shorea wood ages due to its reduced elasticity.
How long does shorea wood last?
It’s protected naturally from water decay, as well as damage from mold and fungus. It should easily last 30 years or more even when left outdoors. Looks beautiful. New shorea wood has a nice warm glow with a reddish-tint, and it will fade to a stately silver over time if left untreated, much like teak.
Location
Balau, red balau, and selangan batu constitute a group of species that are the heaviest of the 200 Shorea species. About 45 species of this group grow from Sri Lanka and southern India through southeast Asia to the Philippines.
Characteristics
The heartwood is light to deep red or purple-brown, and it is fairly distinct from the lighter and yellowish- to reddishor purplish-brown sapwood. The texture is moderately fine to coarse, and the grain is often interlocked. The wood weighs more than 750 kg/m3 (47 lb/ft3) at 12% moisture content.
Primary Uses
Balau is used for heavy construction, frames of boats, decking, flooring, and utility furniture.
Overview
Shorea is a genus of about 196 species of mainly rainforest trees in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The genus is named after Sir John Shore, the governor-general of the British East India Company, 1793–1798. The timber of trees of the genus is sold under the common names lauan, luan, lawaan, meranti, seraya, balau, bangkirai, and Philippine mahogany.
Taxonomy
Shorea fossils (linked with the modern sal, S. robusta, which is still a dominant tree species in Indian forests) are known from as early as the Eocene of Gujarat, India. They are identifiable by the amber fossils formed by their dammar resin. Other fossils include a Miocene-aged fossilized fruit from the same region; this fruit most closely resembles the extant S. macroptera of the Malay Peninsula.
Description
Shorea spp. are native to Southeast Asia, from northern India to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. In west Malesia and the Philippines, this genus dominates the skyline of the tropical forests. The tallest documented tropical angiosperm is an 88.3-m-tall Shorea faguetiana in the Tawau Hills National Park, in Sabah on the island of Borneo, and in that park at least five other species of the genus have been measured to be over 80 m tall: S. argentifolia, S. gibbosa, S. johor…
Reproductive biology
The majority of Shorea spp. are general flowering species, which is an event that occurs at irregular intervals of 3–10 yr, in which nearly all dipterocarp species together with species of other families bloom heavily. General flowering is thought to have evolved to satiate seed predators and/or to facilitate pollination. Both explanations apparently hold merit. Flowering is thought to be triggered by droughts that occur during transition periods from La Niña to El Niño. The magnitud…
Uses
Many economically important timber trees belong to Shorea. They are sold under various trade names including "lauan", "lawaan", "meranti", "seraya", "balau", "bangkirai", and "Philippine mahogany". (For a list of species associated with each name, see the article on Dipterocarp timber classification.) The "Philippine mahogany" sold in North America is not a true mahogany at all, but a mixture of woods from the genus Shorea.
Conservation status
Of the 148 species of Shorea currently listed on the IUCN Redlist, most are listed as being critically endangered. Some concerns exist regarding the IUCN's listing of dipterocarps, as the criteria used to assess the level of threat are based mainly on animal population characteristics. This is thought to overstate the threat assessment, when applied to long-lived, habitat-specific organisms such as trees. The Shorea species page gives threat classifications.
See also
• Dipterocarp timber classification
External links
• Data related to Shorea at Wikispecies
• Media related to Shorea at Wikimedia Commons