Meranti timber is produced from trees of the genus Shorea, in the tropical forests of Malaysia. Its modern production is done with methods of sustainable development and legal logging, but there are also incidents of illegal activity.

There are 4 main types of Meranti timber:

1. Dark Red Meranti

Also called Lauan, this wood can be dark red or purple with white resin markings and a rough feel.It is native to Malaysia and Indonesia and is generally easy to work with moderate strength.

2. Light Red Meranti

This type has a lighter brown color and straight lines, but is not very hardy, and is susceptible to insects.It is also easy to work with and gives a very good finish.

3. White Meranti

This species is light, and is not suitable for strong constructions.

4. Yellow Meranti

More than 33 species of Meranti fall under the yellow variety, with light and durable wood.It takes on yellow to yellowish brown hues, although it darkens over time.

The best quality and appearance variety is “Dark Red Meranti” which has an amazing resemblance to Mahogany. That is why it is often mistakenly called “Philippine Mahogany“, which is a wood from the Philippines, which was used in the olden days to replace mahogany in many applications. The quality and durability of Meranti wood is far superior to that of “Philippine Mahogany” wood, which is no longer available on the market.

Compared to Mahogany it is cheaper, but it does not have the hardness, stability and durability of the original Mahogany. However, as a wood it has very good properties that make it suitable in difficult conditions and is even used in shipbuilding.

Properties: High density from 0.58 to 0.77 g/cm3, relatively moderate hardness and dimensional stability. It is quite resistant to time, and has moderate resistance to wood-eating insects and fungi.

Machining: Good for both machining and hand tools. The gluing process is easy, while painting and finishing are trouble-free and give excellent results.

Forests of Shorea trees that produce white Meradi flower and reproduce every 3-10 years, depending on the El Niño phenomenon. Characteristic is the simultaneous flowering, to enhance pollination and the simultaneous ripening and dropping of the fruits, to ensure through the large quantity, that some seeds will be in good condition (They have a voracious beetle as their enemy).

In this way, a “carpet” of tree seeds is created on the ground.

But the tree called Shorea Siamensis that gives Dark Red Meranti, when flowering it gives beautiful big red flowers that look like roses.

In Cambodia, the Shorea Siamensis plant is considered sacred as legend says that one of the Buddha’s incarnations was born under such a tree.

Meranti wood is mainly used for the construction of external frames, and other external wooden structures. Due to its excellent properties, beautiful features and affordable price, it often replaces Mahogany in luxury goods and Teak in outdoor constructions.

Meranti wood, like Mahogany, gives wooden decorative objects a special quality and luxury.