‘When we build, let us think that we build for ever’. This is a quote by John Ruskin, a Victorian-era English architectural thinker and social philosopher. When we choose a building material, durability, strength, and longevity are the main factors that are considered to be the highest priority. This is particularly important in the case of wood as a building material. Out of the many options for hardwood available across the world, Merbau wood completely embodies all these qualities. 

Merbau wood exists with a rich history and the exceptional ability to withstand strong, harsh environments. One can trace the history of its usage back to before 1000 CE, with communities in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Pacific islands using the wood. Back then, they used Merbau wood to create posts and beams for houses, canoes, and even bridges. 

Today, Merbau wood continues to be one of the best wood options when it comes to modern construction and interior design. From flooring and decking to doors and heavy structures, Merbau wood contributes to a balance of magical aesthetics and remarkable longevity. In this blog, we will take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of Merbau wood, go through an overview of Merbau wood in both residential and commercial spaces, and ultimately, why you should choose Merbau wood over others!

Advantages of Merbau Wood

Merbau wood is considered one of the best and highest-performing hardwoods used in construction and interior works today. The rare combination of strength, resilience, and visual appeal has made it the go-to wooden material. To further understand why Merbau wood is a great option in both residential and commercial construction uses, let us take a detailed look at the advantages it offers: 

Durability and Strength:  One of the most appraised advantages of the Merbau wood is the exceptional durability and material strength it offers. Even though it is classified as a dense hardwood, Merbau wood comes with the capacity to hold high loads. This makes Merbau wood one of the best materials for heavy-use applications – for flooring, decking, and beams, and even staircases. Moreover, its dense grain structure allows the wood to stay strong during high and heavy foot traffic and mechanical stress, without forming any warping or cracks. These factors make Merbau wood one of the most preferred choices. 

Resistance to Decay and Termites: Merbau wood organically comes with high levels of oils and resins. These components act as a strong protective barrier against termites, borer insects, and fungal decay. Unlike other softwoods and hardwoods, which require proper maintenance through chemical treatments, Merbau wood comes with natural resistance. This completely eliminates any risk of pest damage. Merbau wood, for this reason, remains the best wood material in high-humidity and termite-active tropical and coastal regions.

Weather Resilience: The Merbau wood’s inherent ability to resist moisture absorption assists it in performing strongly against harsh weather conditions, including intense heat, heavy rainfall, and high humidity. This quality also minimizes swelling, shrinking, and cracking, making Merbay the best wood material for outdoor uses. This quality is particularly beneficial for applications such as decking, pergolas, and external cladding. Even when the wood is exposed to the harsh sun and wildest rains, the material remains structurally strong. 

Visual Treat: Merbau wood stands out among other woods thanks to the visual appeal it offers. Merbau wood is yellowish to orange-brown when freshly cut, often with golden flecks, but darkens over time with exposure to light and air into a rich reddish-brown color. What makes the wood even more aesthetic is its reddish color that intensifies over time. Its attractive texture pattern and natural reflective sheen make it one of the most premium wooden options for flooring, luxury interiors, and statement elements in architecture. 

Low Maintenance: Compared to the number of hardwood alternatives available in the market, Merbau wood requires the most minimal cleaning. Cleaning it once in a while or occasionally oiling and sealing it can contribute to its appearance and performance. The wood’s resistance to pests, decay, and moisture eliminates the need for frequent repairs or chemical treatments and makes it the most practical choice for longevity.  

Longer Lifespan: When sourced from reliable sources, Merbau wood can last for decades, and in many cases, it can last even longer than 40–50 years. While its initial cost can be higher, the long lifespan makes it one of the best and most effective investments over time. 

Disadvantages of Merbau Wood

Merbau wood offers a wide range of advantages, in addition to durability, strength, and visual appeal. However, with the benefits come disadvantages. To truly make the best use of this renowned wood material, it is important to understand the limitations and downsides before using it. Here are some of the key drawbacks of using Merbau: 

Limited Availability: Merbau wood does not naturally grow in most parts of the world and is only native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific regions. The limited geographical distribution can limit the availability of this material locally. This results in longer procurement time, making you dependent on imports. Moreover, the availability of fewer sourcing options compared to other hardwoods present in the market makes Merbau harder to acquire. 

Environmental Concerns: Another major disadvantage that is brought about by Merbau wood is the environmental impact of its overharvesting. Due to the high demand and slow growth rate, Merbau has been the center of unsustainable and illegal logging practices. Regions across the world have seen declining forest populations due to excessive harvesting practices. The concerns about the imbalanced biodiversity and the ecosystem have led countries across the world to introduce logging restrictions and stricter export controls. The rigorous regulations make Merbau wood difficult to source. This means you have to source the Merbau wood from certified and responsibly managed suppliers. 

Affordability: Merbau wood’s durability, longer lifespan, and resistance to environmental damage naturally make it pricier. This means Merbau is relatively costlier compared to other alternative hardwoods in the market. Moreover, other costly factors, such as import duties, transportation costs, and limited supply, can contribute to even higher costs. While the initial costs are often disavowed due to the longevity and material performance, the wood is often not preferred or suitable for projects with tight budgets or short-term requirements.

Heavy Weight: Merbau is considered a dense and heavy hardwood. This means it comes with challenges and issues while handling, transporting, and installing. Moreover, the weight often calls for more specialized tools, skilled labor, and better and more structural support as per the required applications. This means that Merbau comes with increased installation times and higher labor costs. However, it is perfect for large-scale flooring or decking projects. It is important to note that Merbau is not the ideal material for projects that require lightweight or easy-to-handle materials. 

Best Uses of Merbau in Residential and Commercial Spaces

Merbau wood’s strength, resilience, and appealing appearance allow it to be used diversely across a wide range of commercial and residential applications. The following is an overview of how Merbau wood can best be used across both residential and commercial spaces: 

Residential Spaces

In the case of residential spaces, Merbau wood is perfect for withstanding daily wear while bringing warmth and elegance. Merbau can completely transform the entire character of your home. The following are the most common applications of Merbau wood in residential homes: 

Flooring: Merbau is commonly utilized in living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and staircases thanks to its resistance to scratches, dents, and heavy foot traffic. The wood’s rich tones add a luxury touch to interiors.

Staircases and Handrails: The wood’s structural integrity and visual appeal make it perfect to be used for stair treads, risers, and handrails that embody both safety and style.

Doors and Window Frames: Merbau’s geometric rigidity reduces the chances for warping. This makes Merbau a reliable wood for solid doors and frames that are exposed to extreme and versatile temperatures.

Decking and Outdoor Living Areas: For homes with gardens, patios, or balconies, Merbau can be perfect for decking material due to its weather resistance and ability to age gracefully, be it indoors or outdoors.

Custom Furniture and Built-ins: From wardrobes to shelving units and feature panels, Merbau transforms furniture into true architectural art statements with natural grain and premium finish.

Commercial Spaces

Commercial environments mandate materials that can endure constant exposure to hardcore usage to maintain a professional and sleek appearance. Here’s how Merbau wood can highlight your space and make it a trusted choice across various industries: 

Office Flooring and Interiors: When it comes to commercial spaces, Merbau is often used in executive offices, boardrooms, and reception areas where durability and visual elegance remain well-balanced.

Retail Spaces: By using Merbau flooring, wall panels, and display elements, retail stores can create inviting spaces that withstand and manage heavy customer footfall.

Hotels and Hospitality Projects: From hotel lobbies and corridors to guest room flooring and staircases, Merbau wood can provide a sense of warmth and permanence for all visitors.

Restaurants and Cafes: The wood’s resistance to wear and its capacity to fit both modern and traditional design concepts make it ideal for dining space interiors.

Public and Institutional Buildings: Merbau’s load-bearing durability makes the wood good for libraries, galleries, and cultural spaces where longevity and maintenance are critical to operate without disruptions. 

Why Choose Merbau?

Merbau Wood is the ideal choice for hardwood, as it offers so many advantages in one material. By choosing Merbau, you are investing in a single material that goes beyond normal wood and offers organically unique and amazing design, strong construction, and a long-term lifeline. 

The consistent performance that Merbau delivers across decades reduces the need for replacements or maintenance. The thankful aging of the material contributes to the space rather than deteriorating it, which is what often happens with other woods. In the case of architects, builders, and homeowners, here’s what makes Merbau wood stand out: 

• Built to handle real-life use: Merbau is strong enough for areas that see constant activity, whether it’s busy homes or high-traffic retail stores or other commercial spaces.
  
• Looks better with time: Merbau’s rich colors and natural texture visually appear better in time, allowing spaces to age gracefully rather than feel dated.
  
• Worth the investment in the long run: While the initial cost of Merbau is higher, the durability that the wood offers comes with fewer repairs and replacements over the years.
  
• Works almost anywhere: From indoor flooring and staircases to outdoor decks and pergolas, Merbau can be easily adopted for different environments.

Treater Premium Merbau from Hillwood

At Hillwood, all the hardwood we provide is chosen and treated with a clear purpose. We want to help our clients with wood that embodies durability and reliability so that it remains timeless, regardless of what you use the Merbau for. Above all else, our treated wood surpasses conventional ideas and recent trends, emphasizing materials like Merbau that will endure for ages while aging beautifully. Our premium range of Merbau wood is treated to demonstrate this guiding principle. 

Our team at Hillwood understands and acknowledges the durability and rich character of Merbau. Each timber undergoes careful selection and advanced treatment processes. Ultimately, we only select the wood that truly makes you feel at home, adds depth to the interiors, and balances the ambiance of the space. 

What truly makes Hillwood stand out from other hardwood providers is our focus on lasting value. With Merbau, we work on destroying the norm of approaching fast and disposable solutions. Instead, we prioritize quality, treatment precision, and material integrity for all Merbau wood species. Our overview of the advantages and disadvantages of Merbau wood is compiled to help and guide all those who wish to acquire Merbau hardwood. 

Let Hillwood help you make informed choices with treated hardwoods that stand the test of time. Contact us today to learn more about our Merbau and premium hardwood solutions!