Balau
- Southern Asia
- Hardwood
- Very durable
Balau (Shorea maxwelliana) is a group of dense tropical hardwoods from the genus Shorea, commonly sourced from Southeast Asia. It is typically yellow-brown to reddish-brown in colour, often darkening with age, and has a moderately coarse texture with a straight to interlocked grain. Balau is very heavy, strong and hard, with excellent natural durability and high resistance to decay, insects and weathering. Its density gives it considerable strength, but also makes it more challenging to machine and work compared to lighter hardwoods.
In the timber industry, Balau is widely used for heavy-duty exterior applications such as decking, bridge construction, marine structures, sleepers and outdoor landscaping. It is particularly valued for boardwalks, piers and coastal works due to its durability in wet environments. It is also used for structural timbers and heavy joinery where strength and long service life are required, although its weight and hardness mean it is typically specified where performance is more important than ease of working.
Suitable for:
Boat and ship construction, decking, framing, keels, masts, planking, spars and stems
Construction, industrial, engineering
Fencing
Marine piling, bridges and construction
