Is Merbau Timber Good as a Fencing Material?

What makes a good fencing material? If you’re choosing wood, is merbau a good choice? How should you go about deciding which sort of timber to choose?

The saying goes, quality over quantity. For most aspects of life, that’s pretty solid advice. If you’re building a new fence or replacing or repairing your current one, you want only to be using quality materials. Investing in premium-grade supplies is an upfront investment but will save you time, hassle and money down the line. If you plan to have a wooden fence built (or even if you plan to have a hybrid-type wall with wooden posts or elements), then merbau timber is a great choice.

Choosing the suitable material for your fence is equally as important as choosing the style and design. You want to select something that looks good, does the job right, and doesn’t cause you any unnecessary strife. When building a wooden fence, there are many cheap wood options, but these may splinter, warp, crack, rot, or be overrun by termites. It’s crucial to select something hard-wearing and quality, such as merbau timber.

What is merbau timber?

Merbau timber is a natural hardwood timber native to areas of northern Australia and south east Asia. Merbau has an attractive, golden-brown shade that keeps its vivid tone for years after installation. It can actually even retain a deeper colour as it ages, and some people prefer the colour of older merbau to the younger timber. It has a unique interlocking grain pattern on the wood.

How durable is merbau?

Merbau is an extremely durable, hardy material. It is the perfect type of timber for someone wanting a low-maintenance kind of wood that offers hard-wearing durability. Merbau is considered a class 1 timber for above ground use, which is the highest possible class.

Merbau is extremely popular within the Southern Hemisphere and is used for a variety of building applications, as well as fencing, including:

• Flooring;
• Decking;
• Outdoor furniture or outdoor structures; and
• Staircases.

It can also be used in marine applications such as handrails or deck components. Merbau has the potential to last up to 50 years, so it is the perfect material for items that need to be hard wearing.

What makes merbau different to other types of wood?

Merbau is a naturally oily type of timber, also known as a tannin-rich style of wood. This is beneficial as it allows the wood to withstand saltwater, harsh weather conditions and temperatures. This makes it versatile enough to be used all around Australia in many different applications. These same natural oils also help prevent the timber from splitting or cracking over time.

Is merbau pest-resistant?

Good news – yes, Merbau is highly pest-resistant. Most likely due to its natural oils, it seems to be actively avoided by termites.

How much maintenance does merbau require?

Merbau is a hard-wearing timber and is very low maintenance. When used as a fencing material, the tannin helps to avoid splitting and cracking but, over time, will slowly dry to be in perfect balance with its surrounding climate. This feature of merbau allows it to last significantly other than other variations of timber. Of course, maintenance is always variable to your environment, and that can play a factor in how long your fence will last, but that would be the same for any material. If you are looking for pool fencing talk to our professional team.

How much does merbau cost?

The cost of your merbau timber fence is very dependent on the size of your fence and the grade of timber that you select. Cheaper grades of merbau simply mean that it may display the timber’s natural blemishes, such as knotholes, while the higher grades would be more consistent and flawless. The grade of merbau that is right for your needs would depend on your budget and the size of your fence. You should also consider your environment and how harsh your local weather may be on your fence. Even the ‘cheaper’ grade of merbau timber is a quality, durable wood.

When thinking about pricing, you should also consider the cost of workmanship of your design choice and installation charges. You can technically DIY your own fencing, but it may not be as structurally sound or last as long then if you were to get it professionally installed by fence contractor. Jim’s Fencing has been providing durable, five-star fences across Australia for over 20 years. Call 13 15 46 for more information about merbau fencing, or a quote for a merbau fence for your property.

What are other benefits of merbau?

Despite being very tough and robust, merbau is more flexible than other types of hardwood and, therefore, easier to work with and shape. It’s painless to clean-cut and fasten, which means professional craftsmen will be able to construct your fence in a shorter amount of time than you’ve likely anticipated! Fewer hours spent in labour will mean better value for you.

What style can my merbau fence be?

The style variations for timber fences are vast. There are so many different elements of design you can incorporate for a customisable style. Standard designs include paling, ranch-style, slats, or lapped fencing. Speak with the experts at Jim’s Fencing Melbourne for help in deciding which style of colorbond fencing would be best for your property and budget.