Standard Name: Chengal (Heavy Hardwood) Family: Dipterocarpaceae Botanica Name: Neobalanocarpus heimii Distribution: Tree grows under quite a wide range of conditions of soils and topography in Peninsular Malaysia, from low flat semi-swamp hills, but appears to thrive best on undulating land with light sandy soils. General description: Sapwood is well-defined. When freshly sawn the heartwood is light yellow-brown with a distinct greenish tinge, darkening on exposure to dark purple-brow or rust red. Grain: interlocked Texture: is fine and even Common Uses: Suitable for marine construction, heavy construction, bridges, boat construction, heavy-duty flooring, lorry and truck bodywork and carving work. Our recommendation: Commonly used as timber decking and cladding locally. Sizes available in stock are usually rather small in cross-section...
Standard Name: Teak (Medium Hardwood) Family: Verbenaceae Botanica Name: Tectona grandis Distribution: Widely planted in plantation forest of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Also available in other countries like Indonesia, but Burmese Teak being the most popular. General description: Sapwood is yellowish white or pale yellow-brown and is distinct from the heartwood, which is dull yellowish when fresh turning to golden brown or dark greyish brown on exposure often with greyish or dark streaks. The wood has a very pervasive colour when finish. Grain: Straight, wavy and slightly interlocked Texture: is rather coarse and uneven. Common Uses: Very good general-purpose timber, ship decking and boat building, water-contact construction, interior and exterior joinery, high quality furniture, decorative veneer and plywood or...
Standard Name: Angsana (Medium Hardwood) Family: P. indicus Botanica Name: Pterocarpus indicus Distribution: Southeastern Asia, northern Australasia, and the western Pacific Ocean islands, in Cambodia, southernmost China, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam Grown and Harvested in Singapore: A large deciduous tree that grows up to 40m in height. Crown is dense, dome-shaped, wide-spreading & drooping. Leaves are simple pinnate compound. General description: Sapwood is susceptible to wood borers and heartwood is naturally resistant to termite attacks. Yellowish brown generally and darkens on weathering. Grain: Texture: Fine and even Common Uses: Often finely sliced to produce an extremely decorative veneer, used for decoration and in making of furniture. Our recommendation: Commonly used as shelving, DIY work of items like tissue boxes,...
Standard Name: TEMBUSU (Heavy Hardwood) Family: Loganiaceae Botanica Name: Fragraea fragrans, F. gigantea and F. elliptica Distribution: Found in mountain forests, lowland dipterocarp forest, hillsides and some swampy areas Grown and Harvested in Singapore: Heritage tree, felled mainly due to redevelopment or due to diseases in trees General description: Sapwood is usually not well-defined from the heartwood, which is light yellow-brown, darkening on exposure to deep golden or orange-brown. Grain: Usually straight to slightly wavy Texture: Fine and even Common Uses: Suitable for heavy construction, bridges, wharves, heavy-duty flooring, parquet flooring, heavy-duty furniture, butchers’ block Photo: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/-/media/nparks-real-content/gardens-parks-and-nature/heritage-trees/ht-2003-59/tembusu-ht-2003-59.jpg Our recommendation: Tembusu is rarely felled locally and hence rarely found in sawmills of Singapore. Known for its hardness, Tembusu...
Balau - The heavy hardwood. Widely distributed throughout Malaysia except in peat swamp forest. They are especially abundant in the hilly areas. The colour of freshly cut heartwood is yellow-brown, brown or brown with reddish tinge weathering ultimately to a deeper shade of brown or reddish dark brown.
