Merbau is a dense, red-brown hardwood that has been a go-to deck timber in Queensland for decades. It is stable, hard wearing and widely available, but it has a few quirks every Gold Coast owner should know before choosing it.
Merbau is a hard, stable decking timber with a rich red-brown colour. A merbau deck on the Gold Coast falls within our hardwood range of $350 to $550 per m² supplied and installed. It bleeds tannin when new, so it needs washing and oiling early, then oiling about twice a year in full sun.
Why merbau is so popular
- Very stable, so boards move less with Gold Coast humidity than many other species.
- Hard and dense, so it handles foot traffic, furniture and pets well.
- Consistent rich colour that suits most homes.
- Naturally durable above ground when the frame is built and ventilated properly.
Things to know before you choose it
- Tannin bleed. New merbau releases a red-brown tannin when wet that can stain concrete, render and paving. Washing the boards and oiling early limits this.
- Origin. Merbau is imported from South East Asia. Ask for certified, responsibly sourced timber.
- Fading. Like all timber, it silvers in strong Gold Coast sun if it is not oiled.
Merbau vs spotted gum vs composite
Spotted gum is an Australian hardwood with a lighter, more varied grain; see our spotted gum decking guide. If you never want to oil again, composite boards cost $450 to $700 per m² installed; compare them in our timber vs composite guide. For the full service, see timber decking Gold Coast.
Planning a hardwood deck on the Gold Coast? We will talk through timber choices for your site and quote a fixed price.
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