Red Balau Decking
Red Balau, or batu wood, is an amazingly high quality, durable exotic hardwood. Imported from Indonesia, Red Balau’s color makes it highly sought after. Red Balau decking has a beautiful reddish-brown color, but being a naturally oily wood, it needs to be sealed if you want it to retain that rich color through its potentially long lifespan. Otherwise left untreated, red balau decks will turn a silvery-grey.
It is a durable hardwood that is often compared to teak and comes at a cheaper price. It’s quality and sturdiness makes it hightly sought after for use in the construction of projects that require water-resistant woods like boat docks, bridges or watercraft ramps.
Red Balau decking wood is kiln dried and basically free of maintenance. The boards are free of splinters and are smooth to the touch. It is considered a premium hardwood, free of defects and knots. Red Balau is one of the hardest woods around. In fact, Red Balau is thought to be four times the density of Redwood. It is recommended that if the product is being used outdoors that an oil finish be applied to help prevent weathering and UV damage.
Red Balau is a naturally oily wood so it must be sealed with oil properly, because if not, it can dry out and possibly absorb spills easily. There are great sealants available that aid in the protection of the wood. Because of Red Baluau’s wood’s density, you might need to reapply it more often than you would with other woods.
Benefits
- Weathers naturally to a beautiful grey tone or readily accepts stain & paints
- 20 + year average lifespan
- Kiln dried with less than 11% moisture content
- One of the few truly “Green” decking products on the market
- Sustainably harvested
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DENVER OFFICE
Arvada Office
Colo. Springs Office
DENVER OFFICE
Arvada Office
Colo. Springs Office
Common Red Balau
Decking Questions
How versatile is Red Balau?
Red Balau is one of our more versatile types of hardwood. It’s not as dense as Tigerwood, making it easier to cut, saw, and nail. Depending on your maintenance preferences, you can achieve two different looks with your Red Balau deck. Regular upkeep and treatments will keep your deck looking fresh, clean, and brand new. However, a new trend in Colorado is the incorporation of rustic and weathered themes. By not treating as often, your deck will achieve a more silver-gray tone, giving your deck the contemporary, rustic look.
What kind of resistance does Red Balau offer?
Like most of the lumber products we have in stock, Red Balau is resistant to decay, rot, termites, and extreme weather conditions. Red Balau also proves to be highly resistant to shrinkage and splintering, while requiring maintenance on an annual to bi-annual basis. These can be attributed to Red Balau’s density, as it is about 4 times denser than redwood. A dense hardwood like this will offer more resistance than traditional softwoods, making it the best economical and reliable choice!
Should I choose Red Balau or Ipe?
These two woods are very similar. Both styles are highly dense making them incredibly durable and reliable. Both are resistant to scratches, wood burrowing pests and rot. Red Balau offers a bit more versatility, allowing the owner to achieve a weathered look if they’d like, while IPE maintains a classic and timeless look. That being said, this decision is more about what you prefer! Both being from our exotic hardwood stock, no matter which one you choose, you’ll end up with top-notch quality lumber. So come down to our yard and we can help you determine which one you’ll choose for your new deck!
Examples of Red Balau Lumber
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