Thread: alternative timber to Merbau

Hi all,

well im about to embark on replacing all the old timbers on my deck with new ones due to rotting. I've built a deck around my pool 97m2 and in Merbaau and now its time to do it again but on my balcony. I wanted to use 140x22mm Merbau deck and screw them down using Stainless Screw Countersunk screws but i have a bbq area underneath it and i dont want the Merbau to leech the tannis onto the concrete underneate.

Im looking for an alternative timber which doens't leech tanins. I've found some timber called Kekatong which is supposedly meant to to be an alternative to Merbau but i've never heard of it.

i would prefer to use the wide boards 140 x 22mm but i'm finding it hard to source in other timbers apart from Merbau.

Does anybody know about this Kekatong timber and what other timber can i find in 140x22? i was looking at the no nailing systems but i think for a timber that size, screwing it down is the way to go. I did my pool deck about 3 years ago and the deck is still secure as anything. Mind you, 6500 countersunk Stainless Screws are holding the deck down and its coated with Floods Spa and deck.

Thank Jimj for recommending it. Great wearing product.

You should be able to get spotted gum.


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Originally Posted by coasta007

Im looking for an alternative timber which doens't leech tanins.

Another option is to use a product called sap strip on the merbau decking before laying it. A pain of a job, but will pull the tanin from the timber prior to staining....