Balau
Latin name: Shorea spp, Shorea atrinervosa, Shorea elliptica, Shorea foxworthyi, Shorea glauca, Shorea laevis, Shorea maxwelliana, Shorea submontana, Shorea guiso, Shorea kunstleri, Shorea collina, Shorea ochrophloia
Also known as: Yellow balau, red balau
Wood Type:
Hardwood
Durability:
Durable
Treatability:
Extremely difficult, Moderately easy (Sapwood)
Moisture Movement:
Medium
Density (mean, Kg/m³):
980 (Density can vary by 20% or more)
Texture:
Medium
Availability:
Available at specialist timber merchant
Price:
Low
Sizes:
Obtainable in large sizes
Use(s):
Heavy structural use, Marine or freshwater construction, Decking
Colour(s):
Reddish brown, Yellow brown

Introduction
The hard, heavy timber species of shorea occurring in South East Asia are grouped under common trade names peculiar to the area. Thus selangan batu is the name used in Sabah, Brunei and Sarawak, while balau is used to describe the heavy Malaysian species.
Environmental
Many species of shorea appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and are classified as:
- CR – Critically Endangered: at very high risk of extinction in the wild
- EN – Endangered: at high risk of extinction in the wild
- VU – Vulnerable: at risk of extinction
[Information courtesy of Timbmet Ltd]
Distribution
Selangan batu is produced by several species, principally S. laevis and S seminis. Red selangan batu is principally S. guiso. Balau is generally separated into two types in Malaysia, ie, balau and red balau. Balau is produced mainly from shorea atrinervosa, S. elliptica, S. foxworthyi, S. glauca, S. laevis, S. maxwelliana and S. submontana. Red balau is produced mainly from S. guiso, S. kunstleri, S. collina, and S. ochrophloia.
The timber
Selangan batu is a yellowish-brown timber with interlocked grain, and a coarse, but even texture. According to species, durable to very durable. Balau is a yellowish-brown, brown, or reddish-brown timber vvith interlocked grain, and a moderately fine and even texture. It is classified in Malaysia as being very durable. Red balau is a purplish-red or dark red-brown timber, with an interlocked grain, and a coarse but even texture. It is classified in Malaysia as being less durable than balau, ie moderately durable. Red selangan batu (Sabah), and alan, or meraka alan (Saravvak and Brunei) are approximately equal in colour and characteristics to red balau.
Drying
Difficult to dry, slow drying with a tendency to end split, warping is variable.
Strength
All the species mentioned have hard, heavy and strong timbers with strength properties similar to those of greenheart.
Suppliers |
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Brooks Bros (UK) Limited
Maldon |
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Capricorn Eco Timber
Stafford |
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Champion, A W Limited
New Malden |
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Cranwood Industries
Warrenpoint |
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Enfield Speciality Doors
Enfield |
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Finewood Marketing (UK) Ltd
Hove |
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Gilmour & Aitken
Alexandria |
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Gripdeck
Colchester |
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Hoppings Softwood Products Plc
Epping |
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International Timber
Manchester |
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James Latham plc
Hemel Hempstead |
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Mid-Sussex Timber Co Limited
Forest Row |
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Millworks Timber Specialists
Bottisham |
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Morgan Timber
Rochester |
|
NHG Timber Limited
Croydon |
|
Silva Timber Products Limited
Widnes |
|
Timber Focus
Manchester |
|
Timbersource Limited
Waterlip |
|
Timbmet
Stanford in the Vale |
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W. L. West & Sons Ltd
Petworth |
|
Suppliers |
|
---|---|
W. L. West & Sons Ltd
Petworth |
|
Timbmet
Stanford in the Vale |
|
Timbersource Limited
Waterlip |
|
Timber Focus
Manchester |
|
Silva Timber Products Limited
Widnes |
|
NHG Timber Limited
Croydon |
|
Morgan Timber
Rochester |
|
Millworks Timber Specialists
Bottisham |
|
Mid-Sussex Timber Co Limited
Forest Row |
|
James Latham plc
Hemel Hempstead |
|
International Timber
Manchester |
|
Hoppings Softwood Products Plc
Epping |
|
Gripdeck
Colchester |
|
Gilmour & Aitken
Alexandria |
|
Finewood Marketing (UK) Ltd
Hove |
|
Enfield Speciality Doors
Enfield |
|
Cranwood Industries
Warrenpoint |
|
Champion, A W Limited
New Malden |
|
Capricorn Eco Timber
Stafford |
|
Brooks Bros (UK) Limited
Maldon |
|