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Versatile, stable, and beautifully consistent, meranti is a durable hardwood commonly used in both interior and exterior applications. We offer high-quality meranti lumber and plywood ideal for cabinetry, doors, panelling, furniture, millwork, and general construction projects that require strength with a refined appearance. Meranti features a warm reddish-brown to light pink tone with a straight to slightly interlocked grain, making it both attractive and easy to work with. It machines, glues, and finishes well, and is known for its dimensional stability and resistance to warping. Often used as a cost-effective alternative to genuine mahogany, meranti offers excellent value without sacrificing quality. As a proudly Canadian company, Windsor Plywood specializes in sourcing hard-to-find and dependable building materials. Whether you're crafting custom cabinetry or building long-lasting woodwork, meranti delivers the look, durability, and performance needed for professional-grade results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meranti and what is it used for?
Meranti is a broad category of tropical hardwoods from Southeast Asia (primarily Shorea spp.) used for interior doors, plywood face veneers, interior millwork, and light construction. It ranges from light to dark red in colour depending on the species group. Meranti is widely used in door manufacturing and interior applications where a cost-effective tropical hardwood is appropriate.
Is meranti the same as lauan?
Lauan and meranti are often used interchangeably in the North American market and refer to overlapping groups of Philippine and Malaysian hardwoods from the Shorea family. Lauan is the Philippine term; meranti is the Malaysian term. Both refer to similar species groups with comparable properties and are used for the same applications including interior door skins and plywood face veneers.
Is meranti durable for exterior applications?
Light and dark red meranti species vary in natural durability. Heavy red meranti and some dark red meranti species have moderate to good natural durability for exterior applications in protected installations. Standard light red meranti is appropriate for interior applications only. Confirm the specific durability rating of the meranti product with Windsor Plywood staff for exterior applications.
How does meranti take paint and stain?
Meranti accepts both paint and stain. Its open grain and moderate porosity produce reasonably consistent stain results. A pre-stain conditioner is beneficial for even colour distribution. Meranti's interlocked grain can cause some variation in grain absorption, which is typically considered an acceptable characteristic in stained door applications.
Does Windsor Plywood carry meranti products?
Windsor Plywood carries meranti in plywood panels and select lumber grades for interior applications. Availability varies by location. Contact your local Windsor Plywood branch to confirm current meranti stock and available dimensions for your project.