Timber iQ October - November 2019 // Issue:46 | Page 42

FEATURES
A close-up example of some of the newly coated samples.
Surface treatment of
outdoor timber
By Merensky Timber
With the dwindling supply of tropical hardwoods caused by major
deforestation of natural forests, and the subsequent high prices
of sustainably-sourced tropical hardwoods, there is a need for
alternative sources of wood that don’t carry a hefty price tag – for the
user’s pocket, or for the environment.
T
here are many alternatives that can be used for
interior applications, but woods suitable for
exterior use are a completely different proposition,
as explored in this article.
Merensky Timber is researching exterior-use wood for
various reasons. “This allows us to utilise our fifth-generation
Eucalyptus Grandis hardwood to its fullest extent and to
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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 //
provide existing customers with practical advice on the use of
timber,” says George Dowse, researcher at Merensky Timber.
“We offer affordable, sustainably-sourced alternatives to
tropical hardwoods, and place much emphasis on testing the
various options in our South African climate, which differs
considerably from the climatic conditions in many of the
countries where large-scale tests are typically performed.”
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