Wood moves. It takes on moisture when the air is damp and gives it back when the air is dry, and every time it does, it swells or shrinks a little. In a country where the afternoon can swing from air-conditioned cool to tropical downpour, choosing a timber that copes with that swing is the single biggest decision in a custom piece.
The timbers we reach for most
No single species is best for everything. We match the wood to the job, the room and the budget.
Chengal
Dense, oily and famously durable, chengal shrugs off damp and insects. It is our first thought for anything that sees water or wear — heavy tabletops and pieces near a wet kitchen — though its weight and price mean we use it where it truly counts.
Merbau
Hard, stable and a rich reddish-brown, merbau is a workhorse for furniture and joinery. It holds its shape well through humidity changes, which makes it a reliable choice for door frames, table legs and structural parts.
Nyatoh
Lighter and easier to work, nyatoh has a warm grain that takes stain and lacquer beautifully. We like it for cabinet fronts and decorative work where looks matter as much as brute strength.
Rubberwood
Affordable and widely available as engineered board, rubberwood is a sensible pick for painted or laminated carcasses that stay indoors and away from moisture. Kept dry, it performs well for the money.
Solid, veneer or board?
Most projects are not built from one material. A wardrobe might have a plywood carcass for stability, a solid hardwood frame for strength and a fine veneer for the face you see. Using each material where it does its best job keeps the piece stable, keeps the price sensible and keeps it looking good.
Living with movement
Even the best timber moves a little. Good joinery expects it — floating panels, breathing gaps and the right finish all let the wood do its thing without cracking or warping. When someone promises a solid-wood piece that will never move at all, be sceptical.
If you are weighing up materials for a project, tell us what the piece is and where it will live. We will steer you to the timber that makes sense rather than the most expensive one.