Kwila Timber

What type of timber is Kwila?

Kwila (or Merbau as it is also called) is a very hardy and resistant tropical hardwood.

Kwila timber (or Merbau as it also known by) is a tropical hardwood which is found throughout South East Asia and the South Pacific region. It can also be found in the northern tropical regions of Australia . Gold Coast Kwila products which are manufactured on the Gold Coast in Queensland , Australia has especially chosen this hardwood for its superior qualities and suitability for outdoor garden furniture. Kwila's natural stability and unparalleled resistance to splitting provides for a very high quality finish of exceptional durability which can remain permanently outdoors in all types of harsh climates and weather conditions.

The Australian Department of Primary Industries has given Kwila timber a Rating One, which is the highest standard of suitability for outdoor timber furniture. Because of this rating and its natural beauty, Gold Coast Kwila uses Kwila almost exclusively for all its outdoor furniture.

Can Gold Coast Kwila furniture be left outdoors permanently?

Certainly – Gold Coast Kwila furniture has been designed specifically for this purpose.

For many generations, and across many continents; Kwila timber has been used in staircases, house and boat decking, marine jetties, flooring, boat building and mine timber. In more recent times Kwila has only started to be used for furniture because the very hardness of the wood had made it difficult and costly to manufacture without special sophisticated machinery. Along with its natural hardness, the abundant natural oil in Kwila is a primary feature of this timber which makes it so durable in comparison to other timbers commonly used for outdoor furniture. It has minimal shrinkage and can withstand extremes of climate and even prolonged exposure to saltwater.

Add to the natural wonders of the Kwila wood, the very high quality construction methods used by Gold Coast Kwila and the stainless steel or brass fastenings used in our construction processes, you can be assured of a product built to withstand exposure to the elements and give many years of pleasure and trouble-free enjoyment.

Does Kwila timber leach or bleed colour when wet?

Yes, but with good manufacturing and finishing processes this can be minimised.

It is a common fact that all timbers contain oils and tannins and that these substances have a tendency (in certain conditions) to leach or bleed from the wood. In this respect, Kwila timber has a significant amount of these oils and tannins which help give it its' stable and durable characteristics. Any excess may leach from the timber and finished product when wet if the product is not finished to a high standard. This 'vegetable dye' (though harmless and non-toxic) can cause annoying stains on unsealed flooring, tiles, concrete, carpet and cloth. However, it is important to note that this is not a permanent problem – over time and with careful finishing and pre sale preparation any tendency for leaching and bleeding can be dramatically curtailed. Outdoor furniture made in a ‘hurry’, or cheaply and without any special finishing will have this problem to varying degrees.

The special timber ‘washing’ and finishing processes employed by Gold Coast Kwila in the construction and finishing of its products have been designed to minimise and mitigate any potential leaching or bleeding.

You can also refer to the section of this web site that discusses how to care for your Gold Coast Kwila furniture.

Does Gold Coast Kwila use renewable timbers?

Yes it certainly does!

Gold Coast Kwila Outdoor Furniture is proud of the credibility and integrity of their Indonesia and Malaysian partners – our suppliers have been in the business of managing and harvesting renewable timbers for many years and they enjoy a high level of credibility in the industry. In compliance with the Forestry Institute of Malaysia and the Indonesian National Policy of Forestry Management, all timber is supplied under the guidelines of the International Tropical Timber Organisation [ITTO]. To operate in their chosen markets, Gold Coast Kwila’s suppliers are required to comply with the Sustainable Management of Tropical Forests, as set down by the International Tropical Timber Council in Yokohama in December 1991.

These strict guidelines for the management and harvesting of specialty timbers require sound management of selected forests that balances the needs of a renewable source of timber, the local economy, the micro and macro environment and the local ecology in general. Our partners are committed to utilising and conserving their extensive national wealth in perpetuity for the benefit of present and future generations which is as it should be.

You can be assured that we as a company actively support the ongoing reconciliation of both the production and protection of this beautiful native timber known as Kwila or Merbau. It goes without saying that without responsible management and harvesting of this natural resource we as a company would not exist to provide our customers with many years of added leisure and lifestyle comfort and enjoyment.

Gold Coast Kwila – beautiful and functional outdoor furniture with a responsible attitude to the environment.