Anyone here installed chengal wood in their homes?

[Andreq]

Wish to get advice from bros and sis here...

Have any of you installed chengal wood in say your home balcony?

I wish to get some opinions on its durability and level of maintenance.

Wish to do one for my home balcony which will be partially exposed to sun and rain. Have been hearing different views. Some say maintenance ok, some say it's just too troublesome having to constantly polish the wood and keep it in good condition.

Any good alternative to chengal which looks like wood but not wood?

Any views much appreciated! TQ!

 

[agws1970]

What wood doesn't need maintenance? Just spend some money on good chengai early on then use Thompson wood sealant on it, about 3 coats and it should last you about 2 years before you do it again. The only thing to remember is to waterproof it before water sets in otherwise you will be fighting a losing battle.

 

[SilverPine]

I learn it the hard way, other wood (not chengai wood) would not last more than ten year at out door. What it mean the wood no matter how you maintain it, it will not last. To maintain chengai wood is very simple just go to any paint shop and buy outdoor paint and apply it to the chengai wood. For chengai wood, the color of the wood will go darker from year to year. So far more than ten years under hot sun and rain chengai wood still going strong.

.

 

[Andreq]

I learn it the hard way, other wood (not chengai wood) would not last more than ten year at out door. What it mean the wood no matter how you maintain it, it will not last. To maintain chengai wood is very simple just go to any paint shop and buy outdoor paint and apply it to the chengai wood. For chengai wood, the color of the wood will go darker from year to year. So far more than ten years under hot sun and rain chengai wood still going strong.

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thanks silver pine...

Hmmm, your views sound positive indeed. It's contrasting to some others I read on Internet who told me it's very tedious to maintain and even after a short 1 year, the wood looks terribly worn out, etc. I guess this happens if one neglects to take good care of it?

So about once a year will be about right to apply the paint?

 

[SilverPine]

thanks silver pine...

Hmmm, your views sound positive indeed. It's contrasting to some others I read on Internet who told me it's very tedious to maintain and even after a short 1 year, the wood looks terribly worn out, etc. I guess this happens if one neglects to take good care of it?

So about once a year will be about right to apply the paint?

I had two batch of Chengal wood material with paint 3 and 10 years old, the 3 years old paint works still look as good as new, 10 years old just need some cleaning will do, no painting required (the color of wood also darken). They were both direct under hot sun and rain. To make the maintenance easy, please select the outdoor paint to nature wood color (brown).

The other wood looks terribly worn out after one year no matter how you maintain it. The Chengal wood itself is very hard, the termite will not attack according to termite expert, termite will choose other easy targets which are so many arround.

To answer your question, base on my experience Chengal just need to apply one time outdoor paint, it will last at east 10 years. Sometime it may required second coating for Chengal wood, after six month under the hot sun. The oil generate from the wood itself would affect the color of the paint, for me a little picky just apply the paint again, now as good as new under the hot sun after 3 years.

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[koplady11]

OT - Changi was named after the legendary Changi tree, which was believed to be of the same species as the chengai/chengal tree. Just sthg interesting to share.

http://www.changimuseum.com/Surroundings.aspx

 

[shorty]

take the advise from the brothers here and the wood flooring specialist.

My grandpa house, all chengal flooring supported by concrete beam is as old as my younger brother - 28 yrs old. The house is in plantation estate in Tawau, Sabah. Wet, hot and humid. The coating enable them to perform and seen as good condition.

Don't be stingy on timber furniture or flooring, all of us will advise this.

 

[jimmygoo]

actually, other than chengal, there is an alternative which is widely used around in Singapore. It's called Balau. There is Yellow Balau and Red balau, with the latter being more expensive and harder. A very good example of where it is being used is the Henderson Waves.