Meranti (Lauan) Plywood & Lumber

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.