Replies

1. 
   thebardowl | Mar 22, 2021 08:34am | #1

   Meranti is a bit of a catch-all name for various Shorea spp., and it’s more or less a synonym for the more familiar name Lauan. Characteristics—esp. hardness, durability—can vary quite a bit. Most take finishes, including stains, well, per the Wood Database—but surface prep is even more key than usual, it seems. I would note that the Wood Database info generally warns that most species are not considered especially durable for exterior use, though, as mentioned, it can vary significantly. Because of that, I’d suggest a very durable finish—my own go-to would be a spar urethane, over top of the stain selected.

   This all said, let me add that it’s a nice gate you’ve got there; I understand your desire to show it off a bit. Well done.

2. 
   SJ_Wood | Mar 22, 2021 09:59am | #2

   thanks for the reply and compliment! (there is a pair of these, driveway)

   so some early replies I had from paint/stain/oil manufactures suggest I should weather the gates pre-treatment for upto 4 months?

   would you agree?

3. 
   Steve__D | Mar 22, 2021 11:21am | #3

   I had a porch deck installed in what I thought was meranti. The wood in my porch was darker and more along the lines of a dark mahogany.

   I used Armstrong-Clark stain in the mahogany color and stained it before installation, both sides. That color seemed to gray out in the first year. The next fall I recoated it and it still looks great after the second winter.

   I would definitely not do a film finish because when it fails it will look horrible and be difficult to fix. The second staining with the A-C oil required no prep work and only took an hour at most. A vertical surface should hold up better.

   A-C does color samples.