What is Kapur Wood?
The Wood Guide · The wood register
Tropical hardwood · referenceKapur
From the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. A hardwood that proves itself both indoors and outdoors — and that you recognise by its scent.
- Dryobalanops aromatica
- 40 to 60 m tall
- Trunk 1.5 to 2 m
KapurDryobalanops aromatica
Kapur
From the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. A hardwood that proves itself both indoors and outdoors — and that you recognise by its scent.
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Kapur in brief
The wood of Dryobalanops aromatica and Dryobalanops oblongifolia, family Dipterocarpaceae — the same family as meranti and bangkirai.
The tree grows forty to sixty metres tall with a straight, cylindrical trunk one and a half to two metres in diameter. That yields long, straight boards without many knots — one of the reasons kapur is so versatile.
The wood is reddish brown, strong and durable, and proves itself in a wide range of uses: cladding, floors, bridges and jetties. That puts it in the middle class of tropical hardwoods — less extreme than azobé, more accessible than ipé.
Aromatica is no coincidence: the wood contains aromatic resins with a camphor-like scent, especially when freshly sawn. Those same resins contribute to its natural durability — they make the wood unattractive to insects.
- Botanical
- Dryobalanops aromatica, D. oblongifolia
- Family
- Dipterocarpaceae
- Origin
- Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
- Height
- 40 to 60 metres
- Trunk diameter
- 1.5 to 2 metres
- Strength in
- combination of strength and durability
To be fair: kapur contains resins and tannins that react with iron to give dark stains, and that can bleed out onto light-coloured tiles when it rains. Use stainless steel, and allow for bleeding in the first months — just as with merbau.
What characterises kapur
Strong and durable
The combination that makes it useful in construction, hydraulic engineering and interior finishing alike.
Straight, long trunks
Cylindrical and branch-free over a great height, which yields long boards without knots.
Aromatic resins
Camphor-like scent when sawn; those resins contribute to its resistance to insects.
Reddish-brown colour
Warm in tone, weathering to silver when left untreated outdoors.
What kapur is used for
| Use | Suitable? | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Cladding | Excellent | Stainless fixings; watch out for bleeding |
| Indoor flooring | Excellent | Hard and hard-wearing |
| Bridges and jetties | Good | Strong and weather-resistant |
| Decking boards | Good | Generous gaps; can bleed onto light-coloured paving |
| Exterior joinery | Good | Dimensionally stable after proper drying |
| Permanently in water | Limited | Azobé and bilinga are more suitable here |
Frequently asked questions about kapur
What is kapur used for?
For cladding, floors, bridges, jetties and exterior joinery. It combines strength with durability and is available in long straight lengths.
Why does kapur smell of camphor?
Because of aromatic resins in the wood — hence the species name aromatica. Those resins contribute to its natural resistance to insects.
Can kapur bleed?
Yes, just like merbau it can wash out tannins in the first months that discolour light-coloured paving. Rinse the boards repeatedly before installation.
Is kapur the same as bangkirai?
No, but they are related. Both belong to the Dipterocarpaceae; bangkirai is heavier and is mainly used for decking.
Kapur in perspective
The versatile mid-range option among tropical hardwoods.
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Dryobalanops spp. — Cirad, Programme Bois (xylarium), Public domain · Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Dryobalanops aromatica — Patrice78500, Public domain