1. Identify Material Quality:

At a glance, the finer the annual rings of Balau wood, the better the material tends to be. This is because fine rings indicate a slower growth rate of the Balau, in simpler terms, the Balau that looks less "flaky" when viewed in cross-section should be of higher quality.

2. Identify quality of pressure-treated Balau wood preservation

Edge wood should be fully immersed in preservative, with a clean and even surface preferred. A good quality is indicated by the preservative fully penetrating the edge wood when viewed from the surface of Baulu wood, as the heartwood of this species naturally possesses durability. However, for most other tree species, it is generally recommended that the preservative be fully immersed.

3. Identify Balau wood processing quality:

Uniform specifications, minimal error, and high processing quality. The Baulau wood can be initially inspected for uniformity, correctness, and neatness with minimal error. Generally, the error for thinner boards should be less than 0.5-1mm; the overall error for larger sizes should not exceed 2mm. Materials processed on the production line are usually uniform with minimal error. Handcrafted materials, however, tend to have greater error, which can increase construction difficulty. Additionally, for planed materials, it is also important to check the surface finish quality, with smooth and natural being preferable.