Teak is a prized wood material. Teak trees come from the Tectona grandis and are native to tropical countries. Around the 7th century, it was used to adorn the residences of wealthy and powerful and powerful families and clans in Indonesia.
As a type of hardwood, Teak wood’s amazing reputation has made its way to become valuable due to its properties and functionality. Let’s take a look at them in this article.
Why is Teak so valuable?
Teak is prized for its wood, natural oils, and rubber. There is an abundance of natural oils and rubber inside the tight grain of the teak wood. All woods have oils that protect the tree, like maple and tea tree oil, but Teak retains its oil and sap even after the tree is felled. Because of this, Teak has better naturally weather-resistant properties than any other type of wood.
When teak wood is dried to a proper moisture level of around 10 percent of its original content, the oils and rubber begin to weatherproof the wood. Natural oils protect the wood from dry rot, a common problem in old furniture. Oils and rubber protect the heart of the wood from fungi and parasites that can destroy wood.
General Properties of Teak wood
As said, the natural oil from teak wood provides protection. Thus, Teak is an extremely durable and resilient wood. As time passes, teak wood goes from a honey-brown color to a lovely silvery gray hue.
The physical strength and density of teak sapwood are comparable to those of heartwood, which makes it simpler to use the entire tree without worrying about strength difficulties. However, the concentration of pest-resistant teak oil in sapwood is lower. Thus, it is not advisable to use sapwood in exterior marine environments.
Read: Sapwood vs. Heartwood
Uses of Teak wood
Teak wood is best used outdoors due to its great rot resistance. Even when exposed to rain and sun, outdoor teak furniture typically lasts for 70 years or longer. It lasts significantly longer indoors.
Teak is costly for decking outside, but builders utilize it to make deck railings. Teak is the ideal wood to use if you want to construct your furniture because it is used to make most wooden outdoor furniture. Although its high silica content quickly degrades saw blades, it is simple to cut.
Teak is largely a decorative material indoors, albeit an expensive one. It can be used for woodwork elements like millwork or shelving, or flooring. Cutting boards and counters are excellent uses for it.
More about Teak wood
Teak is a prized wood material. Teak trees come from the Tectona grandis and are native to tropical countries. Around the 7th century, it was used to adorn the residences of wealthy and powerful and powerful families and clans in Indonesia. Teak wood’s amazing reputation has made its way to the Dutch, who colonized Indonesia. They used teak wood for building ships because of its excellent ability to ward off rot.
Teak trees are found in Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand, Burma, and Malaysia, and of course, Indonesia is a country where people take their teak forests very seriously. Since the country’s post-colonial era in the mid-20th century, the Indonesian government has designated a corporation that manages the nation’s most valuable natural resources.
The PT Perhutani maintains the official teak plantations found along the lovely Indonesian island of Java. In this place, a predetermined number of trees can be cut each year. Each tree is replaced with a new tree that’s planted in its place on the plantation.
Other Hardwood Types
- Ipe Wood– It is also called Brazilian walnut or ipe (pronounced e-pay) wood decking. It is a stunning exotic wood from Central and South America.
- Koa Wood– Koa wood is native to Hawaii and can only be harvested from the islands which is why it is very expensive.
- Poplar Wood– Poplar wood may not be as strong as other hardwoods but by treating and using different techniques, poplar wood can be worthwhile and cost-effective.
- Rubber Wood– Rubber wood has many outstanding qualities. It is durable, resilient and is eco-friendly. These qualities make it a good wood material for furniture and for home use.
- Sapele Wood– Of all the wood varieties, sapele is known for its natural beauty and its unique wood grains which may interlock in a ribbon-like pattern.
- Cherry Wood– No one can deny the amazing qualities of cherry wood, which could be the reason why wood enthusiasts cherish it the most.
- Mahogany Wood– The possible extinction of Mahogany wood cannot clear the fact that it is one of the most valuable wood types existing.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article about teak wood is helpful. Teak is a lovely wood with its special qualities and traits, just like any other wood type. Remember to consider Teak’s incredible qualities if you decide to use it.
