Well the biggest concentration of teak is found in India. This is where the majority of all commercial teak comes from. There are varieties found in the Philippines and Myanmar but both of these are endangered woods.
Teak is a great wood if you're looking to build some . It's extremely water resistant. In fact it's been used as boat decking for years. It doesn't need to be varnished or soaked in oil to stand up to the weather.
Not only does teak stand up to the weather, it is a great wood choice for it's resistance to termites. You won't have to worry about sitting down in your favorite lawn chair and having it turn to dust underneath you.
There is one small problem with teak though. It takes years and years to mature. The older the teak the more durable the wood ends up being. This had led to illegal logging, endangering the environment.
Luckily there is farmed teak. It isn't as durable as old growth teak but it is a sustainable resource. There are drying methods now thought that can bring farm grown teak up to almost the same quality level as an old growth forest. There are even distributors now that will certify that their teak is farmed. By looking for these labels you can do you part to help the environment.
Teak comes in several different quality grades, A, B, and C.
A grade
Well the biggest concentration of teak is found in India. This is where the majority of all commercial teak comes from. There are varieties found in the Philippines and Myanmar but both of these are endangered woods.
Teak is a great wood if you're looking to build some outdoor furniture. It's extremely water resistant. In fact it's been used as boat decking for years. It doesn't need to be varnished or soaked in oil to stand up to the weather.
Not only does teak stand up to the weather, it is a great wood choice for it's resistance to termites. You won't have to worry about sitting down in your favorite lawn chair and having it turn to dust underneath you.
There is one small problem with teak though. It takes years and years to mature. The older the teak the more durable the wood ends up being. This had led to illegal logging, endangering the environment.
Luckily there is farmed teak. It isn't as durable as old growth teak but it is a sustainable resource. There are drying methods now thought that can bring farm grown teak up to almost the same quality level as an old growth forest. There are even distributors now that will certify that their teak is farmed. By looking for these labels you can do you part to help the environment.
Teak comes in several different quality grades, A, B, and C.
A grade teak comes from the middle of the tree and is virtually free of knots. It presents a uniform surface on at least one side of the wood.
B grade teak is very close to A. It has very few knots in it but may have a bit of streaking, adding character to the wood.
C. grade teak is the lowest grade. It can have defects and knotting inside the wood. Filler can be used to fill in any holes in it. It's still a viable wood for furniture and decking just not what one would use for a signature piece.
Teak isn't just used for its wood though. Teak oil is a great natural way to preserve furniture. You can protect your furniture without the harsh chemicals found in commercial oil based water proofing. Teak oil stains as well as protects. Since it's a natural oil it will change over time and exposure to weather. This means that the wood will take on new rich character as it ages.
People even use teak leaves in cooking much the same way Ti leaves are used. They make a convenient steamer for dumplings that can then just be unwrapped and eaten.
So as you can see there a lot more to know than just "where is teak grown?" It's a dense hard wood that stands up to Mother Nature. The oil can be used for finishing and enriching the looks of other kinds of wood. The leaves can even be used in cooking. There's more to teak than just the wood!
B grade teak is very close to A. It has very few knots in it but may have a bit of streaking, adding character to the wood.
C. grade teak is the lowest grade. It can have defects and knotting inside the wood. Filler can be used to fill in any holes in it. It's still a viable wood for furniture and decking just not what one would use for a signature piece.
Teak isn't just used for its wood though. Teak oil is a great natural way to preserve furniture. You can protect your furniture without the harsh chemicals found in commercial oil based water proofing. Teak oil stains as well as protects. Since it's a natural oil it will change over time and exposure to weather. This means that the wood will take on new rich character as it ages.
People even use teak leaves in cooking much the same way Ti leaves are used. They make a convenient steamer for dumplings that can then just be unwrapped and eaten.
So as you can see there a lot more to know than just "where is teak grown?" It's a dense hard wood that stands up to Mother Nature. The oil can be used for finishing and enriching the looks of other kinds of wood. The leaves can even be used in cooking. There's more to teak than just the wood!
never knew that teak was from India....
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Posted by: John Bell | 09/02/2011 at 04:21 AM