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About Teak
Characteristics of Teak Wood
Teak (Tectona grandis), is one of the most valued woods in the world, and
grows in areas between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Teak trees can grow up to 150 feet tall and have large, leathery, reddish
green leaves that are shed in the drier months of the year. Teak's sap has
natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that make it resistant to
parasites and disease. Teak also contains rubber and silica, which repel
water. The wood also has great pliability, making it better able to
withstand high pressure without cracking. This, combined with the fact that
it is an extremely heavy wood, with dense fibers that make it relatively
easy to cut and graft, make it one of the finest woods from which to
construct outdoor furniture.
Teak
is an extremely dense [40lbs cuft when dry] fine grained hardwood. Teak wood
is generally straight grained, but occasionally wavy. The wood contains a
high level of silica which causes rapid blunting of cutting edges. When
fresh cut the surface of the wood is dull in appearance, and the timber has
a distinctive, pleasantly aromatic odor which has been likened to the smell
of leather. Fresh sawn teak has a slightly 'oily' feel due to the high oil
content.
One
of the most commonly quoted facts about the characteristics of teak is its
durability. It is resistant to rot caused by fungal decay, and the high
level of resinous oil present in the timber helps to act as a natural insect
repellent giving the timber very high resistance to attack by termites and
other wood boring insects. The life span for teak wood completely left
unprotected from the elements is 30 – 35 years, with some pieces having
stayed in service for as long as 75 years!
All
teak from Indonesia must be certified by the government to verify that it
comes from an approved plantation source. The strict governmental oversight
are saving many natural Teak forests and having a profound positive
environmental impact. The Teak plantations provide economic and
environmental relief. They are the major source of income for many villages
in tropical areas. Teak is increasing in value by up to 6% every year and
has revenue of up to $30,000 US per trunk, which makes it a very resourceful
cash crop.
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