About the Teak at Garden Teak Furniture
Information About Our Classic Teakwood Furniture
Before you make the decision to purchase some teakwood furniture, it is important to get some information about teakwood so you know whether or not it is for you. We want to make sure that you get all of the information you need about teakwood furniture so you can become a satisfied customer.
The Tree and WoodWhen grown and cultivated on a plantation, a teak tree can grow to be 45 m (150 ft) tall, with a diameter of 1-1.5m (3-5ft). If well cared for, the tree can produce a clear stem up to 30m in length, producing a high timber yield. The teak tree is generally ready for harvesting at around 50-60 years old.
Teak is a very dense (around 40lbs per cubic foot when dry), coarse-grained hardwood. For the most part, teak has a straight grain, though it can be wavy. The wood blunts rapidly when the edges are cut due to a high level of silica (a chemical compound found in many plants). When fresh cut, teak has a dull appearance, and has a pleasant aroma, often compared to leather. It also has a somewhat oily feel because of the high levels of oil it contains, making teak highly resistant to fungal decay, termites, acid, weather and metal contact. Because of this durability, teak has been used for centuries in boats, buildings, and, like in our case, outdoor furniture.
The HistoryTeak, known as tectona grandis in Latin and Jati in Indonesian, is indigenous to Indonesia, which is where we get our wood. A member of the Verbenaceae hardwood family, teak has been planted ornamentally or for timber in Indonesia for centuries, and also through East and West Africa, Cuba and the Caribbean, and all over South America.
Teak grows best in dry, hilly terrain, and not at all in the rainforest, making it perfect for Indonesia. Perum Perhutani is the government agency in Java, Indonesia responsible for managing Indonesia’s extensive teak forests and plantations. These plantations date back to when the Dutch first started them back in the 1800s.
Today, Perum Perhutani operates a strict policy regulating the number and size of teak tress that can be felled, as well as the number of trees replanted in order to ensure that teakwood will be around for future generations to enjoy. Teak is one of the main products of this area of the world, and drives the local economy, with the associated furniture industry employing many thousands of local people.
The LookAlong with its unmatchable durability, teak stands alone when it comes to elegance, stability and low maintenance. Any teak product will arrive a honey-blond color, and, if used outdoors, will gradually turn a soft, silvery gray over a season or two. The teak will stay this color for the rest of your life, without ever warping, twisting, rotting, or splintering. No knots interrupt the flow of the beautiful grain or take away from the smooth surface. Used inside, away from the elements, the teakwood will remain its honey-blond color.
The Alternative?Recently, a number of companies have come out with products that they advertise as “teak-like” or “as good as teak,” “family of teak,” heck, one even said “better than teak.” There is nothing better than the real deal, not for elegance or durability. Teak has been used for centuries in boats and in outdoor parks and gardens worldwide, and has proven itself many times over. There is nothing “better than teak.”
