Teak Furniture

Teak is a tropical hardwood typically found in southern and southeastern Asia. Common Teak, from the Tectona Grandis tree, is a plentiful wood that offers several special characteristics that make it useful for woodworking and carpentry. Chief among these are the natural oils in the wood. These oils protect the wood from many types of weathering and, most significantly, make it substantially waterproof without any additional treatment or coating. In addition, teak has a very dense, strong grain, which makes it a very sturdy and durable wood. These factors, combined with its plentiful supply and renewable nature, have made teak furniture a common element of Asian homes for centuries.

Recently, however, teak furniture has become increasingly popular across the world, especially in the affluent areas of the western hemisphere, where the wood still has the appeal of novelty. Teak furniture takes advantage of the natural attributes of the wood to produce very fine items and equipment. As a hardwood, teak furniture can endure far more than that made of most other woods, and its composition and the natural oils in the wood make it nearly impervious to age. This is important to remember, as any piece of teak furniture you buy is likely to remain as is for decades, so be sure you like the look and style, because it isn’t something that’s going to wear out, encouraging you to throw it away or replace it.

Teak furniture is especially popular for outdoor use, such as patio or workstation furniture. The natural oils in the wood remain in teak furniture after construction, so the piece will not only be resistant to water and moisture, but also to sun and other types of weathering conditions. In fact, teak furniture is almost impervious to weather. You can leave genuine teak furniture outside all year long, even in seasonal areas with harsh winters. The only elemental concern you should have would be extremely high winds, and teak furniture will even handle this better than most furniture due to its high strength and durability.

When you buy teak furniture, you should keep in mind that teak comes in different grades. Teak is a wood that becomes stronger and more resilient as the tree ages; old-growth trees are denser, more pliable, and have a greater wealth of protective oils. Younger trees, while still possessing these qualities to some degree, do not offer the same type of protection against elements and are not as strong. Thus, when you buy teak furniture, be certain that you know what grade teak the piece or pieces are made from. Teak furniture made from older wood may be more expensive, but it will be longer lasting, better proofed against weather, and less likely to warp, crack, or split.

Another factor to keep in mind when deciding upon what type of teak furniture to buy is that the look of teak changes as it ages. As teak, and thus teak furniture, ages or weathers the oils in the wood change, giving the wood a silvery gray patina. This coloring has become highly desirable in some areas. In fact, there is a look of antique teak furniture called Dutch Modern from the 1950’s and 60’s that has gained its own group of contemporary collectors. If you are interested in antique pieces, there are definitely options in teak furniture for you as well.

In addition to the protective qualities mentioned above, the oils in teak furniture make it very simple to maintain and clean. Usually, all it takes is a little soap and a wet rag. For more difficult stains such as wine, you can actually buy a special type of teak cleaner. Dealers that offer better quality teak furniture should also offer a way to purchase this special cleaner.

One final caution to keep in mind when buying teak furniture: due to the popularity of teak furniture in recent years a variety of other woods have been incorrectly referred to as “teak.” These woods often have similar properties to teak, but they are not the genuine article. If you want genuine teak furniture then be sure to verify that any pieces you purchase are made of the real wood. For the best protection and truest look, true teak is usually preferable.