Teak Wood

Teak wood (Tectona Grandis) is one of the strongest, most durable hardwoods in the world. The wood has a high oil content which gives it a natural resistance to rot and protects against insect infestation. Teak is also known for its ability to withstand almost any weather, which makes it a popular choice for boatbuilding. The oil in teak not only protects the wood, but also gives it a dark golden color and an earthy aroma. Teak wood tends to be a popular choice when it comes to outdoor furniture since it can usually endure temperature extremes without the use of preservatives. 

Since teak wood is usually grown on tropical plantations in places like Indonesia, Burma, Srilanka and India, it is expensive. The teak tree is one of the tropical hardwood birches in the Verbenaceae family. The trees can grow to over 150 feet (45.7 m) tall and live to be about 150 years old. Mature teak trees take several decades to reach their full growth, and typically measure approximately forty meters in height.

Teak is easy to work with, lovely to behold, strong, not very heavy despite its strength, and very resistant to fungus and insect infestations. The first thing to know about teak is that it offers coloration ranging from a rich but mellow gold to an attractive brownish-red hue. The grain is packed quite tightly as is common with most hardwoods.

Types: Teak is a commercial darling with wood that is durable and highly resistant to fungus and insects. The two remaining species are the Tectona philippinensis or Philippine teak and the Tectona hamiltoniana or Dahat teak of Myanmar.

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION Botanical Name: Tectona grandis Common Name(s): Teak, Jati Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 41 lbs/ft3 (650 kg/m3) Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.54, 0.65 Janka Hardness: 1,070 lbf (4,740 N) Modulus Rupture: 13.940 lbsf/in2 (96.1 MPa) Elastic Modulus: 1,570,000 lbf/in2 (10.83 GPa) Crushing Strength: 7,770 lbf/in2 (53.6 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 2.5%, Tangential: 5.8%, Volumetric: 7.0%, T/R Ratio: 2.3 Colour/ Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a golden or medium brown, with color darkening with age. Grain Texture: Teak has a coarse texture with medium-sized open pores. The grain tends to be straight, though it can occasionally be wavy or interlocked. Teak also has a slightly oily or greasy feel due to its natural oils. Endgrain: Ring-porous or semi-ring-porous; large, solitary earlywood pores, medium-small latewood pores solitary and in radial multiples of 2-3; tyloses and other mineral deposits common; growth rings distinct due to uniseriate row of earlywood pores; rays visible without lens; parenchyma banded (marginal), with bands sometimes wide enough to enclose entire earlywood pores, paratracheal parenchyma vasicentric. Rot Resistance: Teak has been considered by many to be the gold standard for decay resistance, and its heartwood is rated as very durable. Teak is also resistant to termites, though it is only moderately resistant to marine borers and powder post beetles. Workability: Easy to work in nearly all regards, with the only caveat being that Teak contains a high level of silica (up to 1.4%) which has a pronounced blunting effect on cutting edges. Despite its natural oils, Teak usually glues and finishes well though in some instances it may be necessary to wipe the surface of the wood with a solvent prior to gluing/finishing to reduce the natural oils on the surface of the wood. Odour: Teak can have a leather-like scent when freshly milled. Common Uses: Ship and boatbuilding, veneer, furniture, exterior construction, carving, turnings, and other small wood objects.