Teak

Description

Probably the most popularly known hardwood, teak is considered to be the ultimate marine resistant wood.  Teak is used for shipbuilding because it is able to ward off dry rot.  Most luxury yachts have teak decks and outdoor teak furniture is also prized for its durability and beauty. 

Species: Tectona grandis

Other Name: Teak, Burmese Teak, Rosawa, Djati, Sagon, Genuine teak, Sagwan, Gia thi, Tadi

Teak Origin: Native to southern Asia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Burma

Appearance: Teak has a characteristic golden brown color which tends to darkens with age.

Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 41 lbs/ft3 (655 kg/m3)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .55, .66

Janka Hardness: 1,070 lbf (4,740 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 14,080 lbf/in2 (97.1 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,781,000 lbf/in2 (12.28 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 7,940 lbf/in2 (54.8 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 2.6%, Tangential: 5.3%, Volumetric: 7.2%, T/R Ratio: 2.0

Drying: Most teak furniture is made of kiln dried teak.

Workability: Easy to work with, can be glued, and finishes well.  Will blunt tools due to the high level of silica it contains.

Maintenance:  In order to retain the original color, a teak brightener should be applied to restore the original brown color.

Preservation: Applying a UV blocking teak sealant on a yearly basis should maintain the color

Sustainable: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) does not list teak in its appendices. The Forest Legality Initiative also states that teak can be exported and traded internationally. International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) does not list teak as an endangered species.

Brazilian Lumber, LLC meets high standards for social, economic and environmental responsibility.  We monitor and document chain of custody of all our hardwood, we are Lacy Act compliant, IBAMA certified, and provide certified options.  This means that purchasing from us, fuels the hardwood lumber economy in South American forests, and by providing well paying jobs for many people in turn means the industry values its conservation and preservation.

Would you like to talk to a hardwood decking specialist?  We would love to help you 1-877-203-2004