Teak is a durable, weather-resistant hardwood used for outdoor furniture and indoor flooring. Its natural oils repel insects and weather, making it ideal for outdoor use. Over-harvesting has led to sustainability concerns, prompting the establishment of teak plantations in Asia and elsewhere.
Teak lumber is a type of hardwood derived from the teak tree, native to South Asia. The light brown wood of the tree is highly durable and naturally weather resistant, making it a popular choice for outdoor and patio furniture. Due to its attractive appearance, it also has many indoor uses. The widespread harvesting of ancient teak timber has led to sustainability issues, prompting the establishment of teak plantations in Asia and elsewhere.
The teak tree grows mainly in tropical deciduous forests of Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and India. It is also found in parts of Central America, where it has been artificially introduced. The tree typically grows to heights of 100 to 130 feet (about 30 to 40 m).
The wood derived from the teak tree has a warm golden brown color. Its grains are generally straight. The texture of teak wood before it has been worked is usually somewhat rough. A high percentage of the hard mineral silica is naturally present in teak and as a result, cutting this type of lumber causes great wear on the edges of the tools.
One of the qualities that makes teak wood unique and precious is its natural oiliness. These oils act as a natural insect repellent. So teak is usually not susceptible to destruction by termites.
Perhaps an even more important property of these oils is the natural weather resistance they provide, even when the wood has not been finished with varnish or sealer. Since teak wood can easily withstand harsh weather conditions, it is often used for outdoor chairs, dining tables and terraces. In Asia it is sometimes used for bridges and piers. It is also a common choice for ship bridge construction.
Not only durable but also attractive, teak wood lends itself well to indoor uses as well. It is often used for hardwood flooring and siding. Also, many interior furniture incorporates teak into its design.
Extensive and sustained harvesting of teak timber from South Asian forests decimated much of the native teak tree population. As a result, concerns have been raised about the future safety of the species. Rather than abandon the commercial use of teak, however, entrepreneurs have established teak plantations in South Asia and other areas with similar climates. The trees in these plantations are specially grown for construction purposes, thus allowing the old-growth forests to escape harvesting and sustaining the future of the teak tree.
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