What Kind of Wood Is Outdoor Teak Furniture Really Made Of?

Trees

• Teak trees are native to India and Southeast Asia. The trees are a common part of jungle canopies in those areas. It has large, ellipse-shaped leaves and small white blossoms, each with six petals. Teak trees require lots of sunlight and can only grows on fertile hilltops. They are relatively resistant to insects and diseases, but are occasionally overrun with leaf eating pests.

Properties

• The wood of teak trees is prized for its many remarkable properties. According to a report from the government of the Northwest Territory of Australia, teak resists the elements better than almost any other kind of wood. Teak is oily wood, and so it repels water without any treatment. Regency Teak, a teakwood furniture producer, claims that it is resistant to termites and that it retains its warm, brown color over time.

Uses

• Teak is often used to make the decks, cabins and rails on wooden ships. House builders use teak to make wooden floors, columns and exterior paneling. Furniture makers prize teak wood for its durability when used to make outdoor pieces, but its pleasant color and good grain also make it desirable for indoor furniture as well. It is also a popular material for cutting boards and counter tops.

Cultivation

• Most commercially produced teak is grown in Indonesia on large plantations. Teak can be planted from seeds, but if it is correctly harvested, new teak trees can be made to grow from the stumps of previous trees. Teak is a canopy tree in tropical forests and, thus, it needs plenty of sunlight.

Ecology

• While farmed teak presents little harm to the environment, there is a market for illegally harvested, old-growth teak. This wood that comes from the rain forest. According to a report from American University, Illegal loggers do double damage by over-harvesting the trees, but they also damage and pollute the ecosystems with heavy equipment and garbage.