What is teak: tropical wood, elegant and durable

Teak is a tropical wood that is perfect for outdoor furniture, thanks to its compact, solid and resistant characteristics.

The furnishing of outdoor spaces must be carefully thought out. These are, in fact, environments that are subject to various atmospheric agents and therefore need to accommodate furniture made of suitable, resistant, robust and therefore long-lasting materials. This does not disregard the fact that furniture for outdoor spaces must also be aesthetically appealing and functional in relation to the use to be made of it and the available space.

Teak: the most popular wood for outdoor furniture

Teak is a tropical hardwood that is both durable and aesthetically elegant. This type of wood has carved out a prominent place for itself among the materials used in the construction of outdoor furniture. In fact, despite the fact that specific preliminary treatments and constant maintenance make it possible to use most woods for outdoor furniture, such as acacia, black locust, Douglas fir, Scots pine, spruce or larch, Teak always ranks first in terms of firmness, solidity and resistance to sun and weather.

The structure of a Teak tree

Teak, as mentioned above, is a subtropical wood. It comes from the forests of South East Asia. Teak trees, whose trunks can have a diameter of 50 to 100 centimetres, do not require special care and are generally very lush. This is why Teak tree plantations have gradually spread to Africa and South America. Teak trees need a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees to grow well in nature. Teak wood loves the sun and it is thanks to the sun that it is able to grow luxuriantly to a height of up to 40 metres.

Teak: specificity and colouring of this perfect wood for outdoor furniture

Teak wood has no fixed colouring. Its shades, in fact, can vary from brown to golden. On the aesthetic side, Teak is characterised by a very slight grain, which is a specificity that makes it elegant on outdoor furniture and floor coverings.

Its high strength is conferred by the high amount of rubber present within its structure. Its fibres are very elastic due to the high resin and oil content in the trunk. Teak is particularly compact and very solid, which is why it is used not only in furniture construction, but also in the construction of much larger elements that are subject to water and moisture, such as boats. It is also excellent in the construction of frames, windows and doors because it does not warp or break with the passage of time.

Teak is very durable and resistant to pests, bacteria and fungi. It does not spoil in contact with acids and is unlikely to ignite.

The older a Teak tree is, the more robust the wood it produces

Timber harvested from Teak trees, of course, does not always have the exact same qualities. These can change, for example, in relation to the wood’s shelf life. This means that the older a tree is, the sturdier the wood will be harvested. Beyond 30 years, Teak wood would have even greater firmness, hardness and strength.

Three quality grades of Teak

There are three different grades of Teak wood.

Grade A Teak is very strong and is characterised by a strong, honey-coloured heartwood. Due to its durability qualities, it is also the most expensive grade of Teak.

Grade B Teak is compact and solid, but is characterised by a darker colouring than honey-coloured.

Grade C Teak wood is the most economical. It is not as durable as the previous ones because it contains less resin and oil and may therefore have a shorter life span than Grade A and Grade B Teak. It is also the lightest grade in colouring.

How to care for teak wood furniture?

Despite the fact that, as we have said many times, Teak wood is very resistant to atmospheric agents, it is always advisable, during the winter period, to shelter garden furniture made of wood as well as other materials by covering them with a breathable cloth or placing them in a garden shed, garage or closet (as long as it is a space that is not subject to humidity and is well ventilated). This is because a table, chair or any piece of furniture could contain even a small amount of other wood along with Teak.

A silver-grey patina may form on the Teak wood over the years. To maintain that beautiful warm golden hue, it is advisable to use specific oils periodically.

The maintenance of outdoor Teak wood furniture is an activity that should be carried out no more than a couple of times during the course of a year. Usually at the beginning and end of the summer-spring season. Simply wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust and dirt. When the wood is well dried, a specific Teak wood oil should be applied to keep the wood elastic and preserve its natural colour.

At Arredare Moderno you can find a vast assortment of Teak wood outdoor furniture! Many proposals to furnish an outdoor environment with taste, elegance and functionality.