Knowing Your Teak Furniture
Teak furniture is becoming more and more popular nowadays. The material used is versatile and the kinds of furniture made from it can be used both in and outdoors.
Tectona is the scientific name for teak and can be found mostly in southeastern ad southern regions of Asia. This kind of tropical hardwood can grow as tall as 30 to 40 meters in height.
There are three species known for the Tectona which are the Tectona Grandis or the Common Teak which is commonly found in India and Indo-China which is said to be among the most important; the Tectona Hamiltoniana or the Dahat Teak which is endangered and found in Burma; and finally the Tectona Philippinensis or the Philippine Teak which is found in the Philippines though is also endangered.
The bark or the actual timber of the tree is not the only thing useful; its leaves are used in Indian cuisine to make Pellakai Gatti.
To be able to create durable teak furniture, it is said to best have an aged forest teak cut and create furniture from it as the older the teak, the stronger the product. Should one use younger trees to cut from, they will risk ending up with products which are prone to water damage and softer wood. Although, there are teak farms which grow and cut teak as early as 1 year of age; though it may be an early time to harvest, those who farm it can still have wood which have similar qualities to those of forest grown teak by means of kiln drying. Teaks are hardwood and can be relied upon when it comes to durability and sustainability especially when turned in to furniture.
The timber of the Teak is naturally featured with oils which enable it to be ideal for teak furniture as the natural oil will give it protection from the elements even without the treatment of varnish and synthetic oils.
There are different kinds of teak furniture produced for human consumption; it is a versatile material and can be used for items as simple as boxes or chests to something more complex such as beach loungers, beds, seats, picnic tables and chairs, double seat swings, gazebos, etc.
Apart from furniture, teak is also used for indoor furnishings and finishes as well as floorings. Teak makes ideal veneers as this is a hardwood and is known for its heavy-duty characteristic which makes it a great investment choice.