Teak

Tess Parisi

General Information

Teak is a strong, reliable, and adaptable wood that is highly coveted by people across the world. It has a light natural color and can be stained to be any shade. The most common stain leaves the wood dark and smooth. Teak's straight grain is thin and sturdy, making it one of the stronger woods. It is not harmful to the environment because it is relatively fast growing. While native to southern Asia, it is widely grown on plantations throughout tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.

These tropical climates give Teak it’s moist and slightly drippy nature. Without a finish, there is a possibility that the inner sap can puddle at the top and bring moisture into the air. The height of Teak trees are around 100-130 ft tall and they have a diameter of around 3-5 feet. The grain is mostly straight but sometimes wavy, and it has a moderate to low natural luster.

Teak is mainly used for floor or wall boards, usually inside boats, but can also be used as an accent on ceilings and walls.

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Environmental Impact

Teak is one of the most environmentally friendly woods through its quick growth period and its ease with manufacturing. It is relatively easy to cut which makes the production process less extensive. Teak is also pest, rot, and fungi resistant. Even though Teak is beneficial to the environment and the wood market, it does have to be shipped overseas sometimes which is usually not good for the suppliers or the possibility of forced labor.

Teak is a hardwood and it can be used in either in inland or marine environments. It is resilient, easy to manage, and is not easily damageable which increases it's life span.

It does not have an impact on indoor air quality through it not emitting any fumes. It does, though, become impacted by the sun over time. It discolors and turns from a warm color to one that is more grey and ashy.

Use in Interior Setting

1. A place that teak is rarely but beautifully used is on furniture. It is easy to carve so it can have many details, like the houses made by ZAD interiors. The couch, coffee table, and side chairs are a cohesive collection of teak with dark finishes. This creates an elegant and welcoming feel.

2. As shown in the image on the left, teak is commonly used as boat interiors because of its desirable qualities and how it can positively act around moisture.

3. The image below shows how teak can be thinly cut and placed to make art and design mesh into a beautiful and functional aspect of a home.

4. Teak can be used for many items like floorboards and veneers, but it can also be beautiful furniture like a dresser. Teak can be cut to thin or thick strips to make furniture have different styles. This dresser shows thinly cut teak being placed together to create a unique meld of colors.

5. Teak is also common in outdoor furniture, because of its stability in different types of weather. This set shows how teak is used in a large set of chairs, a couch, and a dining table and how it can stand the test of time outdoors.

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Patio/Porch

Teak does not need any top coating yet without it, the natural color will turn ashy grey. This can be utilized through a teak outdoor patio or indoor porch. Here, the natural sense of the wood can still be shown without being completely harmed by the rays of the sun. On the exterior portion of the porch a lacquer should be applied for durability while the patio flooring would most likely not need anything. There can also be different coats applied such as teak tongue oil, linseed oil, or a urethane coating.

Organizations:

- The International Tropical Timber Organization

ASTM Standards:

- D5751-99 Standard Specification for Adhesives Used for Laminate Joints in Nonstructural Products

- STP649 Walkway Surfaces: Measurement of Slip Resistance

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