Teak has been cultivated in tropical regions for hundreds of years, since the establishment of teak plantations in the 18th and 19th centuries. When teak trees are cut, their sap helps to preserve the wood, making it both durable and restorable.

Durable – Teak is resistant to climate extremes, insects and fungus. It is not harmed by acids or alkali solutions. Plus, Teak’s inherent silica content and natural oils allow it to weather without the need of preservatives or sealants.

Restorable – Even after being left untreated for years, Teak can be restored to its original golden-brown color. Many prefer to let it weather to an attractive silver-gray. Teak that has been coated with finishes and oils can retain its original condition with regular applications.

Typical applications for Teak include shipbuilding, joinery, furniture, flooring, decking, carving, cabinetwork, paneling, turnery, tanks and vats and applications requiring high resistance to acids.

OTHER NAMES:
Genuine Teak, True Teak, Asian Teak, Java Teak, Tek, Teck, Jati ORIGIN: Native to India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina, including Indonesia, particularly Java 

APPEARANCE:
 Heartwood dark golden yellow, turning a dark brown with exposure, often very variable in color when freshly machined showing blotches and streaks of various shades; sapwood pale yellowish, sharply demarcated. Grain straight, sometimes wavy; texture coarse, uneven (ring porous); dull with an oily feel; scented when freshly cut. Dust may cause skin irritations. Silica content variable, up to 1.4% is reported 

DENSITY: 
Janka scale hardness is 1,155 for dry material WEIGHT: 42 lbs. / cu. ft., or approximately 3.5 lbs. per board foot DRYING: Dries slowly but with little or no degrade, large variations in drying rates reported 

WORKABILITY: 
Easily worked with both hand and machine tools and dresses to a very smooth finish if tools are kept sharp; glues moderately well despite its oily nature. Blunting of cutters can be rather severe. As noted, may cause dermatitis some individuals 

DURABILITY: 
Heartwood is rated as very durable with respect to decay fungi and termites; not immune to marine borers PRESERVATION: Heartwood extremely resistant to preservative treatments, sapwood also of low permeability 

FINISHING: 
Finishes well, Teak oil is a standard finish