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About the Teak
Vimanmek Mansion Bangkok, Thailand. The largest golden teak building
in the world.
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Flower, fruit & leaves of Tectona grandis in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Teak (Tectona, Hindi:), is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the family
Verbenaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia, and is commonly
found as a component of monsoon forest vegetation. They are large trees,
growing to 30-40 m tall, deciduous in the dry season.
The name teak comes from the Malayalam word Thekku. There are three
species of Tectona:
- Tectona grandis (Common Teak) is by far the most important, with
a wide distribution in India and Indo-China.
- Tectona hamiltoniana (Dahat Teak) is a local endemic species
confined to Burma, where it is endangered.
- Tectona philippinensis (Philippine Teak) is endemic to the
Philippines, and is also endangered.
Cultivation and uses
The timber is used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture, boat decks,
and other articles where weather resistance is desired. It is also used for
indoor flooring and as a veneer for indoor furnishings.
Teak is easily worked and has natural oils that make it suitable for use
in exposed locations, where it is durable even when not treated with oil
or varnish. Teak cut from old trees grown slowly in natural forests is
more durable and harder; teak from young trees grown in plantations is
more prone to splitting and water damage, however kiln drying allows for
sustainable, plantation-grown teak to perform nearly on par with oldgrowth
teak.
Teak is used extensively in India to make doors and window frames,
furniture and columns and beams in old type houses. It is very resistant
to termite attacks. Mature teak fetches a very good price. It is grown
extensively by forest departments of different states in forest areas.
Teak consumption encompasses a different set of environmental
concerns, such as the disappearance of rare old-growth teak. However,
its popularity has led to growth in sustainable production throughout the
seasonally dry tropics in forestry plantations. The Forest Stewardship
Council offers certification of sustainably grown and harvested teak
products. Experiments are ongoing to achieve vegetative propagation
from one year old stem cuttings.
Popular in the 1950s and 1960s in a style often known as Danish modern,
teak furniture has had a second boom in popularity. Teak is one of the
most sought-after types of vintage furniture.
Leaves of teak wood tree are used in making Pellakai gatti (Jackfruit
dumpling) ,where batter is poured in a teak leaf and is steamed.This type
of usage is found in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in
state of Karnataka in India. Teak is used as a food plant by the larvae of
moths of the genus Endoclita including E. aroura, E. chalybeatus, E.
damor, E. gmelina, E. malabaricus, E. sericeus and E. signifer and other
Lepidoptera including Turnip Moth.
Hyblaea puera, an insect native to southeast Asia, is a teak pest whose
caterpillar feeds on teak and other species of trees common in the region..
Much of the world's teak is exported by Indonesia and Myanmar.
Gallery of Tectona grandis (Common Teak)
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Tree in new leaves in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
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Tree in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
Leaves in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
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Fruit in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
_I_IMG_3427.jpg)
Falling leaves in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
Branches & falling leaves in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
_I_IMG_6079.jpg)
Bark in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
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Teak furniture
Teak is used to make outdoor furniture, boats, and other things
which require resistance to the elements. Teak is used for outdoor
furniture because of its natural durability in extreme weather
conditions and because of its relative rarity. Being more expensive
than most other woods, teak furniture has become something of a status
symbol. Not only is it common for a teak bench, chair, or table to last 70
years standing out in the elements, it is also common to pass down such
furniture to future generations as an heirloom.
Kinds of teak furniture
Tables and dining sets
In places and seasons where eating outdoors is common and pleasant, it
is common to find wooden dining tables and chairs in gardens,
backyards, deck areas, patios, pool yards and sun rooms. Teak is an
excellent material for this application, because it will not be broken down
in the sun like plastics, it is less prone to the elements like other woods,
it is lighter and cooler than iron, and will not easily bend or break like
tubular metals.
Benches
Benches are perhaps the most common use of teak other than marine
applications. Found in parks and shopping districts, benches need to be
weather resistant, which is why teak is a popular material for benches.
Sun Loungers
Teak is popular for chaise loungers and other recumbent seating because
it is more durable and better crafted than most plastic loungers and will
not get hot in the sun like metal loungers. Since these chairs are heavy,
they often have 2 or more wheels for easy transport from place to place.
Adirondacks
Adirondack chairs (also known as Muskoka chairs) are comfortable with
their high backs, their contoured seats and their wide arm-rests. The
arm-rests provide ample room for food and beverages for comfortable
meals while reclining with no table required, making them popular with
outdoor cafés and bistros as they offer seating and a small place for food
without the need for a table.
Umbrellas
Teak is a popular and traditional wood for the frames of large umbrellas
like shade umbrellas and market umbrellas. While teak provides the
durability, weather resistance and lightness needed for such an
application, metals like aluminum are definitely more popular and
generally a cheaper choice.
Deep Seating
Known for large cushions and similarity to living room furniture, deep
seating patio furniture is becoming more and more popular in places
with warmer climates. With landscaping and outdoor décor being such a
popular trend, furniture to sit in and enjoy the space has followed suit.
Caring for teak
Staining and preserving
Teak does not need to be protected. It is a unique wood that if left in its
natural state, is virtually maintenance-free. Teak can be left outside year
round, surviving even the most extreme weather conditions. Therefore,
teak is often considered the gold standard for outdoor furniture.
Over time untreated Teak furniture which is exposed to the sun will
patina and turn a silvery, grey color. This process is cosmetic and does
not harm the strength or quality of the wood.
Teak sealer is often recommended to preserve the natural honey color or
to darken the color of the wood. Teak sealer contains UV protection to
keep the sun from graying the furniture as well as a fungicide to prevent
the growth of mould and mildew on the surface of your furniture.
Teak sealers can be applied to new teak or old teak furniture after it has
been cleaned. Sealer is not the same as varnish. It is meant to preserve
the color of the wood and is breathable, letting the natural oils escape
without bubbling or peeling like varnish.
Sealers and preservatives serve both as protectants and stains. Generally,
the darker the stain, the more sun protection it provides, and the less
often it needs to be reapplied. For furniture with an ageing varnish that
is peeling, cracking or bubbling, it is recommended that you sand this
finish off and use a teak sealer or just let the teak stay bare.
Applying the preservative is straightforward. On the first application, the
wood should be allowed to stand in the sun for a week or two to allow the
wood grain to open. A coat of teak sealer should be sprayed on and
rubbed in with a rag.
Two coats should be aplied in this manner, to all surfaces, top, bottom,
sides and between any slats. The area underneath the furniture should
be protected with a drop cloth or newsprint as most sealers will stain
concrete.
After the first application, teak sealer should be reapplied every year by
cleaning the wood with mild detergent and water and spraying and
rubbing in a coat only on the surfaces that get sun.
After the furniture is sealed, very little care is needed to preserve the
finish. Occasional washing with soap and water will remove normal soil.
Oils from foods, wine, coffee and some condiments will penetrate the
sealer and may leave a stain. To avoid this, a teak clear coat can be
applied to the table top to improve stain resistance.
Teak is protected by its own natural oils that migrate to the surface of
the wood and make the wood virtually impervious to water. As such, the
use of varnish, water sealers, and oil on Teak furniture is not
recommended.
Products such as varnish and polyurethane will peel and chip and are
difficult to remove without vigorous sanding. Oiling teak will not prevent
the wood from graying,and often results in mold and mildew growing on
the furniture (which usually shows up as black dots or patches.)
Removing mould and mildew on the surface will require washing the
furniture with bleach and soap followed by sanding.
Restoration
To clean weathered teak, a two part cleaner consisting of a step involving
a base such as caustic soda and a step involving an acid, such as
phosphoric acid.
This product is easy to use and will produce dramatic results. First
remove the piece from any finished surface or remove any items that
might be affected by the cleaning process.
Teak cleaner will not hurt the lawn or fiberglass but it may damage
painted surfaces or stain a patio, always wear rubber gloves and goggles
when using this type of cleaner. Using a hose, wet the wood thoroughly.
Open the applicator lid of the first cleaner.
It is best to work on a small area at a time, overlapping each area and
working from top to bottom, not allowing the cleaner to dry on the wood.
Scrub the base with a Scotch Brite pad or a soft bristle brush, the wood
will turn a deep brown color.
Rinse thoroughly, then apply the acid to the same area and scrub in the
same fashion, the wood will then turn much lighter. Finally rinse the
area thoroughly with water, the teak should appear obviously lighter and
cleaner, if any stains remain repeat the process. The wood will lighten
further as it dries.
Teak cleaner will remove teak oils, food stains, the residue of varnish,
and teak sealer. Any solid surface coating like varnish must be removed
before using two-part cleaner.
Never use a brass brush or a pressure washer to clean teak, these
methods will scour the soft grain of the wood causing a rough and
splintery surface.
Never use steel wool to clean teak because it will produce rust spots in
the wood. Brass wool is acceptable but a Scotch Brite Pad is the best tool
to clean teak.
Once the gray pigmentation and stains are gone and the furniture piece
is dry, sanding any roughness of the grain can make the furniture seem
just like new again.
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