Is Teak Wood Outdoor Furniture Right For Me ?

Executive Summary about Wood Outdoor Furniture by Michael Ochoa

wood outdoor patio furniture

If you are contemplating your first purchase of Teak Furniture and you are wondering if you are making the right decision? It is no surprise, or it should not be, that Teak Wood has been the favored wood for generations.

The wood used to build these early Chinese ships was Teak. It is also said that the ancient Chinese shipbuilders would bury the wood logs in moist soil for years prior to building their ships.

Later in years, British naval ships were made from Oak, also a very hard and durable wood. The British encountered two problems with oak: Wood Worms and a lack of Oak trees. Woodworms were destroying the ships in the British Naval Fleet. It could take 850 oak logs to repair one ship. It took a little over 2000 oak logs just to build one ship.

The British had learned how impervious these ships were to all of the elements at sea: Saltwater, ocean wind, and the blistering sun. Britain was very interested to grow and produce this wood. The British quickly realized they did not need to grow Teak Wood as they could annex those countries where the Teak wood was grown and have a plentiful supply.

Myanmar (formerly Burma), which is just south of India, and Yangoon became the first places where Teak was being harvested for British ships. All of the British merchant ships built in Calcutta were built with Myanmar Teak logs which were said to be the best. Once the wood was depleted from India, logs were harvested from Thailand and Burma.

Teak forests were quickly being depleted. Teak was now the preferred wood used for building ships, Yachts, Ocean liners and furniture. Under ocean conditions, the wood had very little shrinkage or warpage. The wood was also impervious to wood rot and insects, like the mighty woodworm. The famous Ocean liner “Queen Mary” used no less than 1000 tons of teak when built.

A set of very strict laws were enacted regarding who can cut Teak Wood and who can purchase it. Teak was also being used by the locals for huts, fence posts, and furniture. India is the third largest importer of Teak today, behind China and Japan. As much as 80% of India’s timber consumption is Teak.

The wood is used in India today for local consumption; building homes, furniture, fencing, etc. Teak Wood contains natural oil and Silica (sand) which makes it impervious to insects, and wood rot. When many of the English ships of WWII were taken apart for salvage, the Teak Wood decks were re-manufactured into outdoor furniture like park benches.

Most of the Teak grown today is grown on Plantations that are governed by the local governments. The demand for Teak is growing at an estimated 10% per year. Teak is not very easy to get. Currently, Java, Indonesia is the largest exporter of Teak. Teak grows very rapidly but still takes approx. 50 years to mature.

Many people for generations have been enjoying the warm benefits of owning Teak Wood products. Outdoor Teak Wood furniture is a Standard for many families and in many gardens, terraces, patios, verandas, ships, and yachts around the world.

Check out my other guide on: Value City Furniture and Log Furniture