A durable, coarse textured, straight-grained hardwood, Teak is ideal for use in the manufacture of furniture. From Teak dining tables to Teak patio furniture right through to its use a construction material for boats, Teak is the wood of choice. This is due to its ability to withstand the effects of weathering. Over time it releases natural oils, teak furniture which protect it from wood rotting fungi.
Wood rot occurs when woods other than teak are exposed to moisture directly, or in the air outside. Once the moisture content has reached 20%, the timber is prime breeding ground for wood decay fungi.
Other woods popular in furniture making, Oak and Pine for example, will perish if left untreated and exposed to the elements. There are treatments of course, varnishes and paint but these can be time consuming and expensive and can detract from the look of the piece. With Teak, no such treatments are necessary - it effectively, treats itself.
Pine is a fast growing, wide grained, softwood. It is very weak by comparison and due to its wide grain, prone to splitting. It dents and scratches easily so is not good for a centerpiece dining table.
Oak is a close grained hardwood by contrast. It is more durable than pine but since it has open capillaries it is still prone to rot once the treatment has worn away. The nature of oak lends itself to ageing wine deliciously, when the wine is stored in barrels, but it is not as good for furniture built to survive the generations, as teak can be.
Mahogany is a beautiful red coloured wood. It has some similar properties to teak, in that it is very durable and resists wood rot. However, it is currently an endangered species. Its popularity has lead to illegal trading and mismanagement. The trees take a very long time to grow, so this is a problem that will take a while to solve. Currently it is not recommended to make new mahogany furniture.
At Puji we use reclaimed teak from Indonesia to manufacture our furniture. We do this for several reasons. Not only is it more eco-friendly, and its appearance charmingly rustic; since it has already been weathered, it is less likely to shrink, move or crack, making it much more durable in the UK climate.
In Indonesia, teak is widely used for furniture and in buildings because of its durability and resistance to termite attack. The finest teak in the world grows in Indonesia, and so we work closely with recognized Indonesian timber brokers who buy timber reclaimed from old Colonial buildings. We re-use the timber from the old buildings to create beautiful furniture that will survive the ages.
Teak was mainly used for the Danish Modern style of the 1940s, 50s and 60s, and furniture of this style is now highly sought after as vintage pieces. These pieces have survived particularly well, and that is down to the durable nature of teak. They are proof that teak furniture is a good investment for the future, and pieces can be handed down the generations.
Even if by extreme usage the teak furniture does become slightly damaged, it will survive much better than other furniture pieces that have finishes. Normal furniture finishes become chipped over time and this exposes the timber underneath. Teak does not need a finish, so any surface damage that does occur will neither affect the appearance nor the function of the timber.
Teak is an excellent choice for bathroom furniture. When you have a shower or bath, the steam released into the air raises the moisture content of the air drastically. This will affect all the untreated timber in the room, except for teak.
Other rooms that teak is particularly suitable for are the bedroom and the entrance hall. Teak beds are very strong and supportive. They are great for supporting the heavier person, and also the more active bed users.
The entrance hall is one of the places where furniture is most likely to get knocked in the house. The frustrating keys search when you leave the house, and the dumping of heavy bags when you enter, will wear normal furniture down. Don't even think about pine furniture in the hallway. It will last about five minutes, especially if you have children in the house. However, a lovely teak console table will endure any bashes school bags or sports kits may give it.
The appearance of teak is reassuringly solid and durable. It can be stained to a range of tones, or left to its natural yellowish brown colour. With a selection of our Puji products, we offer you the option of whether you'd like it stained to a tone of your choosing or left in its natural state. For a timber that can resist the threat of moisture damage, only teak can give you the choice of whether you would prefer it untreated or not. Choose our reclaimed teak for durability, tough strength, a natural rustic appearance, and a clear environmental moral conscience.