
History of Teak
Ancient civilizations in
India and Malaysia have long known about the benefits and usefulness of
teak wood. Because of its durability, its resistance to rot, and its
flexibility (making it relatively easy to work with), teak has long been a
popular timber tree and a valuable natural resource.
The strength of teak wood has made it a favorite of shipbuilders since the
middle ages. Teak is superior to all other woods for shipbuilding and has
been used, in some capacity, for that purpose since the advent of
shipbuilding. Teak’s ability to withstand rust, when combined with metal,
as well as its resistance to rot make it invaluable to shipbuilders. Teak
maintains its strength and durability for so long, in fact, that often the
teak flooring from old ships was recycled into park benches for European
cities. Today, there are some teak benches in English towns that are over
100 years old!
In the late 1800s, teak began to be used seriously for outdoor furniture.
Heavily admired in its native India, teak soon traveled to Victorian
England. Teak benches and chairs became the perfect compliment to an
English garden.
Today, teak continues to be the most oft-used wood for shipbuilding. It is
also used for indoor wood flooring and other general construction. And, of
course, teak is used to create durable and beautiful outdoor patio
furniture. Its high oil content makes it ideal for outdoor furniture. Teak
furniture has been prized as the patio furniture in ski resorts in
Colorado and Utah, and it continues to be the favored wood for all
construction projects requiring unbeatable durability and rustic elegance.
Teak
Furniture
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