New materials used for decoration, furniture manufacturing, in many ways are not inferior to natural, but they can not completely replace them. And this is due not only to the human desire to live in a natural environment, but also to the fact that artificially created components do not cope with all tasks. For example, teak is most suitable for the construction of yachts, the manufacture of furniture for the garden and home, the production of terrace boards. A tree of valuable species is not accidentally in demand all over the world - durability and beauty have made it popular.
Habitat
Tectona grandis, or teak (tree), also has the following names: Rangoon or Burmese tonic, Mulmein, Indian teak. Distribution area: India, South and Southeast Asia in the region of Burma, Thailand, the Malaysian Peninsula. Due to the great popularity of teakwood products, it was actively grown on plantations. The differences between wild and plantation teak are in the internal coloring of the wood, and no fundamental differences were found in the basic operational qualities.
In nature, a tree reaches a height of 40 meters, a trunk diameter of up to 60 centimeters, but in rare instances there are specimens with a diameter of 1.5 meters. Teak plantations, in addition to traditional places of growth, are located in Panama, Africa and Costa Rica.
Specifications
Teak wood is very resistant. Under favorable conditions, it can be preserved for centuries - some figurines found in Indian cave temples were carved more than two thousand years ago and still retain their integrity and beauty. The natural wood of this breed is rich in shades, and by dissolving the log, you can enjoy the beauty of the palette from warm yellow to dark brown. Shades of gray, lemon, and ocher are also frequent.
Teak is a tree species with valuable qualities. The presence of a large amount of oil and the rubber content (up to 5%) in the wood structure causes smoothness, velvety, matte gloss. The same substances give wood water-repellent properties, resistance to chemical damage, fungi, various types of insects. Also, oils and other components of the material give the wood species a pronounced smell of old leather.
The texture of the tree (teak) in most cases is straight-fibrous, but sometimes the waviness of the fibers is traced. In terms of its physical and mechanical qualities, this species of wood is inferior to oak and larch, but is close to the birch. Some experts say that teak is successfully replaced by ash, provided that it is properly processed.
Qualities
Like every tree, teak has annual rings, but unlike other wood, in the mass of this species, when cut, they give a unique play of color, which is a hallmark of the material. Under the influence of the environment, the stains disappear, the color becomes uniform, darkened.
Teak wood has its advantages:
- Abrasion resistance.
- Resistance to atmospheric phenomena (without damage transfers moisture and dryness).
- Resistance to fungus, pests, rotting.
- It is easily processed manually and machine.
Disadvantages:
- High cost.
- It is necessary to carry out oil treatment annually or open with water-based varnishes.
- It's getting dark.
The stability of the wood and the long service life minimize the disadvantages, since furniture or decoration made of this material allows you not to spend money on repair or replacement.
Treatment
Tick (tree) is processed manually using a standard set of tools. Specialists recommend sharpening them further, since the mass of the material contains many essential oils. Teak wood material is less susceptible to water and fiber swelling, but decking or flooring in rooms with high humidity should be made taking into account this possibility. Staying in the aquatic environment for a long time can damage the fibers with fungus and rotting: to a greater extent, this process concerns the end parts of the treated board.
Wood impregnation (teak) is contained directly in the wood structure, but additional efforts are needed. Actively used in the manufacture of yachts, teak wood, according to experts, is annually scraped and treated with the same oil or a mixture of linseed and tung oils with the addition of beeswax. Furniture manufacturers coat the finished product with water-based oils or varnishes, which well impregnate the wood structure in bulk. Furniture left in the street without treatment will acquire a characteristic silver coating by the beginning of next season, which is difficult to get rid of, but the wood will not be affected.
Construction material
Teak is an expensive material, and the construction of houses from it is not carried out even in places of distribution. Since the 15th century, shipbuilders began to use its best properties. Vessels made of this wood species were distinguished by their longevity; they did not require frequent repair and replacement of individual parts. Today, these qualities are used in the construction of luxury yachts, but the material goes to the inner lining of the cabins, decking, and for the individual elements of the sails, handrails are made and so on.
Finishing material
As a finish, teak (wood) is used very widely in various fields. The beauty and durability of parquet from this precious breed allows you to admire it for several generations. Wall paneling is suitable for rooms of classical design, especially for those who do not want to make frequent repairs and radically change the situation. For connoisseurs of natural materials, a lightweight version of the veneer finish is available.
Veneers are veneered, an array of wood of more common species, which reduces the cost of the final product, but allows you to use products with a set of qualities of a wood array, such a plant as teak. The color of the wood in the veneer, when properly processed and further used, changes in the same way as the board made of solid wood, that is, it darkens.
The special qualities of wood are in demand when decorating indoor floors and outdoor terraces. To date, modular panels are made that significantly simplify the laying of the material, since the board or parquet dies are mounted in the module taking into account the peculiarities of the structure and behavior of wood. For interior work, teak flooring is rarely used due to the high cost, but it is it that allows repair work to be carried out extremely rarely, preserving all its qualities in the long run. The cost of terraced flooring is reduced by using more affordable wood, for which teak wood is impregnated. Often, such an impregnation is made from teak oil, which strengthens the fibers and weather resistance.
Teak Furniture
Teak furniture is popular at all times. It is not difficult to meet a chair, couch or table from this breed in flea markets. Most often, all pieces of furniture are in good condition and the maximum that they need during restoration is the replacement of metal parts, grinding and coating with a protective agent. Today, outdoor furniture models are most in demand on the Russian market: they are purchased for summer houses, their own houses, open balconies and loggias. In most cases, these are folding structures that can be cleaned indoors in cold weather.
Fasteners are a weak point for teak folding furniture, and wooden is the best option. Swelling along with the rest of the structure, they hold tight in the grooves, while the metal parts become loose, corrode and fall out.
Care Features
The condition for preserving teak products is prevention. Every year, before the start of the active season, outdoor furniture must be cleaned of dirt and dust. Sometimes it needs to be additionally sanded and coated with oil or other protective compound. The ingrained dirt is very difficult to clean from the pores of the tree, so many remove the top layer of wood with subsequent processing, but this only applies to items that have been used outdoors. Floors, panels, furniture used in enclosed spaces do not require any special tricks: they are periodically, once every few years, covered with a protective compound.
Teak wood products and finishes are very reliable and beautiful, they give an individual style to any room in the house and the space outside the window.