You are contemplating your first purchase of Teak Furniture and you are wondering if you making the right decision? Well, you are and in this quick article, I will explain why I believe that.

If you already use Teak Wood in some of your favorite outdoor furniture, then this article will just be fun information for you to know and share with your friends when they ask you, “why did you buy Teak Wood” versus ?????.

It is no surprise, or it should not be, that Teak Wood has been the favored wood for generations. The secrets of this wood are out and they have been for a long, long time.

First, a little history lesson: (You will love this part)

It is not a well known fact, but is has been written that the Chinese have been renowned sailors for generations. Many of their ships were built and designed to not only sail in the oceans, but also to move up river. Much of the trade then, was done several thousand miles up river and not out in the ocean. These ships needed to be versatile, durable, and tough.

The wood used to build these early Chinese ships was Teak. It is also said that the Chinese shipbuilders would bury the wood logs in moist soil for years prior to building their ships. This made the wood much stronger and impervious to anything that could be encountered on the high seas, including enemies. Why was this important? It was important because approx. 600 years ago the Chinese were set out on a task by the Chinese Ming dynasty to sail to the edge of the world. Apparently they circumnavigated the world several times. But this is going off to another subject. Let’s get back to the subject at hand (I’ll bet you didn’t know that you would actually be learning something too?).

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. Woodworms were the scourge of wooden ships throughout history. 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 needed ships as they continued for some time to have maritime issues with the French, and to be able to go on to conquer and take control of British colonies. The British naval fleet was their primary means to accomplish this.

The Oak supply in Europe was being quickly depleted. They knew about the Teak wood used on the Chinese ships and how rugged they were after having run into them, literally in the shipping lanes. The British had learned how impervious these ships were to all of the elements at sea: Saltwater, ocean wind, and the blistering sun. It was also learned then that Teak was found to not to splinter when hit by gunfire or artillery fire. This was a very important issue as splintering wood was the chief cause of casualties among naval warfare in the eighteenth century.

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. India, Thailand and Burma were quickly annexed into the British Empire. It is not to say this is why the British took over these areas, but it certainly helped to give reason. Myanmar (formerly Burma), which is just south of India, and Yangoon became the first places where Teak was being harvested for British ships. Calcutta was set up as another British shipbuilding site. 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. This meant little maintenance. 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. The British quickly realized the depletion that was taking place and developed a re-forestation plan. They appointed a leader to head this new bureau and began replanting Teak trees on what are now called Teak “plantations”. A set of very strict laws were enacted regarding who can cut Teak Wood and who can purchase it. Once these laws were set in place, one needed to have permission from the British Government to be able to cut a Teak Tree down and or export 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. It is the one wood that can withstand the monsoons, the blistering heat and the humidity. It is the wood that all other timber species are compared to.

Teak Wood contains natural oil and Silica (sand) which makes it impervious to insects, and wood rot. These substances also help it to maintain it luster for many, many years, but make it a little more difficult for the manufactures as their blades tend to dull sooner.

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. Even today they can be seen in many parts of Europe still functioning.

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 a heavily regulated (and rightfully so) commodity, and is sold through the auction process. Teak is not very easy to get. There are regulatory permits that must be purchased and other expenses that go along with regulation. For example, once purchased, it is usually the purchasing companies’ responsibility to provide transportation if the wood is to be exported and certain countries have regulations on how many logs can be exported. Currently, Java, Indonesia is the largest exporter of Teak. There are several companies that are located in Java that will process and fashion the Teak into furniture, or planks for flooring or siding, and then export the finished item or semi finished item to countries around the world.

Teak grows very rapidly but still takes approx. 50 years to mature. Many countries are reviewing the possible rotation after 30 or 40 years. This is mainly due to the large demand for Teak. The consensus with this rotation is that the wood will not be inferior at that rate. There are some countries that are trying tree rotation after only 25 years. The results are timber that is smaller in diameter, color, and grain.

So, when add it all up, you get a much better understanding not only of what the hype about Teak Wood is all about, but the numerous qualities of Teak Wood and the supply and demand side of Teak Wood.

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. If you are investing in outdoor furniture, you really owe it to yourself to step into the world of Teak.

Do you know just how durable teak wood chair or a teak wood table really is and what makes it that way? Have
you ever thought about where this teak wood is harvested from and how long it has to grow before it can be harvested?

Well, if you have pondered some of these questions you are in luck because you will find some answers here.  If you haven’t pondered these questions, or questions like it, then this will just be a fun learning experience for you.  And hey, this article will make an excellent conversation starter at your next family get together or your next party.  You will be the hit of the gathering!

In researching this article, I could only go back in time about 600 years.  That was the time frame when the Chinese Ming Dynasty had a pretty powerful fleet of ships called “junk” ships.  These ships were built out of teak wood.  These were huge, powerful sailing ships that could carry thousands of men and cargo for extended periods of time.  The
Teak wood used was said to have been buried for several years before
the Chinese deemed it usable to build into one of these ships.  The Chinese knew that teak wood could withstand the sun while out on the ocean.  They also knew that teak wood would not shrink when exposed to the wind, the heat, the rain or the salty ocean water itself.  These are some of the main reasons why boat and shipbuilders today still prefer to use teak wood when building ocean vessels.  Because teak wood experiences such little shrinkage, it makes an excellent choice for the ships doors and cabinets.

Teak wood contains a very large percentage of silica (sand) and natural oils.  It is also a very dense wood.  Because of these characteristics, teak wood is the preferred wood for decking either on ships or at the home.  Believe it or not, the silica content in teak wood actually helps to attain sure footing when used in the flooring of a ship.  The oil content assures its durability.  To maintain it, it just needs to be cleaned off periodically.  The benefits do not end there.  Because
of the oil content, the silica, and the density of the wood, teak wood
does not react with any metals that may come in contact with it. These
are the same characteristics that have caused people around the world,
and companies that operate resorts and retreats to invest in outdoor
patio furniture made of teak wood.

Back to the article at hand.  The Ming
dynasty needed to tough ships for several reasons, one very important
being that it wanted the word of Zen spread to all lands to the edge of
the earth.  It is being reported that indeed, the Chinese did just that.  It was 600 years ago that the Chinese circumnavigated the earth, and they did so in ships made of Teak wood.

 

Teak wood takes approximately 50 to 60 years to grow to maturity.  One reason for the cost is just that.  It is a commodity that is heavy demand, but with a limited, recurring supply.

In early history, 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:  India, Thailand and Burma.  I am not saying this is why the British took over Asia and India, but it certainly helped to give reason.  Myanmar
(formerly Burma), which is just south of India, and Yangoon became the
first places where teak was being harvested for British ships.  Calcutta was set up as another British shipbuilding site.  All
of the British merchant ships built in Calcutta were built with Myanmar
teak logs which were said to be the best at that time.  Once the wood was depleted from India, teak logs were harvested from Thailand and Burma.  The
British needed many ships to be able to go on to conquer and take
control of British colonies and the naval fleet was their primary means. 

Teak forests were quickly being depleted.  Teak was now the preferred wood used for building ships as we have previously explored.  The
wood was also impervious to wood rot and insects, like the mighty
woodworm, (side note: The famous Ocean liner “Queen Mary” used no less
than 1000 tons of teak when built).  The British quickly realized the depletion of teak wood that was taking place and developed a re-forestation plan.  They appointed a leader to head this new bureau and began replanting teak trees on what are now called teak “plantations”.  A set of very strict laws were enacted regarding who can cut teak wood and who can purchase it.  Once
these laws were set in place, one needed to have permission from the
British Government to be able to cut a teak tree down and or export it.  Teak was also being used by the locals for furniture,
posts for houses and paneling, (another side note: India is the third
largest importer of teak wood today, behind China and Japan.  As much as 80% of India’s timber consumption is teak).  Teak wood is used in India today for local consumption; building homes, furniture, outdoor furniture, fencing, etc.  It is the one wood that can withstand the monsoons, the blistering heat and the humidity.  It is the wood that all other timber species are compared to.

Due to the large demand for teak wood today, many countries that now
have government controlled plantations are reviewing the possible
rotation (cutting down the teak wood trees) after 30 or 40 years.  The consensus with this rotation is that the wood will not be inferior at that rate.  However, there are some countries that are trying tree rotation after only 25 years.  This would help their particular economy by turning out teak wood more frequently.  The result of this shorter rotation cycle is timber that is smaller in diameter, color, and grain. 

Because most teak wood today is grown on plantations, and the demand
is growing at an estimated 10% per year, teak is still heavily
regulated and is sold through the auction process.  It is not very easy to get.  There are still the regulatory permits that must be purchased and other expenses that go along with regulation.  For
example, once purchased, it is usually the purchasing companies’
responsibility to provide transportation if the teak wood is to be
exported, and certain countries have regulations on how many logs can
be exported.  Currently, Java, Indonesia is the largest exporter of teak.  There
are several companies located in Java that will process and fashion the
teak wood into furniture or planks for flooring or siding, and then
export the finished items to countries around the world.

For those who like to invest, there are several plantations that have been started and are taking on investors right now.  Many countries depend on teak wood exports for their financial stability.  One country for example that has two main exports:  Rice
and Teak, where rice was the number one money generator recently has
experienced a turnaround and teak became their number one export
deriving most of their money.  Upon learning
this, several other countries are developing strategies and seeking
locations where they can begin their own teak plantations.

Remember, because of the characteristics of teak wood, teak wood patio furniture will last about 75 years.  This needs to be taken into consideration when making your purchases.  When
regular maintenance is performed (which means to clean it periodically)
the true annual cost for your outdoor patio furniture really only comes
out to about 3.00 per year (based on a 00 investment).

So, when you add it all up, you get a much better understanding of
what the hype about Teak Wood is all about: the numerous qualities of
Teak Wood: the supply and demand side of Teak Wood: and last but not
least, the answer to the original question,”Why does Teak wood patio
furniture have to be expensive?”

When investing in your outdoor patio or garden, or decorating the
verranda, and even for indoor decorating, teak wood outdoor patio
furniture is simply the wisest choice you could make.

Wooden floor boards can be a great way to give the whole home or just a few rooms a bit of character and they can look extremely good too. You may have had floor boards in the rooms instead of carpets for a while, but over time they may have become a bit tattered or worn. Various things can contribute to the floor boards rotting or looking tattered such as spills, animal accidents or it could even have been from just general wear and tear. Whatever the reason, it can leave the person wanting to just cover it up because it can look very untidy.

If you are someone who is thinking about just getting carpet to cover it up, you should really think about this seriously. It is all so easy to just put a rug or carpet over it, but why not see if you can do something about the floor boards instead? With a bit of effort you could have the floor boards looking as good as new. If you are a dab hand with this kind of thing then it could only need either a bit of sanding or refinishing to have the floor boards looking great. Also the best bit about it is that it should only take a few days at the most and it could be a lot cheaper than getting in carpets or rugs.

Preparation is the Key

Why should you get rid of the character of the room just because it needs a bit of work? Once the floor boards are treated properly they could look as good as new. It will obviously need some preparation before you start, for instance, the room will need to be off limits and have no furniture or anything else in there whatsoever. You need to sand the floors whether it is done by hand or by using a drum sander in order to get the job done. Once the floors have been sanded, you will obviously need to get rid of all the saw dust and everything else that is on the floor boards.

The whole process of preparing the floors can be a bit time consuming so you will need an element of patience when doing this. However, once it is done you can then apply the wood stain to the nicely prepared floor boards. After you have stained the floor you will want to seal it, which adds an extra protective finish on top of it.

Treating the floor boards instead of covering them up is an extremely good option to try. You should not cover them up just because a bit of hard work is needed because with a bit of time and effort they can look just as good as new.

, Tai Chung Town mahogany furniture production after 20 years of development, from scratch, from small to large, from the hand to the modern production workshop, from the little-known town to become China’s wood furniture manufacturing professional town, Tai Chung town’s economy has a sustained, rapid and healthy development, and formed a mahogany furniture, denim garment industry as the two pillars of the regional economy with local characteristics. Following the March 2003 by the National Ministry of Culture awarded the “Chinese wood carving art village” After that, it made “Chinese rosewood furniture manufacturing expertise Town” honor.

Wu Ruicheng at the awarding ceremony that China Light Industry Federation is committed to raising the level of production of light industry, light industry, concerned about the development of local and timely guidance for the development of regional characteristics of the economy Zhongshan Daily has provided a powerful impetus and reliable guarantee. In recent years, following the Xiaolan obtained “China’s hardware industry base”, Guzhen Town, “China Lighting Capital”, Sha Town “casual wear production base in China”, the Tai Chung has been awarded the “China’s wood furniture manufacturing professional town “honors. There are torch area of electronic information, Dongfeng Town, hardware appliances, Huang Pu Town, food, air-conditioning and a number of characteristics of Nantou town economic township, is moving forward the development of increasingly optimistic about the outside world. Zhongshan Daily’s industrial growth in Guangdong Province ranked first for three consecutive years, proved to firmly implement the Zhongshan Daily industry set up city and Gongyejiangfu strategy, taking a new road to industrialization, and vigorously promote the brand strategy, and actively create advantages and investment environment, to form a high-tech industry as a leader, a superior product for the fist of the strategy is correct.

Also known as Ironwood, Brazilian Walnut or Lapacho, Ipe wood has a teak-like appearance, ranging from rich browns to light amber hues. It is remarkably hard and dense which makes for high dent resistance. Ipe wood can hold 3600 lbs compared to the 690 lbs of pressure treated pine and it is 368 % harder than teak. In simple terms, this means furniture made from Ipe is going to have considerable weight to it, be extremely durable and wear incredibly well. In a 22 year study, the US forest lab in Madison, Wisconsin found the life expectancy of Ipe wood to be greater than 30 years.

Commercial contractors have known about and preferred Ipe for years. It’s their top choice for decking material. Why would that be? Well, aside from the durability of this wood in high traffic areas, it also requires low to no maintenance. Regular stain treatments are completely unnecessary unlike other woods typically used in construction. In fact, Ipe is so naturally dense that it doesn’t take preservatives well. Also, even in an untreated state, Ipe wood is quite fire resistant. Ipe is naturally resistant to rot as well as insect and fungal infestations. Splintering, warping and shrinkage are rare problems even with untreated Ipe. Fasteners do not loosen, pull out or pop up. The factors that make Ipe a favorite in decking also make it a superior choice for wood furniture.

Aside from the physical characteristics as a product, choosing to use Ipe is a more environmentally friendly option. The Ipe tree is not an endangered species and it may grow up to 140 feet tall with a diameter of 6 feet. It is one of the tallest trees in the Amazon region and, therefore, results in more planks of wood compared other trees. Ipe trees also grow in numerous environments from marshes to ridge tops. The trees come from either sustainable forest management projects or agricultural conversion of forest land which is strictly regulated.

A significant increase in demand for wood furniture

According to overseas buyers online pre-registration data show that 84.8% of the buyers are mainly intent to purchase furniture for civilian use. Ever-increasing market share in recent years, children’s furniture, hotel furniture, this exhibition of overseas buyers have also shown interest in 36% of overseas buyers are interested in purchasing children’s furniture, 26% of overseas buyers that will purchase hotel furniture.

It is noteworthy that overseas buyers furniture, the choice of materials also reflects the status of market demand for furniture, fabrics interested buyers has reached 32%, 76.3% of the buyers intend to purchase solid wood furniture, 34.66% of the buyers are intention to purchase panel furniture, the two there is a clear demand for change in the demand for solid wood furniture, a significant increase over the previous session. What was surprising was about to attend the 21st session of the names of overseas buyers Furniture rattan, bamboo furniture, sharp increase in the purchase intention, intention buyers accounted for 26.74%. In addition, buyers interested in purchasing software, furniture, 49.5% procurement metallic glass furniture for 51.61%. These data changes that return to nature, advocating the recreational experience and other factors are becoming the mainstream of the international furniture trend.

Furnishings into a show is another bright spot

It is reported that overseas buyers purchasing home accessories will also greatly strengthened, and 36.4% of the buyers will come to purchase. Furniture Fair Organizing Committee were concerned people, furniture, home furnishings were moved to No. 2 Exhibition Hall separate from the host, the impact of improved rapidly over the past two home exhibition accessories exhibition area has reached 2 million square meters, a rich product categories , quality is leading the world into one big bright spot another Furniture, “This is not only facilitate the domestic and international buyers one-stop shopping, but also enable exhibitors to the nearest matching jewelry purchases, so more and more overseas to buy Furniture on the name of choice for the procurement of home accessories. ”

Showmanship well -

Furniture Fair Organizing Committee official said the name and face global financial crisis, the adverse situation, the organizing committee of the overseas buyers to pay more attention to the exhibition information service, to maintain close communication to the buyers from around the grasp of the information is also even more timely and detailed.

Last year in December and January of this year, the organizing committee has been to the United States and Germany on the exhibition publicity and directed to invite the two 200 buyers to visit the 21st session of the name of Furniture, commitment charge of these buyers, transport and accommodation, These measures have received significant results. Present exhibition for domestic and foreign buyers have pre-registered channels to the network channels and fax to the Organizing Committee under the guidance of a growing number of overseas buyers a network channel for pre-registration, registration active participation.

Small nicks and scratches can usually be disguised with the help of a store-bought scratch cover product. For larger scratches, try using a felt tip pen or shoe polish in a color closely matched to the finish of the furniture piece. Shoe polish applicator bottles filled with the stain work well for the cover-up job, as do Sharpie markers. Coloring in the scratch is easy and surprisingly effective.

Get rid of pesky water spots on your wood furniture by allowing the spots to dry completely, then rubbing real mayonnaise onto it with a soft cloth, until the spots disappear. Erase color rings left on tables by cups and glasses with a homemade mixture of cigarette ashes and cooking oil. Prep the stain first by scrubbing it with an abrasive pad or sandpaper. Then, rub the oil and ash concoction into the wood.

And what about candle wax, marring the beautiful finish of your wood dining room table? Wait until the wax cools, then apply ice. Once the wax becomes extremely hard and brittle, gently scrape it off with a plastic spatula. Finally, polish the table with a rich cream polish, and buff away any residue.

Prevent serious damage to your wood furniture by taking care not to position it in direct sunlight. Unless you are going for the weathered picnic table look, shield all wood furniture from the drying influence of the sun. Also, protect your dining room table’s finish using an inexpensive table pad when the table is not in use.

When eating a meal or entertaining guests, use a tablecloth or placemats to protect the finish of a wood table, especially when serving hot food. Place hot serving dishes atop a hot pad and candle holders over a large felt protector with a plastic top, since plastic prevents wax from running.

Use coasters beneath all glasses and mugs to protect your coffee table, dining room table and wood dressers from unsightly rings and water spots. Beware, because not all coasters are created equal. Metal coasters can sweat onto the wood, and plastic coasters can react with certain finishes on some wood furniture pieces. So consider choosing wooden coasters with felt backing and a waterproof material on top to further ensure the longevity of your wood table tops. The best coasters are those that taper up on the sides, preventing leakage.

Proper Care and Cleaning
Polishing wood furniture every week goes a long way toward protecting the finish from damage and helping your wood tables, chairs and dressers look their best. Beware, though, of cheap polishes, or any polish that contains silicone or alcohol. Alcohol can do permanent damage to a wood surface, as can any household cleaner that contains ammonia. An excellent polish can be easily made at home, by combining lemon oil with 3 parts olive oil.

Now that you know about polishes, don’t forget to clean your wood furniture as well. Regular cleaning is especially important for coffee tables and dining room tables where food and drink are daily staples. Use a very mild soap, such as a diluted mixture of hand soap and water, as a cleaning agent for your wood furniture. And if you really want to ensure your dining room table or heirloom wood desk stays beautiful, have your wood furniture buffed and polished by a professional service once or twice a year.

Now you are fully armed to properly care for your wood furniture. And don’t be disheartened if you are unable to make a nick or small stain disappear completely. Signs of use can add character to a piece of wood furniture, and are often barely noticeable. Whether it is a dresser, coffee table, bookshelf, desk, or dining room table, wood furniture is the perfect addition to any home.