Here are interesting facts about teak that you didn’t know.
Myths about Teak wood
Let’s debunk the myths about Teak wood.
If you are a timber specialist you already know why teak is one of the most sought-after of all premium woods. People love its golden color and its resistance to rot.
But there is still a lot of misconceptions about teak furniture.
Here at My Own Bali we have a genuine love for teak. We love the grain, the feel, the touch, and we even love the smell of it. It makes us pretty sad to hear people say bad things about our beloved timber, because their claims are not even true.
Let’s debunk some myths and learn some simple facts about our teak wood.
THE BUSINESS OF TEAK FURNITURE HARMS THE ENVIRONMENT
Some people say that teak production hurts Nature. It’s not true. Furniture uses teak wood coming from sustainable farming. Here is a picture of a plantation in Asia.
Our teak comes from legal plantations.
Some people think that buying teak furniture contributes to deforestation and destroy the environment.
In the past decades global warming and extensive logging have threatened old teak forests.
But despite what you may think, teak furniture has now became an ecological business.
True teak (called Tectona Grandis) cannot survive in the jungle. The tree grows in dry and hilly terrains, in Southeast Asia.
To keep up sustainability, teak farming is now regulated. The hardwood used in furniture comes from tree farms. This is not a new trend. The first teak plantations appeared in Burma more than 160 years ago.
Once again, the wood we use for our furniture does not come from natural forests. It comes from legal government plantations.
Teak furniture is energy-efficient.
When you buy a plastic chair, polluting factories process synthetic resins to produce plastic.
They make the resins by heating chemical materials. They process the resins again to produce the plastic furniture.
We don’t use chemicals to build our teak furniture.
The wood comes from regulated farmed trees, without need for chemicals or manufacturing.
Plastic bottles and metal cans pollute our oceans and natural landscapes. Scraps leftovers from wood production return to the earth without damage to the environment.
Organic by nature, Teak oil is bitter and repels insects. This natural-quality makes teak an ecological option, because there is no need for insecticides.
Teak trees grow without artificial fertilizers or heavy irrigation. Time just make its work. Plantations are a renewable and sustainable.
Next time you think about buying teak furniture, remember it’s an ethical investment.
TEAK FURNITURE IS EXPENSIVE
People tend to think that teak furniture is expensive. Let’s see why it’s not.
The real price of teak furniture.
People think that teak furniture is expensive. It’s not.
Decades ago, just the richest people could afford teak furniture. Back then teak wood was a rare, exotic and extravagant product.
Today the world seems smaller. Shops from all around the world come to Asia to buy teak furniture. It’s a great news! Once a luxury product, teak furniture is now affordable.
Who would have thought that one day you could buy a premium teak lounge chair for less than 200 USD?
Teak furniture is durable.
When we talk about the cost, you have to think about more than the retail price. Let’s talk about durability.
How cheap do you think that this plastic lounge chair is?
Carpenters use teak wood a lot in furniture, teak is also a favorite in flooring, shipbuilding or boat decking.
For the past 30 years, the most famous designers have all work with teak wood. Why?
Teak wood is durable ans stands well under all-weather conditions.
This hardwood is dense and resists warping, shrinking and swelling.
Without varnish or oil, teak furniture can face the test of time. Its natural high oil content repels termites and resist rot.
Even after years of outdoor exposure teak furniture will keep its strength and its beauty.
Teak will stand for generations.
Did you know that the public benches in all English parks are from teak wood?
Public parks in England use recycled teak wood that are almost a century old.
Teak also is one of the few materials that beautifies with age.
The smooth touch and warm appearance develops over time into a rich and elegant appearance.
I doubt that your grand children will be able to lie down on the cheap plastic lounge chair you buy today.
Don’t throw your money in the bin:
Make a clever investment.
Teak furniture is now affordable. Other materials like plastic or metal are not sustainable.
Teak wood is the perfect material when it comes to quality furniture.
Attractive, durable, resistant to termites and other insects, teak offers an extreme weather resistance. You can use it both inside or outside your house.
QUALITY TEAK IS ALSO HARVESTED IN AFRICA
Thanks to unregulated exploitation and corruption, Nigeria has lost 81 percent of its Greenland.
Pericopsis Elata or Afrormosia is the scientific name for “African teak”.
Various countries such as Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana or Congo, produce “African teak”.
Cheaper production and better margin costs attract some furniture entrepreneurs to Africa.
Let’s see what is wrong with “African teak”.
“African teak” is not teak.
The tree is a timber species that belongs to the Fabaceae family.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) make sure that international trade does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild.
CITES ranks “African teak” illegal logging and unregulated trade Appendix II.
African teak is an ecological time bomb.
Production of “African teak” is not controlled.
“African teak” causes serious environmental problems of deforestation, habitat loss and puts the species at risk of extinction.
Alongside animal species such as the Great White Shark, “African teak” will soon be extinct in the wild, unless its trade stops or becomes subject to stricter regulation.
ETHICAL BUSINESS.
When you buy teak furniture, don’t forget to ask where the material comes from, and where they harvested it.
Quality teak wood do not come from Africa. The trees that come from African countries destroy our planet.
Teak trees are grown in Southeast Asia and in some plantations in Central America under warm and humid weather.
TELL US WHAT YOU NEED.
We can help you design your dream interior.
Want to furnish a new home?
Renovating your hotel?
Want to change the style of your home?
We build quality furniture that meets your needs.
Contact us and tell us more about you and your project. We will greet you with a free quote.
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