We visited a furniture
shop a few days back, where we heard the sales executive talking to a customer about
the superiority of teak based products. Most of us do not question the quoted price
and quality of teak products due to lack of adequate knowledge in that field.
Hence we decided to do some research and present certain facts about teak wood.
About Teak:
The word “Teak”
originated from the Tamil word “Tekku” meaning the same. It is found in abundance
in the tropical regions, especially in South and South East Asia, Africa and
Colombia. Teak falls into the hardwood category, along with rosewood and ebony.
The outer layer of teak is yellowish white in color, while the inner region is
golden brown or dark brown with black lines on it.
History:
Teak has been a part
of most households in the Dravidian region, mainly Tamil Nadu and Kerala,
because of its strength, beauty, durability and medicinal purposes. It also has
resistance to termites and other pests, owing to its high oil content. History
has evidence of Romans being interested in teak wood for building their ships
and also for medicinal purposes. Teak was exported to Rome in exchange for
gold, ivory or wool. Teak wood was primarily used in our region to make kitchen
utensils as well as home décor products. During the British Rule, teak wood was
used extensively to make furniture which are strong and stable even today.
Teakwood is
categorized based on the region in which the trees are found. In India, the two
major types of teakwood available are forest teak and plantation teak. Forest
teak is obtained from trees that grow naturally in the forests and are ready
for use after 14 years. Plantation teak, on the other hand, can be used after
it is 8 years old. Natural teak is preferred over plantation because of its
quality and beauty. The popular teak wood categories in our country are Malabar
Teak, Konkan Teak, Nagpur Teak and many more. The price of a teak wood product
depends on the variety of teak that it is made from.
Points to remember:
·
Ensure that the
product is actually made out of teakwood not just by the color of the product
but by observing the straight grains that would be visible on its surface,
which is unique to teak wood.
·
Confirm with the
seller about the teak variety used to make the product.
·
Teakwood products must
be refurbished once in two years, to increase their life.
·
Try to avoid
chemically treated wood types like rubber wood and compressed wood since they can
cause health hazards. However, apart from being eco-friendly, natural wood
products have an ability to absorb Co2, thus making the home a better place to
live in.
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