Tectona grandis

Teak wood is known for its lovely golden brown color, although when freshly machined, it can sometimes have a variable pattern. Over time, and with exposure to sun and air, the streaks mellow into the signature golden brown appearance for which Teak is so prized.

 

Vertical grain Teak lumber is highly sought after for boat decking applications because of its consistent appearance, strength, and ease of matching across a wider surface. J. Gibson McIlvain only buys FEQ (First European Quality) Teak lumber with consistent color and grain patterns.

FEQ Teak lumber is extremely durable and stable.  Teak wood has a very high naturally occurring silica content from the sandy soil in which it grows, and this silica impregnates the fibers of the wood, making it nearly waterproof. The silica content is much lower in plantation-grown Teak. Adding to Teak’s natural water resistance are the wood’s natural oils, which do double duty as natural insect repellents.

 

Once milled, Teak lumber holds its shape extremely well, and that stability makes it such an attractive wood for yacht builders, as well as for other builders whose materials must perform under harsh conditions and within tight tolerances.

Plantation vs Myanmar Teak

Due to the differences in silica content and varying soil chemistries between Myanmar and plantation Teak, J Gibson McIlvain stocks two distinct Teak products: “Genuine” Myanmar Teak and Plantation grown FSC Teak. Plantation Teak grows in Indonesia, Malaysia, and even India. The plantation stock does have a lower silica content and fewer (and different) oils and resins creating a more streaky, less consistent look to the plantation material. Often plantation Teak will have wider spaced growth rings and a resulting lower density. But plantation Teak is still an extremely durable exterior wood. While perhaps not the first choice for extreme applications like boat building, plantation Teak is still a best of breed choice for exterior siding, decks, etc. For the last decade we have been sourcing Teak from alternative regions to Myanmar and have build a supply chain of high quality FEQ Teak that is a mix of plantation and natural forest grown. Additionally our sources are spread across several continents and many regions allowing for greater sustainability and choice

The very resin and oil content that makes Teak wood such an outstanding exterior wood is what also can cause the dramatic color variance which we see when the wood is freshly planed and cut. Vibrant greys and greens and oranges and harsh streaks will show up immediately, and that lovely honey brown color is gone. This is alarming to many people, and it is important to realize that this will fade with time. How much time it will take depends on whether or not the Teak is exposed to the sunlight or immediately wrapped up and shipped to a job site. In fact we have been known to lay out an order of Teak lumber in the sun for the afternoon in order to unify the color. Here is one example, and you can see the stark difference in the color and streaking with a single day’s worth of sunlight.

Teak Lumber Color Change

If you want to get even more specific about why this specific color change in Teak occurs, then you might find this video particularly helpful:

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TEAK Wood SPECIFICATIONS

Character	Green	Dry	Units
Bending Strength	10975	13710	psi
Crushing Strength	836	1087	psi
Max Crushing Strength	5543	7065	psi
Static Bending	5802	7453	psi
Impact Strength	34	26	inches
Stiffness	1408	1543	1000 psi
Work to Maximum Load	13	12	in-lbs/in3
Hardness (Janka)	–	1000	lbs
Shearing Strength	–	1890	psi
Toughness	–	232	in-lbs
Specific Gravity	0.53	0.59	–
Weight	51	40	lbs/ft3
Density	–	40	lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage	–	3	%
Tangential Shrinkage	–	6	%
Volumetric Shrinkage	–	7	%