Wood Options : Burmese Teak vs. Plantation Teak

Some of our customers ask: what is plantation teak? Teak has a naturally tight grain with thick fibers which mill evenly without chipping or splitting. This is a result of the challenging environment in which it is grown; often withstanding monsoons, droughts, high winds and more. To resist these environmental changes, the fibers of the Teak tree bend rather than break, making it a highly desirable wood for use in difficult conditions. In fact, teak has been used in shipbuilding for hundreds of years because it requires little maintenance and it has a naturally non-skid surface with little raised grain.

Teak trees can grow as much as 40 meters (130 feet) tall and often live up to 100 years. The land on which Teak is grown has a high sand content that is absorbed into the body of the tree as it grows. Teak also contains oil in its heartwood that is water resistant and helps prevent attacks from decay, insects and bacteria. This oil also gives Teak its characteristic gleam even without oil or varnish. Here's our comparison of plantation teak vs burmese teak.

Burmese Teak

Our premium Teak which is pure heartwood from mature Teak trees grown in the Indonesia/South East Asia region. Heartwood Teak provides an elegant piece with unique grain patterns and a beautiful rich color giving any area an immediate WOW factor. The high silica content in teak makes it an ideal wood to use when a slip resistant surface is needed and the natural oil makes the wood resistant to mold and mildew.

Plantation Teak

Our FSC certified Plantation Teak comes from trees harvested from an actual plantation of younger Teak trees. Since we only use the heartwood of the tree, it has all the same qualities of old growth Burmese Teak but it is a little lighter in color and requires a little more maintenance.

Teakworks4u handcrafts its products from Teak that is harvested under strict social and economic standards.