Teak wood is an eco-friendly and sustainable option for constructing home furniture that can be used indoors and outdoors due to resistance against climatic changes.
How Long Does Teak Furniture Last? Teak furniture can last for almost 65 to 75 years due to its high durability and extraordinary properties. It contains a high quantity of oil and resins like silica in addition to tight wood grain, making it dense and strong against stress. Furthermore, it can resist water, sunlight, rotting, and pests due to its hard structure and requires low maintenance.
You can make it last longer than 70 years by keeping the surfaces clean; that is only possible if you remove dust, bird droppings, and moisture regularly.
What is the lifespan of Teak furniture?
Teak wood is a tropical hardwood obtained from deciduous trees and is known for its strength. However, it is an expensive material due to its durability and better strength against damage.
It is widely used to manufacture indoor and outdoor furniture due to extreme resistance against fluctuating weather conditions.
Moreover, it has a long lifespan and lasts almost 65 to 75 years, which means it can be passed on to the next generations. It is used to construct doors, window frames, and bed frames.
It can retain honey golden color for a long time even if you place it in outdoor areas. Many people like to put teak benches in their gardens due to resistance against UV light.
Furthermore, tight grain and the presence of oil ensure longevity, but you have to take care of their maintenance to make them last long; otherwise, it gets damaged within 20 to 25 years.
Why does Teak furniture last longer?
The teak furniture can last longer due to resistance against weather changes and high durability. It is hard enough to repel moisture, insects, and fire flames.
Resistance to air elements
It has good resistance against air elements, including air particles and moisture. You can put benches and tables in an outdoor area without worrying about damage.
It improves the beauty of furniture items as the golden honey color looks appealing and makes it resistant to damage.
Moreover, it has a high oil content, making it resistant to water as oil repels water drops. It accounts for almost 5 to 7% of the total dried mass of wood and gives a strong leather-like odor.
However, drastic changes in weather or a quick increase in humidity can pose a risk to the longevity of the furniture as damp conditions make it prone to mildew attack.
Avoid dust accumulation and keep the surface clean to make it last longer, as dust and exposure to UV light can change its color from honey golden to silver-grey.
Hardness of wood
It is a hardwood that can retain its structure under the pressure of heavyweight. As a result, it is easier to cut for manufacturing furniture, but it is harder than an English Oak.
The hardness of teak wood is almost 1150 to 1170 pounds, while Oak’s hardness is around 1100 to 1120 pounds.
Moreover, this solid wood has a high density making it heavy; that’s why it is considered suitable for constructing furniture items, as lightweight wood will get cracks in stressful conditions.
However, it can get scratches when you handle it roughly, allowing mold to grow within the peeled wood.
Low maintenance
Teak furniture does not require much care and maintenance like other wood materials, as you can apply oil on the surface after a few months.
Moreover, it can last for decades even when you put less effort into its maintenance. Therefore, it is better to clean the surface and let it dry when it gets exposed to rainwater or high humidity.
Use an appropriate cleaner made for teak furniture to ensure its longevity. In addition, a lint-free duster is good for cleaning as it can help remove settled dust particles.
There is no need to use varnishes and paints on indoor and outdoor furniture as it naturally gives a natural and glossy honey-like appearance, but sealants can be used to make them durable.
Furthermore, it is considered maintenance-free material that does not need to be washed and cleaned regularly, as it begins to appear in beautiful silver, greyish color over time.
Resistant to sunlight and heat
It does not get damaged easily by environmental and physical factors if these are not hard enough on the wood.
Moreover, you can find teak products in antique pieces at auctions that confirm their longevity.
It has good strength and is known to retain for multiple years that even grandkids can use the items bought by their grandparents.
The tight grain that is normally straight with a coarse texture helps protect it against stress. It is hard against the heat produced by sunlight and does not bring significant structural changes.
Furthermore, it does not catch fire readily and takes almost 8 to 12 seconds to burn. It is also resistant to harsh chemicals that can affect its quality.
No bending or warping
Bending and warping wooden items is common when they cannot protect themselves against moisture and lose their shape.
Most commonly, wooden structures shift the grain structures unevenly when the moisture dries out. However, teak is resistant to moisture and fungi, making it suitable for outdoors.
You will not find it affected by contractions and expansions or other internal changes when there are mild changes in humidity.
It is also resistant to rotting that can cause significant damage to wood. Furthermore, it does not warp, split, or bend when exposed to water due to oil that can repel moisture and protect it.
Resistance to termites
One of the most dominant reasons for the extreme durability and versatility of teak furniture items is their resistance against pests.
The termites cannot attack and destroy the wood as these insects are known to form tunnels in the wood material and eat it, ultimately affecting the structural integrity of the building.
Moreover, it is resistant to pests, including worms and bugs, due to rubber-like material or resin that can efficiently repel them. In addition, a high content of silica is present inside to make it resistant.
Furthermore, you do not have to worry about boring insects as a high percentage of silica and oil in the material act as effective repellants to pests.
What are the disadvantages of teak wood furniture?
Teak wood furniture has multiple advantages, including better resistance and durability, but there are a few disadvantages.
It is made of an expensive wood material that will increase its cost.
Moreover, it is not widely available due to less cost-effectiveness and the presence of teak wood. It grows slowly, decreasing the availability of raw materials for manufacturing.
Furthermore, it can also get cracks due to extreme changes in weather in different areas. It can also turn grey over time when overexposed to sunlight and dirt.
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