For the uninitiated, Teak furniture is usually outdoor furniture made from rare Teakwood lumber. Teak has a natural durability to withstand extreme weather conditions. Because of this unique characteristic, teak furniture is a bit expensive and has become a sort of status symbol. It is not uncommon for teak furniture to last as long as 70 years even when exposed to the elements. It will not break down like plastic, and will not bend or break like tubular metals. Their nature repels termites as well.
Teak pieces are sometimes sold as antique furniture or passed down through the generations as family heirlooms. Today, teak furniture is taken only from plantation teakwood. Teakwood forests are protected by international and local environmental laws. Since teak furniture also lasts a long time, plantation and forestry companies can grow sustainable managed teakwood trees. Teak furniture comes in all shapes and sizes.
The most common are dining tables and chairs for gardens, backyards, deck areas, patios, pool yards, and sunrooms. Benches are also common outdoor fixtures, as well as sun loungers, Adirondack chairs, umbrella tables, and other patio type furniture. Though a bit expensive, teak furniture is easier to clean and preserve. Teak has natural oils that migrate to the surface and protects it. Thus, there is no need for varnish, water sealers, and wood oil since these would only peel and chip as time goes by.
Instead, a special type of Teak sealer preservative is applied that allows the wood to breathe, prevents the wood from greying, and preserves its natural brown color. Cleaning can be done with ordinary water, soap, and bleach to remove food, wine, coffee, and condiment stains as well as mildew and molds. Another environment friendly option, reclaimed teakwood, simply is just old teak lumber taken from old houses, palaces, bridges, and railroad tracks coming mostly from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Burma.
When these decaying structures are renovated, the old teakwood that is removed is recycled into furniture instead of being burned. The environmental implication is quite tremendous because recycled teakwood prevents the cutting down of young or old-growth trees, thus, saving forests. Plantation teak is given longer turn-around time for growth, and generally, reclaimed teakwood furniture is cheaper to manufacture and sell.
Reclaimed teak furniture represents an eco-friendly alternative for people to protect and preserve the environment without compromising the beauty and elegance of wooden furniture. From the time the old wood is cleaned, the old wood is then fashioned into everything from tables, chairs, benches, and cabinets. Small pieces of leftover wood can be made into smaller pieces such as light lamps, plant pot holders, small bench panels, stools, and corner coffee tables. Reclaimed teakwood indoor or outdoor furniture is just as sturdy and lasting as teak taken from trees.