Some people do not pay any attention to the grade of the teak wood used to make the furniture that they buy. This oversight leads them to miss one of the most important indicators of the quality of the furniture that they intend to purchase. This article discusses the impact of different wood grades on the quality of that teak furniture.
Moisture Resistance
Teak wood has three grades (A, B and C). Grade A wood comes from the innermost layer (heartwood) of the mature log. This innermost core has the least amount of moisture within it. Grade A teak is also very rich in natural oils. Those oils prevent moisture from penetrating into the surface of the wood. Thus, teak furniture from this grade of wood is very resistant to moisture damage. Grade B teak is moderately resistant to moisture damage because it also has some natural oils within it. Grade C teak is the least water resistant because it barely has any protective oils to keep out moisture.
Rot Resistance
Different insects and microorganisms feed on exposed wood. Over time, those organisms cause that wood to rot. Teak furniture has varying degrees of resistance to these insects. That resistance comes from the protective oils already mentioned above. The higher the concentration of those oils in a given piece of lumber, the more resistant it will be to insect-induced rot. For this reason, Grade A teak furniture is the most resistant to this type of rot, while Grade C teak furniture is the most susceptible to insect-induced rotting.
Presence of Defects
Another way to tell the quality of a piece of wooden furniture is to observe it for surface defects (such as knots). High-grade teak (such as Grade A teak) is almost free from any visible defects. It has a consistent colour because the section of the log from which it is taken is fully mature. This is in sharp contrast to low-grade teak (Grade C) that has knots and colour inconsistencies.
Density
High-grade teak is very dense when compared to lower-grade teak. The dense teak wood is very sturdy and will hardly warp or crack. Low-grade teak is less dense so it can easily warp when it dries out.
As you can see, it is important for you to pay attention to the grade of wood from which your teak furniture is made. Only then will you be sure that you are getting value for money. Furniture companies like The Teak Place will be able to assist you in finding the best teak furniture for your needs.
Share4 February 2016
Hello. My name is Tina and this is my home improvement blog. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house. My mother used to always say that you could discover a lot about a person by how clean their bathroom was. Because of this advice, I have always been very worried about the state of my bathroom. Last year, I was convinced that the bathroom was too old and grubby so I contacted a team of contractors who came out to work on it. They re-tiled the place and installed a new sink and splashback. I really love me new bathroom and I hope you like my new blog.
