Much like buying any natural product, buying teak furniture involves learning a bit about the wood itself, how it is produced, and what type of processes the teak wood goes through prior to arriving at your doorstep. Without proper knowledge, it’s easy to get ripped off by salespeople who might not even know that they are selling low-grade or counterfeit teak products. Below, we’ll take a look at teak wood in great detail, and share a number of tips that will be handy to have when buying teak furniture for the first time.
Buying Teak Furniture and Grades of Teak
Many individuals are unaware that there are three recognized grades of teak wood, known as Grade A, Grade B and Grade C. Each of these grades represents the quality of the teak based on which part of the tree it was sourced from, its appearance and the manufacturing processes involved with harvesting and producing the final goods.
Grade A teak comes from the center of the teak tree, which is generally referred to as the ‘heartwood’. This is the part of the teak tree where the resin or oil is more concentrated, and thus the wood that comes from the heart of the tree is the strongest. Grade A teak wood also has a higher content of silica than other grades of teak, which provides increased resistance to damage, wood-eating insects, and water. Grade A teak is only about 25% of the average fully-mature teak tree, which makes it significantly more expensive than other grades of teak. Teak that has received the Grade A mantle will be from a teak tree at least 40 years old, will have very close wood grains and no visible knots, will be rich in natural teak oil and will appear a golden honey-brown in color.
Grade B teak comes from the outer layer of the heartwood, which is less mature and has significantly lower oil content than Grade A teak. Grade B teak wood is normally a bit lighter in color than Grade A teak, and will have a more uneven grain to the wood. Small knots and streaks that may be black in color are permitted in Grade B teak wood, which comprises some 35% of a fully-mature teak tree. Some manufacturers make use of Grade B teak in what are known as “semi-machine-made” teak products, which mean that furniture manufacturers use a combination of power saws and hand-crafting to finish these products. Furniture made with this process is almost always delivered in its fully assembled state to avoid the customer seeing any of the signs that the teak is Grade B.
Grade C teak is the lowest grade of teak wood, and comes from the outer 40% of the tree. Very little of the heartwood will be present in Grade C teak; generally, Grade C teak will be comprised solely of the outer sapwood. This is the living section of the tree, which is much softer than the inner heartwood as it is still growing and is permeated with water channels and other means of moving nutrients through the wood. This is the least expensive teak wood, and is usually full of flaws such as knots, stains, grain issues and the like. In the past, this wood was actually thrown away and not used for teak products, but in today’s world there is still a place for furniture and other products made from Grade C teak.
In short – Grade A teak is the highest quality teak wood, and should be what you look for when buying teak furniture. If the teak furniture you are thinking of purchasing seems to be inexpensive, it’s likely that it is Grade B or Grade C teak wood. The easiest way to determine the grade is to ask the sales person, or make use of the teak wood grade attributes listed above to identify it for you.
Finding High Quality Teak Furniture
When shopping for the highest quality teak furniture, you’ll want to keep your eye out for furniture that’s made from Grade A teak wood, and is fully machine made. Handmade furniture may sound like it’s of the highest quality, but in many of the countries where teak is cultivated, handmade production is actually the least expensive way to make furniture. When a piece of teak furniture is fully machine made, the manufacturer has had to invest in technology and processes that will churn out excellent quality pieces every time. This is especially true for those who are shopping for a matching set of teak chairs, or a patio set of chairs and a table.
Another benefit of buying fully machine made teak furniture is that if somehow a piece of your furniture was to break, it’s possible to find a replacement part. With a handmade piece of teak furniture, every piece of the furniture is unique to the carver or builder, and if they are not local to you, you will be unable to get something similar as a replacement.
Finally you’ll want to enquire as to how the teak wood was dried. In humid countries like Indonesia and Myanmar, air drying teak doesn’t work all that well and the final product will be less fully cured than if the teak is dried in a kiln. It may not be possible to find out if the teak furniture you’re considering was kiln-dried, but this is the method of drying teak that produces the highest quality teak furniture.
Buying Teak Furniture and Ensuring it’s Real Teak
One of the most difficult challenges facing individuals who are shopping for teak furniture is determining whether or not the furniture is actually made from teak. Unfortunately, there are many shady furniture dealers who are skilled at substituting high-quality woods like teak for lower-quality woods that are more susceptible to damage from age, water and other sources.
There are a few things that one can look for when buying teak furniture to determine if it’s made from genuine teak. The easiest way is to check the country of origin; teak furniture is usually made where the teak is harvested, and that usually means a Southeast Asian country such as Indonesia. If the teak is handmade by a local source, you’ll need to use another method to determine if the teak is genuine.
Checking the wood itself can help identify genuine teak furniture. Teak is a very resilient, strong hardwood and as it locks moisture out, teak will not warp or chip. If the furniture is chipped in any areas, or if the arms or legs of the furniture seem to be warped, it’s unlikely that the furniture is made from real teak. Teak also exudes its own unique scent, thanks to the natural oils secreted by the wood. If the furniture doesn’t smell at all, it may not be real teak.
If the furniture isn’t stained or painted, teak can also be identified by its color. With new teak furniture, look for a golden honey-brown color to the wood, with smooth, dense grains. Older or used teak furniture may appear to be more of a silver or grey color, as this is the color that teak will change to as it ages. This is especially true for outdoor teak furniture, which ages somewhat quicker than indoor teak furniture which is sheltered from the elements.
Buying Used Teak Furniture and What to Look For
Those that decide to buy used teak furniture can get end up getting a great deal – provided the teak was of a high quality to begin with. When buying used teak furniture, there are a few things to keep an eye out for to ensure you are getting a good deal.
Used indoor teak furniture can be somewhat challenging to determine the quality of just by looking at it. Many teak furniture owners will oil their indoor teak furniture religiously to keep it looking as new as possible. While this is not harmful to the teak wood itself, it can make determining the age and quality of the wood slightly more difficult. With indoor teak furniture, try to determine the grade of teak that was used to make the furniture, as well as locating any chips, cracks or other damage to the teak. While superficial damage like scratches can be repaired by a professional furniture refinisher, it can be a bit tougher to fix teak furniture that has any structural damage to it.
In regards to used outdoor teak furniture, don’t let the color of the furniture misguide your opinion about its condition or worthiness. As it ages, teak furniture will change color from the golden honey-brown it originally arrived in to more of a silver-grey. All that’s required to bring silver, aged teak furniture back to life is a light sanding job, which will remove the superficial aged wood and expose the less aged wood underneath. Also, if you are shopping for a full set of outdoor teak furniture and you’re thinking of buying used, you will need to get all of the pieces from the same person. It will be near to impossible to find a matching teak chair or side table as a replacement for any that are missing from a used set.
Try to stay away from teak furniture that has been stained or painted, as there may be quality issues that the manufacturer or owner was trying to cover up, and the coatings may have damaged the teak’s natural defenses against water or wood-eating fungi. Also, teak does not require oiling, so if the person selling you the used teak furniture puts a lot of stock in oiling, it’s best to check the furniture thoroughly before buying it.
Miscellaneous Tips for Buying Teak Furniture
Lastly, use common sense when purchasing teak furniture, whether it’s from a dealer or from an online source. Ask about the warranty that comes with your new teak furniture, how long it lasts, and what it will cover. Find out if the teak furniture comes fully assembled, or if you will be required to put it together when it arrives. A reputable teak furniture retailer will either deliver your new teak furniture fully assembled, or will send someone along who will take care of assembly for you. It may also be worth asking where the teak wood is sourced from; look for teak that comes from a Southeast Asian country like Indonesia where the federal government manages teak resources sustainably.
By following the information above, one should be well on their way to getting the best deal when buying teak furniture. Armed with knowledge about what to look for to identify the various grades of teak wood and how to determine if the furniture is genuine teak, you can rest assured that you will not be ripped off. Good luck!
