Teak and Us.
La Place USA Interiors carries the largest selection of teak outdoor furniture on the Gulf Coast. Only the highest quality materials are used. These include brass, stainless steel and, of course, the highest grade of teakwood available. Genuine Teak (Tectona Grandis) combines the quality of a rich and pleasing appearance with a durability that is unequaled by any other timber. Teakwood has a naturally high oil content which makes it both stable and resistant to rotting when exposed, over many years, to the extremes of both summer and winter weather. For several centuries these special qualities have made teakwood the preferred choice for marine decking and construction, and is the reason that it is today, the premium timber for outdoor furniture. Teak is a deciduous hardwood tree from the highlands of South East Asia, and does not come from tropical rainforests. As part of our commitment to protecting the environment and the need to sustain long term supply, we use teakwood from plantations on the island of Java. These plantations, created by the Dutch nearly two hundred years ago, are now owned and managed by the Indonesian Government.
Taking Care of your Teak Products.
Chic Teak has been producing and importing high quality teak outdoor furniture since 1998. Only the highest quality materials are used. These include brass, stainless steel and, of course, the highest grade of teakwood available. Genuine Teak (Tectona Grandis) combines the quality of a rich and pleasing appearance with a durability that is unequaled by any other timber. Teak is a dense, coarse, close-grained hardwood. It naturally contains high levels of resinous oil that acts as an insect repellent and allows it to be resistant to moisture and the drying effects of weather. Because of this naturally high oil content, it is both stable and resistant to rotting when exposed, over many years, to the extremes of both summer and winter weather. For several centuries these special qualities have made teakwood the preferred choice for marine decking and construction, and is the reason that it is today, the premium timber for outdoor furniture. Teak is a deciduous hardwood tree from the highlands of South East Asia, and does not come from tropical rainforests. As part of our commitment to protecting the environment and the need to sustain long term supply, we use teakwood from plantations on the island of Java. These plantations, created by the Dutch nearly two hundred years ago, are now owned and managed by the Indonesian Government. Teak is a product of natural beauty and as such, no two examples are ever exactly the same. With time teak will gradually turn a silver gray. Once teakwood has weathered the color will be enhanced by an annual scrub with soapy water to remove accumulated dirt. Due to the unique properties of teakwood your furniture will need no other care or treatment. Small surface cracks may appear, this is a characteristic of all timbers and will not effect the strength or durability of the furniture. This is due to the changes in seasons and the wood releasing or drawing in moisture from the atmosphere. Marks from spills on a tabletop, especially if they contain fat, should be avoided where possible, as they can be difficult to remove. Any such marks will eventually be washed out and bleached by the elements. Treating teakwood with teak oil or other preservatives is not needed to protect teakwood and will not extend the life of your furniture, its use is purely cosmetic. Should you prefer to retain its original color we offer the following as a guide to the best results. Teak oil should be applied before the furniture begins to weather and change color. Ensure the furniture is dry and free of any dust or dirt and apply only one light coat of oil with a clean cloth or brush, wiping off any surplus. Teak oil should not be applied over accumulated oil or dirt as the result will be dark and the furniture will eventually blacken. If necessary, remove previous oil or dirt by vigorous scrubbing or use of a pressure hose. Re-oiling annually should be sufficient.
Please visit our web site or one of our 5 retail collections to see for yourself what we mean with high quality teak chairs, teak dining tables, teak loungers and other teak furniture made by Chic Teak.
About Teak Wood
The Teak Tree, or Tectona, is one of the tropical hardwood birches, included in the family Verbenaceae. This tree is originally from the plantations of South East Asia, and can grow to a height of 30 - 40 m. As part of its life cycle, this tree sheds its leaves every year at dry season. Its longevity is very great, the Teak tree often living to an age of 100 years. Teak is especially noted for its capacity to withstand changes in the weather and season. One of the reasons for this is the ability of the Teak to bend, but not break, in the face of high winds.
Also, the Teak tree resin typically has an oil in its Galih (Cambium/heartwood) that is highly water resistant. This content alone can protect the Teak from decay, insects, and bacteria. At the same time, the combination of unique Teak tree content and thick fibers make it easier to cut and then later sculpt into pleasing forms. Because of this special characteristic, not found in other trees, there has always been interest in using Teak wood for various types of furniture. The teak trees found in South-East Asia forests reach a height of up to 150 feet, have reddish-green leaves with rough skin, and heartwood that is brown to dark gold in color. Of the main teak producers in the area, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, Philippine, and Malaysia, Indonesia's teak is considered of the highest quality in the world.
Cultivation and conservation of the Teak tree in Indonesia is managed by the government of Indonesia, Perum Perhutani (Forestation Company of Government). The largest producer of teak in Indonesia is Java. Its geography and weather are highly suitable to Teak tree plantations; Java Island is also a manufacturing center where many furniture workers are employed to process the wood of the Teak tree into unique and beautiful furniture. To get teak wood of the highest quality, there are some things that must be carefully attended to in the retrieval process. The older Teak trees, of up to 40 years in age, are the best ones to be cut. In fact, the older the Teak tree, the better will be the quality of its wood. Before cutting the Teak tree, the water content must be drained from the tree by making a cut at its under side. This draining process takes time, 1 to 2 years, in order to get the Teak tree dry enough that it can be cut into Teak wood, and so ready for its main use as the material for furniture and other products.
In India, Teak wood, because of its durability, is used - in addition to its use in furniture and other products - in the production of door and window frames. In Denmark, noted the world over for the stylishness and practicality of its furniture products - with teak, once again, as the main material - because of the increasing demand, and decreasing supply, the price of their furniture products has greatly increased - while in Indonesia, Teak wood is exported abroad and also used as the main material for furniture.
Teak Aesthetics And Characteristics
The most salient characteristic of Teak is its resistance to all kinds of weather. Because of this, it is also resistant to decay and easily repels insects. This is one of the reasons that, unlike other woods, it is often used as the main material for both indoor and outdoor furniture. Teak wood holds its form over many years, even if left outside, and because of this it has often been used for the decking of ships - with its special aroma, cruise ships in particular.
Other characteristics of teak are its elasticity and solid fiber, both of which facilitate woodworking and the ability of woodworkers to create products, such as our own at GiantChess.com, that are both beautiful and durable.
Another reason for the beauty of teak wood products is the special oil content in its heartwood, which makes this wood always seen to gleam - maintaining this glow even if it is left outside for a long period of time. Additionally, Teak wood with its antibacterial characteristics will not become brittle. The owner of teakwood furniture, therefore, will not even find it necessarily to add a preservative to keep it looking like new. Even so, it can occasionally benefit from some polishing, or the application of some varnish, to enhance its natural beauty.
Teak Wood In The World View
Through much of recorded history Teak wood has been relied upon and trusted for its uncommon strength. This wood is highly prized by lovers and collectors of furniture the world over. Because of it's rareness and the limited supply of teak in the world, teak is increasingly being sought after and its price increasing. The reputation of Teak throughout the whole world in producing furniture of the highest quality has, however, never faltered.
Indonesia, as the biggest teak supplier in the world, is very committed to preserving the Teak tree through both practical and visionary government programs. It is only through Perum Perhutani (Forestation Company of Government) that Indonesia can supply Teak wood for export. Not only this, but because of the skill of our woodworkers and artisans, Indonesia produces some of the most unique and interesting furniture products to be found anywhere in the world.
Furniture hunters the world over immediately recognize the characteristics of teak, and always stop to look at Indonesian teak products, so reflective of our history and culture. The demand for this Teak wood has increased so much that the Indonesian government has been forced to implement a plantation program entailing the cultivation, use, and protection of our Teak trees.
This is because the teak is a perennial plant, and of great importance to the economy of Indonesia. Construction material and furniture that comes from Indonesian teak wood each have their own increasing market, as well as increasing value. Generally, Teak trees are harvested only after they have reached ten years; although new technology has yielded certain Teak types called 'Jati Genjah' (Fast Growing) that are also of excellent quality.This will help Indonesia to continue to be the preeminent supplier of teak in the world.
The strength and beauty of its fiber is the primary reason that Teak wood continues to be a main choice for furniture material. The desire for Teak products is increasing, both in our country and also abroad, but the supply is not keeping up because the growth cycle of the conventional Teak tree is long. In fact, as the supply diminishes the desirability for Teak products that have already been produced, often considered as collectibles, and Teak products that are still being produced, as by companies such as ours at GiantChess, com, continues to grow.
Giantchess.com applies formally to Perum Perhutani for its teak material, which is from the teaks that are planted for "wooding up" in the plantations. Perum Perhutani sees that a cultivation of seeding is done every year to replace the big Teak trees which have been chosen to be cut.