By LeeAnna
Ever since ancient times, civilization has been aware of the
benefits of teak. The wood is easy to work with, and its resistance
to decay has made it not only a popular timber tree, but also a
valuable resource. The strong structural properties of teak made it
the favorite choice for shipbuilders since the middle ages. The
main advantage of teak is its unique ability to prevent rust and
corrosion when in contact with metal. This makes it invaluable in
the shipbuilding industry. It is said that the first outdoor teak
benches were actually made of decking from old sailing ships.
The decking on these ships was in such good condition when the
ships were about to be scrapped, the wood was recycled and remade
in teak outdoor furniture. In the late 1800s, teak began to be used
seriously for outdoor furniture. Heavily admired in its native
India , teak soon traveled to Victorian England. Teak benches and
chairs became the perfect compliment to an English garden. Public
parks all over England are furnished with teak outdoor furniture,
some of which are nearly a century old. An outstanding material,
teak continues to be a choice for boat materials even in this day
and age. Elephants are still used to haul teak from inland jungles
to the waterways. Transporting teak has always been a difficult
problem because of the heavy weight of the wood. The logs are so
heavy they will not float. Instead the elephants drag the teak logs
through the thick undergrowth in the rain forests. These forests
are usually a great distance from the coast. They have even been
trained to stack the logs in even piles. And when a bell sounds to
end the day, the elephants know to stop their work, without any
human direction.
Today teak is used principally in shipbuilding and in the
construction of expensive boats and yachts. Teak outdoor furniture
is virtually impervious to all weather conditions, partly due to
its high oil content and is able to resist insect attacks.
Currently, teak can be found on modern cruise ship decks, in parks,
used as flooring, and as home outdoor furniture. In the United
States, teak benches can be found in the tropical gardens of hotels
in Hawaii, tables and chairs made of teak provide maintenance-free
outdoor dining for skiers in Colorado resorts, and teak steamer
chairs can be found from the coast of Maine to the Arizona desert.
This should give you some idea about how versatile teak is. Today,
teak continues to be the most oft-used wood for shipbuilding. It is
also used for indoor wood flooring and other general construction.
And, of course, teak is used to create durable and beautiful
outdoor patio furniture. Its high oil content makes it ideal for
outdoor furniture. Teak outdoor furniture has been used in ski
resorts in Colorado and Utah , and it continues to be the favored
wood for all construction projects requiring unbeatable durability
and rustic elegance.
About the Author: LeeAnna is an expert author who writes for
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