Teak

Common Name(s)

Teak, Burmese Teak

Scientific Name

Tectona grandis

Tree Distribution

Native to southern Asia. Widely grown on plantations throughout tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Tree Size

100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Janka Hardness

1070 lbf

Appearance

Heartwood tends to be a golden or medium brown, with color darkening with age.

Grain / Texture

Grain is straight, though it can occasionally be wavy or interlocked. Coarse, uneven texture and moderate to low natural luster. Raw, unfinished wood surfaces have a slightly oily or greasy feel due to natural oils.

Pricing / Availability

Despite its widespread cultivation on plantations worldwide, Teak is very expensive. It is perhaps one of the most expensive lumbers on the market, at least for large-sized, non-figured wood. Other woods are more expensive, but are typically only available in small pieces, (i.e., Gaboon Ebony or Snakewood), or they are valued solely for the figure of their grain (i.e., burl woods, Pommele Sapele, or Waterfall Bubinga).

- Information cited from Wood-Database.com