When Should Teak Protection Be Used On Wooden Products?

Wood is, of course, one of the oldest building materials in the world. We have used these natural products to build our homes and shelters for thousands of years and learning how to treat them has been a priority for most of this time. You may notice that some of our oldest buildings are missing from our landscape. Though most of this is thanks to wars, fires, and other unfortunate events it is also thanks to wood rotting and weather damage. Prior to the 20th and 21st centuries, there was little in the way of effective wood treatment and if this material gets wet it quickly weathers.

Of course, there are still some examples of ancient wooden buildings. This is partly thanks to exceptional building methods allowing the wood to remain dry over time. When wood is kept dry it suffers less from mould and other weathering effects. Essentially most treatment is made to do the same and keep the material as dry as possible. So, how can we do this? Well, the answer, like many building methods, is a fairly complex one which is why we shall try to explain this over the course of this blog. So, keep reading to find out more.

Teak wood

Teak protection is clearly for use on teak wood but what is teak? Teak, of course, comes from the teak tree which is officially known as the Tectona Grandis. This tall deciduous tree is native to south and southeast regions of Asia and grows up to 50 metres tall and lives for over a hundred years! The tree is highly regarded in this part of the world and has been used as a material for many thousands of years. Many would recognise the wood for its attractive rich colour and grain. However, it is also strong, durable, and resistant to splitting, cracking, and weathering.

The wood is a great choice as a building material for many reasons but one of the key factors is just how fast it grows. Of course, when it comes to the construction industry you will need materials as fast as possible and the demand really is huge. So, any wood that is used needs to be in large supply and the only way to ensure this is by using trees that grow to maturity quickly. So, with teak, you can grow as many as possible while still maintaining a sustainable culture. Teak only takes 25 years to grow to a mature enough level to be harvested which is fairly low for this standard of wood.

Teaks durability

Naturally, any wood that is used in construction needs to be durable and teak as we have already mentioned really is one of the best. Essentially, it is classified as a close-grained hardwood which is commonly known as the ‘king of woods’. The close-grain nature of the wood makes it extremely hard wearing and perfect for uses where it will be exposed to the natural elements frequently. This is why you often see teak used on boats or outdoor furniture.

The hardness of wood is a slightly difficult metric to measure as you might well expect. However, this does not reduce the importance of the figure and how hard a wood is will be exceptionally important when it comes to making your material choices. There have been multiple different scales and techniques invented to measure the hardness of wood over the years however one of the most popular is the Janka Wood Hardness Scale. This method measures the hardness of wood by seeing how much force is needed to embed a small steel ball into the material.

Teak does score very well on the Janka Wood Hardness Scale with a rating of 1000 to 1155. Naturally, this figure probably means very little to you however when compared with other common woods teak scores higher than white pine, chestnut, poplar, cedar and mahogany. This along with many other things means that teak is widely considered as one of the most durable woods in the world and a brilliant choice for any construction job where the finished product will see a lot of weather.

How long will the wood last?

Well, if you treat your teak well it should last for many years. Of course, this will mean that you must treat it as often as possible and keep a constant eye on the state of the wood. Sometimes, for example, the wood will require a little more work to it than usual. In this instance, you should seek professional care to ensure that your wood lasts for as long as possible.

However, if you do look after your teak then it should last up from 50 to 60 years and maybe even longer if you’re lucky. In fact, some of the UK’s oldest park benches are made from teak and have been exposed to the elements for over 100 years! Certainly then if you take good care of your teak furniture then you will have plenty of years to enjoy it!

When should teak oil be used?

Essentially teak oil should always be used on teak products if you want your wood to last a good deal of time. Yes, the wood does come laden with natural properties which make it incredibly resistant to natural ageing. However, considering the beauty and perhaps more importantly the price of the wood you will want to preserve your teak items for as long as possible. So, make sure you use teak oil as regularly as possible. This will hopefully mean that your teak products last a lifetime and stand you in good stead for many years to come.

It is usually a good idea to use teak oil after the winter season as this is the time when the wood will be subject to the worst weather conditions. Applying a small amount of oil will maintain the wood's natural oils and properties so it is ready for the next year ahead. The oils will also hide and sometimes even repair some of the damage which will naturally occur when the wood is kept outside for large periods of the year.

Teak oil alternatives

While teak oil is widely considered the best option for maintaining the quality of your wood it is important to discuss a few other options. So, what are these options and why is teak oil so much more effective?

Teak sealer is the most common alternative to oil and is fairly popular in the construction industry. The difference between sealer and oil is that sealer does not ‘feed’ the wood. Essentially a seal does exactly what it says on the tin. It seals the oils which the wood already has into the material which does maintain a great deal of the wood’s natural defence mechanisms. However, most would consider oil to be far better as your wood will last much longer as you constantly feed the wood with more oils so it can continue to protect itself.

For our environmentally conscious readers, we would also recommend oils as the option for you as it looks after the wood far better. This will mean that it should last longer meaning that you produce far less waste.

Other natural properties of teak

Teak is well known for being incredibly resistant as a material which is why it has become so popular in many different building areas. So, what are a few more of these natural qualities which make the wood so good for building with?

The oils in the wood which we have already discussed at some length also make the wood incredibly resistant to water which also means that teak rarely suffers from rot or other water-related degrading conditions. This means that usually only a small clean will be required to keep your items in a good condition.

If you require any teak protection for your products then make sure you contact us today. We have a plethora of products available so you can choose one that is perfect for your needs. What’s more, our staff are incredibly knowledgeable and are always on hand to talk you through the options available!