Characteristics of Teak Wood.

Teak is an extremely dense [40lbs cuft when dry] fine grained hardwood. Teak wood is generally straight grained, but occasionally wavy. The wood contains a high level of silica which causes rapid blunting of cutting edges.

When fresh cut the surface of the wood is dull in appearance, and the timber has a distinctive, pleasantly aromatic odor which has been likened to the smell of leather. Fresh sawn teak has a slightly 'oily' feel due to the high oil content.

One of the most commonly quoted facts about the characteristics of teak is its durability. It is resistant to rot caused by fungal decay, and the high level of resinous oil present in the timber helps to act as a natural insect repellent giving the timber very high resistance to attack by termites and other wood boring insects.

The timber is  resistant to water and many chemical reagents, including acids. It does not have a strong reaction when it comes in contact with metals.
The life time in the open for untreated wood (no varnish, lacquer, paint or polishing) is 30 – 35 years.