Materials for Design

Teak (Tectona grandis)

Teak has a rare combination of physical and mechanical properties. Although it has a medium density and hardness, it is the natural oiliness – which is obvious when you touch teak – that distinguishes it from other timbers by furnishing it with a natural weatherability, thereby eliminating the need for preservatives and making it maintenance free. Apart from this oiliness it has other properties that make it a very sensorial timber. It has a rich, tigerish, syrupy brown grain and a distinctive smell, especially when it is freshly cut. Perhaps this is the reason it belongs to the aromatic Lamiaceae family, which includes herbs such as sage, oregano, basil and rosemary.

As one of the most solid and durable of timbers, there ...