Teak furniture

Even though teak furniture is still relatively popular, it is From an ecological point of view it is an extremely problematic type of wood. Because teak grows primarily in tropical regions, so the reckless extraction just like that long transport route for one extraordinarily negative climate balance care for.

Properties of teak wood

What is teak and where does teak come from?

Teak is a Deciduous tree , the originally from the monsoon forests in South and Southeast Asia comes from. Teak is now also grown in Africa and Indonesia. Teak is a medium-hard wood and is weather-resistant , plus it is less susceptible to pests and fungal attack. One local alternative is oak wood, that too very hard is and equally Suitable for outdoor use and furniture construction is, but with one significantly better ecological balance can score.

What does teak look like?

The color of teak can vary quite a bit. The heartwood is more like yellow to dark brown , while the Sapwood very light is. At the Black stripe teak kick, as the name suggests, dark to black-brown stripes out. Sometimes the fine lines have one too olive brown color. The color of teak The discoloration comes from Deposits of secondary plant substances and shape the appearance of the wood in black stripe teak. Flares and bright lines are characteristic of the lively grain of teak.

Origin and characteristics of teak wood

Conflict wood from the tropics

The world's rainforests are not only a valuable habitat for many animal species, the tropical forest areas also have enormous importance for the climate. Because tropical forests store large amounts of water. If you clear these forests, it has a direct impact on the water cycle, which then collapses. The problems caused by deforestation have a regional impact in the form of crop losses and drought . The consequences of this increase climate change as well as global social inequalities.

Teak from plantation cultivation

The The original occurrence of teak is limited to the Asian region. Due to the high demand for this wood, it is now increasingly being grown in other regions of the world. Teak grows on huge plantations throughout the tropics and in large parts of Africa and South America. Plantation cultivation is with an eye on the Huge environmental damage: In order for a plantation to be created, the site must be developed. This is usually done through slash and burn and bulldozers, which create huge swaths of destruction across tropical forests, destroying valuable habitat to replace them Monocultures to create.

Where can you buy teak and is there sustainable tropical wood?

The illegal logging is for the preservation of ecologically valuable forests worst threat and affects the entire ecosystem. A The majority of deforestation in rainforests is illegal, aided by corruption and greed. The Supposedly sustainable extraction of tropical wood does not exist in reality! Regardless of whether you want to buy teak furniture online or in a specialist wood shop: As a customer and also as a retailer, there is practically no way to check the various supposed sustainability seals. But one thing is clear: the wood has to come by ship are transported thousands of kilometers, why the The CO2 balance is correspondingly negative fails. In addition, the wood must be dried on site before it can be transported. However, this is because of the high humidity on site only possible with energy-consuming technical effort . Sustainability in connection with tropical wood remains an illusion.

Teak and oak – A good alternative

Teak is particularly common for outdoor use used, so that in addition to teak furniture, garden furniture made of teak wood is also in demand. Who one ecologically and socially compatible alternative but it should be up local oak wood To fall back on. Oak wood is a Hardwood and is also one of the precious woods. It's not just color Oak wood similar to teak wood: There are numerous surface treatments that can be used to achieve the desired color. Furthermore, is Oak wood is also suitable for outside like teak. So it doesn't have to be teak furniture when it comes to Weather resistance and longevity goes. Precisely because teak has so many disadvantages, it is worth looking for alternatives. If you like very dark wood, you can choose furniture for indoor use Walnut wood choose instead of teak furniture.

HÄUFIG GESTELLTE FRAGEN

How do I recognize teak?

Teak has a medium brown color and is crossed by fine stripes that stand out in dark brown. You can recognize inferior teak because it was dried too quickly. Large pores can then be seen in the wood. Inferior teak is often dyed or stained to achieve the desired wood color.

What does teak look like?

Teak has a medium brown, warm color that sometimes has a slightly reddish tinge. The grain of teak looks different depending on how the wood was cut. It usually appears in dark, fine lines in stripes. However, if the wood was sawn at an angle, a coarse flake will result.

Where does teak come from?

Teak comes from the tropical forests in Asia, where the teak tree grows. So teak is a tropical wood. These types of wood are very controversial because the clearing conditions are often not environmentally friendly. The long transport routes also have a negative impact on the ecological balance, because teak comes exclusively from distant countries, e.g. B. Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and India.