| If you are deciding on what type of furniture to have in | | | | fragrant smell, coming from the wood. It's an earthy |
| your home or yard, you may have thought that you | | | | smell, but one that is different from other freshly cut |
| want the best. In the minds of many that means teak | | | | woods. Teak gets this smell from the oils that are |
| wood. But how do you know if a piece of furniture is | | | | heavily embedded in the wood. |
| really teak furniture? | | | | The Color of Teak |
| Since teak wood is a very expensive wood, there are | | | | Teak wood is unlike other woods in that it can change |
| some unscrupulous people who would try to pass | | | | its look substantially with age. Most woods change as |
| other pieces of furniture off as teak, in an effort to | | | | they age only if you offer an outside stimulus. For |
| take your money. Therefore, it is important that you | | | | example, a dark wood may lighten if you leave it in the |
| know how to tell the difference between real teak | | | | sun day after day. That is not the wood changing on |
| furniture, and a fake, before you make a purchase. | | | | it's own, but rather the rays of the sun having a |
| The Feel of Teak | | | | bleaching effect on the wood. |
| The first thing you need to know about teak wood is | | | | Teak is different. No matter what type of environment |
| that it does not feel like other woods. Sure, it is as hard | | | | you have it in, teak will change its colors, unless you |
| as wood, but once you put your hand on teak wood | | | | stop it. If you leave it in the sun, the colors of teak |
| you may be able to tell the difference between it and | | | | wood will change from soft browns and oranges to |
| other wood types. The most obvious difference is that | | | | silvers and white, almost in the way a person may get |
| unlike other woods, teak does not splinter. If you rub | | | | white hairs are they grow older. On the other hand, |
| your hands across the surface of a piece of wood | | | | teak that is left in the shade, or kept inside, will change |
| you should be able to quickly tell if it's a fake. The first | | | | to darker browns and oranges over time. Either way, |
| splinter you get in your hand will be a quick indication. | | | | you should be able to identify teak wood by the |
| The Smell of Teak | | | | beautiful grains in the wood. |
| The next thing that may help you tell if a piece of | | | | Normally, teak furniture from a manufacturer is what it |
| furniture is real teak furniture or not is the smell. Many | | | | says it is, but if you are looking to purchase from a |
| things have a distinct smell. Leather in a new car is a | | | | private sale or antique shop, it is best to know the |
| good example of one of those scents that you know | | | | characteristics of the wood to make sure you are |
| is the real thing as soon as it hits your nose. In the | | | | getting the real thing. |
| case of teak furniture, you will smell a very light | | | | |