| Almost everybody loves teak. Teak is one of the | | | | lower grade pieces. This is not bad in itself, but it does |
| most resilient and elegant hardwoods in the world. And | | | | explain why some teak pieces are more expensive |
| saying thus, teak furniture has been in constant | | | | than the others despite having similar looking designs. |
| demand from many homeowners for many, many | | | | If you are buying teak pieces, make sure that only a |
| years. | | | | lightly colored varnish is applied for indoor furniture; and |
| Because of its hardy nature, teak can be carved and | | | | colorless waterproofing agents are applied to outdoor |
| sculpted to create intricate furniture designs. And many | | | | furniture. This way, you can still see some of the |
| quality pieces are guaranteed to retain their pristine | | | | graining effect that makes teak very valuable. |
| shapes for 2 decades or more. | | | | Teak is a very lightly colored wood. Varnish gives it |
| If you are looking for furniture made from this wood, | | | | that darker "complexion." The more varnish that is |
| here are some things you ought to know first. | | | | applied to the wood, the darker the furniture turns out. |
| The best quality furniture pieces are those that show | | | | Quality teak pieces are very lightly varnished. |
| off the teak wood's natural "graining." Graining refers to | | | | Painted teak pieces are on the bottom part of the |
| the wood's patterns of swirls, rings, and slightly uneven | | | | totem pole. These are often considered as the least |
| coloring, which wood manufacturers take into careful | | | | "appreciable" wood, or castoffs from other furniture |
| consideration when cutting the lumber. You can visibly | | | | makers. Although the materials are still very strong, |
| see some graining on the surfaces of many teak | | | | these are not really worth a lot in the market. These |
| tables. | | | | furniture pieces are usually painted to hide areas |
| Usually, furniture with unbroken graining is worth a lot of | | | | where wood of different graining and different quality |
| money. This means that the furniture is cut from one | | | | level are put together. |
| lumber only. Additionally, the more irregular the graining | | | | This basically boils down to this: just because seller |
| is, the higher its assigned quality level. | | | | says that the furniture you are after is made of teak |
| However, not all furniture made from teak are worth | | | | means that it is worth a lot of money. Some teak |
| its price. Some furniture manufacturers take the cast | | | | furniture pieces are, but that is not always the case. |
| off wood from other furniture makers and create | | | | |