Why teak flooring is called the luxury of flooring
May 25,2023 | Defulin Teak
Teak flooring, often referred to as the luxury of flooring.
In fact, teak flooring "luxury" reputation is precisely the characteristics of teak itself. Teak is a valuable resource. Only two countries in the world have natural teak forests, Myanmar and Thailand. Among them, Myanmar exports 80% of the world's natural teak. Teak is a tropical species that grows mainly in sparse deciduous forests. In the natural environment, teak trees are difficult to grow densely, often with only one to five trees per acre. Teak trees can grow to a height of 40 meters and usually live for about 100 years, with the longest trees reaching 200 years of age. Teak trees grow on land with a high sand content, which gradually absorbs sand as they grow, and this is the reason for teak's high silica content.
The heartwood of teak is usually golden brown, gray and red. The sapwood is generally light yellow in color, which is distinct from the heartwood. Teak usually has a straight grain, but due to its high porosity, it also has a typical longitudinal uneven grain. Teak is one of the rare species that contains a natural oil inside, which blocks water and prevents teak from warping, cracking or becoming brittle. The rich resin also gives the wood its beautiful golden luster and a special aroma when freshly cut. The harsh growing conditions have allowed teak to evolve a dense grain and thick fibers that can bend without breaking and withstand monsoons, droughts, and windy conditions. This characteristic makes teak a highly desirable wood for use in harsh conditions.
In 1856, some visionary people in Myanmar started plantation forestry in order to leave this precious resource to future generations, giving Myanmar a sustainably productive resource of teak plantations ever since. Today, teak seeds from Myanmar have also been sown in African and Central American lands. The potential for high returns has attracted many companies to invest in teak plantations.
Although teak can already be grown artificially, there are significant differences between different types of teak. Suitable climatic conditions, topography, soil type, drainage, altitude, rainfall, and drought seasonal changes create the strong characteristics that make natural Burmese teak so unique. At the same time, current silvicultural techniques and management deficiencies have resulted in plantations that do not match the shape, hardness, texture and color of natural Burmese teak. In short, teak's strong characteristics make teak flooring has won the majority of the market recognition and favor. And natural Burmese teak is one of the best.