Memorial Benches Why Our Teak

Teak (Tectona), is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the family Verbenaceae, native to the Southest Asia, and is commonly found as a component of monsoon forest vegetation. They are large trees, growing to 30-40 m tall, deciduous in the dry season.

The name teak comes from the Tamil word Thekku

Cultivation and Uses
The timber is used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture, boat decks, and other articles where weather resistance is desired. It is also used for indoor flooring and as a veneer for indoor furnishings.

Teak is easily worked and has natural oils that make it suitable for use in exposed locations, where it is durable even when not treated with oil or varnish. 

Teak is used to make outdoor furniture, boats, and other things which require resistance to the elements. Teak is used for outdoor furniture because of its natural durability in extreme weather conditions. Being more expensive than most other woods, teak furniture has become something of a status symbol. Not only is it common for a teak bench, chair, or table to last 70 years standing out in the elements, it is also common to pass down such furniture to future generations as an heirloom.

Benches are perhaps the most common use of teak other than marine applications. Found in parks and shopping districts, benches need to be weather resistant, which is why teak is a popular material for benches.

Staining and Preserving

Teak does not need to be protected. It is a unique wood that if left in its natural state, is virtually maintenance-free. Teak can be left outside year round, surviving even the most extreme weather conditions. Therefore, teak is often considered the gold standard for outdoor furniture.

Over time untreated Teak furniture which is exposed to the sun will patina and turn a silvery grey colour. This process is cosmetic and does not harm the strength or quality of the wood. If you would like the bench to retain its original colour, we suggest the use of a Golden Care Teak Protector. 

Teak is protected by its own natural oils that migrate to the surface of the wood.

To clean weathered teak, we recommend using Golden Care Teak Cleaner.