Not all teak is equal to old-growth Teak. There are different grades of teak available on the market, such as South American plantation teak and Indonesian plantation teak. These have inferior qualities to old-growth teak, as they are grown fast and harvested young. They have a lower oil and silica content that make them vulnerable to rot and termites, and their teak planks tend to crack and warp. Few plantations can wait 80-plus years for their product to mature.
Fast grown teak is suitable for some applications, but only old-growth teak can withstand the test of time. When choosing a supplier, carefully check what type of teak they provide. The price difference between old-growth teak and fast grown teak make it tempting to use the cheaper alternative, but it will compromise the quality of the final product. Fast grown teak does have its uses, we recommend it for mass-production residential outdoor furniture, indoor flooring and paneling and other mostly indoor residential uses. Click Here to find out more.