If you’re considering wood flooring for your home, you’ve come to the right place. There are many solid options that can make the process a little overwhelming. One of these options is teak—a wood that comes with a multitude of benefits. Read on to learn all about them, and see if teak is the wood for you!

What is Teak Wood?

Teak (Tectona grandis) is a tropical hardwood tree species that is best known for its impressive durability and water resistance. It is originally golden brown in color and has a smooth grain and texture. Teak wood has a high natural oil content, primarily silica, which provides its strength and decay resistance as well as its stunning color. All of these characteristics make it a very popular choice for flooring, outdoor furniture, countertops, cutting boards, and more.

Teak Flooring Benefits

Durability

With a Janka Hardness Rating of 3540, teak is one of the most durable species of wood out there. It is extremely resistant to scratches and scuffs. This makes it a great option for houses with kids, pets, and wearers of high heels. Even if your home has none of these residents, teak is still a great option for protecting against everyday foot traffic and the general wear and tear that life brings.

In the rare event that your teak flooring does become scratched, it can easily be sanded every few years for a full restoration.

Water Resistant

Teak has a very high natural oil content. This contributes to one of its greatest benefits: water resistance. Teak floors have extra protection against warping, cracking, mold, and rot. This is one of the main reasons why teak is such a popular choice for outdoor furniture and boats. It also makes it a great choice for bathroom, kitchen, and entryway flooring. Water-related accidents are bound to happen, and teak is very forgiving.

Insect Repellent

Teak’s abundance of natural oils also makes it insect repellent. This means you won’t have to worry much about pesky termites eating away at your floors.

Looks

Yet another benefit of teak’s oils is that they give the wood a charming, glistening sheen.

Teak’s stunning colors consist of light honey yellows, warm browns, and dark reds. These colors are complemented beautifully by teak’s long, uniform grain. Teak’s unique look will make your floors stand out while adding an aura of elegance to your home. And because of teak’s noteworthy durability, these gorgeous looks will remain gorgeous for years.

Low Maintenance

At this point, you might be worried that because teak boasts so many benefits, the upkeep must be brutal. Luckily, this is not the case! Teak flooring requires little maintenance in comparison with other wood floors. Because of its natural oil content, you don’t have to varnish or stain teak floors. Furthermore, its long grain means it won’t splinter, so you don’t have to sand teak floors either.

However, applying oil can be a good idea if you really want to maintain the beauty of your floors. Timing for the recoat of oils can be anywhere from eight months to five years, depending on your flooring and the oil itself. Teak floors finished with oils do not usually need to be sanded before recoating.

You can also spot-treat your teak floors as you see fit. Any (unlikely) scratches or stains that may arise can be combated by rubbing a small amount of oil on the surface. Simply buff the area with a cloth until it blends in with the surrounding floor.

Other than that, simple sweeping and mopping are really all that’s needed to keep your floors looking great.

High Cost

There is strict management of ethically sourced teak resources. It is rare and always in demand. Its weight and density can make it difficult to work with, and it takes a toll on flooring installers' equipment. For these reasons, teak is a more expensive option. You can expect to pay around $7 to $13 per sq. ft. (other popular hardwoods go for around $4 to $8 per sq. ft.).

With this being said, though they are more expensive, teak floors are a very smart investment. With all the benefits you'll receive, you're sure to get a good bang for your buck.

Where You Buy Your Teak Matters

Unfortunately, a large portion of teak sold is unethically sourced. This teak is harvested from protected forests to be sold around the world at a discount, leading to deforestation and habitat destruction. Because of this, it is very important to be mindful when choosing where to buy your teak. We recommend only buying teak that is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC).

At Diamond Tropical Hardwoods, our teak is 100% FSC and FEQ certified with proper chain of custody certifications. It has been sustainably sourced from our plantations in Costa Rica.

Conclusion

From its durability to its stunning looks and everything in between, teak flooring comes with a multitude of benefits. Though it is one of the more expensive options, the pay off is obvious. We hope this blog gave you some insight into the wonderful wood that is teak. Happy flooring!

Check us out at Diamond Tropical Hardwoods or contact us at howdy@diamondteak.com or 215-257-2556 with any questions.