Ø      Teak Industry

Ø      Why Teak?

Ø      Teak Maintenance

Ø      Quality Teak

Ø      Teak furniture and handicraft Care

Ø      Teak Improvement in Indonesia

Ø      Conclusion About Teak Furniture

Teak Industry

            Teak was first introduced in the fourth century and has been used worldwide since its use for shipbuilding during the middle Ages. During the 19th century Teak furniture and handicraft became popular for its exemplary functioning outdoors. Today it is used primarily for the decks, trim and detail work in yachts and cruise ships, residential and commercial flooring, carving, cabinetry, paneling, the construction of homes and in the creation of beautiful, durable furniture.

            Teak is a deciduous tree that flourishes in the dry, hilly forests of Southeast Asia. The tree grows rapidly to approximately 150 feet tall with trunks that are cylindrical to fluted and grow up to 5 feet in diameter. While the tree shoots up quickly, it takes nearly 50 years to reach full maturity. The possibility of increasing this 50 year rotation to every 30 or 40 years has been discussed in many countries in an effort to meet the high demand of teak, but experimentation with 25 year rotations has resulted with an inferior quality wood. In Java, Indonesia several plantation forests have flourished with teak trees in the past 150 years. The plantations provide a valuable source of income for local areas and provide employment to thousands of local people. These plantations are government regulated by the agency Perum Perhutani to ensure that the correct number and size of trees are being felled, and to ensure the proper re-planting of trees to maintain the productivity of forests for future generations. Similar agencies are forming in Thailand, Burma and Laos to help control poaching, exploitation of children in furniture factories, and reforestation.

            Teak is a close grained hardwood with high natural oil content. This makes it hard wearing, highly resistant to rotting and almost impervious to the effects of sun, rain, frost or snow. These characteristics combine to make it the ideal timber for all outdoor applications. Testament to its strength and durability is the fact that, when English battleships were being scrapped after a lifetime of service, the teak from their decks was salvaged and re-made into garden benches.

Why Teak ?

            Why is teakwood always the first choice for outdoor use? This immensely stable timber has a high oil and rubber content, an 'in-built' natural water repellent which makes it virtually immune to rotting. Teak furniture and handicraft does not require babying or covering during bad weather. You can leave it out for 80 years and your furniture will still be there. Teak furniture and handicraft weathers beautifully, season after season, and can be left untreated outside without the risk of rotting.

            Authentic teak furniture and handicraft are the standard of outdoor furniture that all other woods and materials are compared. Many homeowners scramble to cover, store, and/or weatherproof aluminum, metal or other type of wood outdoor furniture when bad weather approaches. This is a dilemma that owners of Teak furniture and handicraft do not need to fret about because teak wood can be exposed to the all elements. It is wise to be leery of claims of ”teak-like” furniture. Oftentimes, this furniture is made of other woods that are not as durable as teak, such as; Nyatoah, Shorea wood, or Eucalyptus wood. These are Class 3 woods that are non-durable, susceptible to termite and other insect attacks, and need to be treated regularly with teak or linseed oil if used outdoors. Other Class 3 woods include American Walnut, Red Cedar, Japanese Oak, and African Mohagany. Teak wood is rated as a Class 1 wood meaning it is resistant to weather, insects, warping and is extremely durable.

            Some manufacturers will treat furniture made of other woods and materials with teak oil. These manufacturers imply their furniture is actually teak and/or is just as durable, dependable and resistant to insects and harsh elements as genuine Teak furniture and handicraft is. These claims are false; while the oil does aid in adding some resistance and durability to other woods, the oil needs to be re-applied often. Furniture constructed with teak wood is able to withstand the elements for a century or more.

Teak (Tectona grandis) is the best wood for use in the construction of outdoor furniture.
Teak is the absolute best because it...

Teak Maintenance

Quality Teak

            Teak is a dense, coarse, close-grained hardwood. It naturally contains high levels of resinous oil that acts as an insect repellent and allows it to be resistant to moisture and the drying effects of weather. Teak also contains silica, which creates a density to the wood that allows it to be resistant to fungal decay, water, rotting, warping, shrinking, swelling and many chemicals. It will not rust or corrode metals it comes in contact with and it can withstand the elements of all seasons. No other wood compares to teak regarding its durability, elegance, stability and low maintenance; thus making it the ultimate material choice for furniture construction.

            Teak wood is used primarily in the construction of outdoor furniture and in various aspects of shipbuilding because of its virtually indestructible composition. The furniture weathers beautifully and can be left untreated outdoors without the risk of rotting. It requires minimal maintenance and does not need to be sealed or treated on a regular basis. The inherent imperfections present in teak wood enhance its natural beauty and adds uniqueness to each piece. When first purchased, the furniture is a bright, golden color and its natural oils make it appear polished. The surface oil evaporates within the first week, but the oil below the surface will last the lifetime of the furniture and enables the unmatched durability of the wood. After one or two seasons outdoors, the wood will turn to a silver-gray. And it will remain like that without ever warping, twisting, rotting or splintering. Teak wood furniture is knot-free, smooth, handsome and will never need to be replaced.

Teak furniture and handicraft Care

            Teak is a tropical hardwood with a beautiful golden /honey brown color when it is new. Over time, as natural teak is exposed to the elements, it gradually changes color from the honey color of new teak to a silver-gray patina which distinguishes finely aged, outdoor teak. After a while this silver-gray patina deteriorates to a dark-gray and greenish look if it remains untreated.

            Teak furniture and handicraft, when left bare and unhanded, will fade to a natural silver-gray color. This color transformation does not affect left bare act the durability of the Teak furniture and handicraft or the wood itself.

            Teak wood is known for its resistance against natural conditions. Teak is impervious to the effects of snow, ice, rain, sun, heat, cold, and humidity and withstands weather better than any other wood. You can literally leave a piece of Teak furniture and handicraft outside and come back in 80 years and it will not have rotted or worn away due to the weather.

            To maintain the smooth finish and golden brown color, you will need to sand your Teak furniture and handicraft regularly. To prolong the period of time needed between sanding, teak oil may also be applied.

            If you choose to apply teak oil, apply every 3 months, or follow the teak oil container instructions. If you choose to maintain the smooth brown finish of your new Teak furniture and handicraft, this method requires some maintenance for upkeep, such as sanding and reapplication of teak oil. Teak oil does not prolong the life of teak; it simply maintains the golden brown color.

Teak Improvement in Indonesia

                Teak is the most important commercial tree species in Indonesia. There are 0.6 million ha of production plantations and most are based on seed from these production areas. Teak improvement work started in 1974, stimulated by earlier reports of genotypical races, based largely on wood and stem qualities and on some morphological characteristics. Provenance trials commenced in 1932 and observations drew conclusions such as: future exotic teak planting was not required since Java teak was as good as any exotic, although in windy or dry areas it was better to plant Malabar and Myanmar or Thailand teak. Of the exotics, Lao teak had best form and branching; best height was of Lao and Malabar teak; Lao, Malabar and Thailand teaks had the best girth growth. Further provenance trials are operational. Seed Production Areas cover 3,700 ha. Over 136 trees have been selected on the basis of height, DBH, volume, crown, straightness, pruning ability, branch diameter, branch angle, disease resistance, age, and wood characteristics. Teak is vegetative propagated by grafting and tissue culture. As of 1995, 1,139 ha of clone banks and cloned seed orchards have been established. Progeny trials from open pollinated parents (189 families) showed significant differences in height and diameter at a very early age. Cardinal points in setting up tree breeding programs are: that a real need is evident; objectives are clearly defined; results will be put into practice; the programs are carefully planned; the programs have adequate financing.

I.        INTRODUCTION

            Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) is one the most important commercial tree species in Indonesia. It is planted extensively in Java by Perum Perhutani, a state forest enterprise established by the Act No. 36/1986, and which is responsible for the management of teak. Teak plantations cover over one million ha and the annual cut is about 8,000-10,000 ha (Hardiyanto et al., 1992). Rahardjo (1993) noted that Perum Perhutani is also responsible for managing some 0.5 million ha of protection forest and approximately 2.0 million ha of production forests, both in Java. About 1.8 million ha of production forests are plantations comprising: teak (0.6 million ha), pine (0.2 million ha) and other species such as Agathis, mahogany, rosewood, Paraserianthes falcataria, Acacia mangium and Gmelina arborea. Despite the fact that teak has been widely planted, the use of genetically improved seed has not been practiced and current plantations utilize seeds from production areas. Teak improvement activities are now under way to obtain genetically improved seed in programss carried out by the Forest Research Institute, Perum Perhutani and Universities.

II.      HISTORY OF TEAK IMPROVEMENT

            Forest tree improvement planning commenced in 1930 (Wind, 1930; Thorenaar, 1930), some 17 years after the establishment of the Forest Research Station and 33 years after the formation of the Forest Service in 1897. Improvement work started with teak (Soerianegara, 1974) and was stimulated by the finding that there are several types of Javanese teak (Wind, 1930; Gresser, 1932). Thorenaar (1930) described some examples of genotypes and geographical races.

Coster (1931) reported on the flowering biology of teak. This study marked the beginning of teak tree improvement. This was followed by provenance trials in 1932 using seed from Lao (Indo-China), Thailand (Siam), Myanmar (Burma), India and Indonesia (Coster and Eidmann, 1934). Although definite results were obtained (Daryadi, 1959), they were not used for further tree improvement work or for large scale seed production.

III.     ACTIVITIES IN TEAK IMPROVEMENT

a)      Variations in Java teak

            There are several genotypic and geographic types of Javanese teak, (Wind, 1930; Gresser, 1932). Gresser (1932), Coster and Eidmann (1934), and Beekman (1949) considered that these variations can be grouped by either wood properties or by bole form or stem characteristics. Based on wood properties, there are four types:

Ø       Lime or calcareous teak (Jati Kapur), which has a light colored stem and with lime concretions in its wood;

Ø       Oily or waxy teak (Jati minyak; Jati malam; Jati sungu), with hard, heavy shiny wood which feels waxy due to tectoquinone;

Ø       Wrinkled, rippled or waxy teak (Jati werut), whose wood has wrinkled or rippled fibres; and

Ø       Striped or streaked teak (Jati doreng), having dark wood with brown stripes or streaks.

            The second group is based on bole form or stem characteristics, such as: 1) knobby or knotted stem teak (Jati knobbel, Jati gembol) with knobs on the stem; and 2) straight stem teak (Jati gladstam, Jati batang licin).

            Soerianegara (1974), Simatupang (1964), and Sandermann and Simatupang (1966) in studies of the wood chemistry of teak, found significant differences between the various types and provenances of teak from Java, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Lao. Tectoquinone, the most important extractive which creates durability against termites, varies between 0.3-1.3% in Java teak. The caoutchouc content, which is responsible for low abrasion and resistance to mineral acids, varies between 0.1-5%. Spaan (1911) listed 12 varieties of teak tree descriptions originating in Madiun, but the lack of replicability in appearance and growth performance and other characteristics limits these varietal integrities, which may be caused by differences in location or certain diseases. According to Hedegart (1976), what is called Java teak is a variety mostly caused by environment.

            Busgen (in: Hamzah, 1976) stated that many varieties of Java teak generally have characteristic high seed stability and, therefore, seed origins should be noted in teak improvement programss. Ten Oever (1916) speculated that differences among varieties might accidentally appear (e.g., in streaked teak and knotted stem teak), but that on the other hand, calcareous teak and oily teak are a different matter. Thorenaar (1930) reported that Java teak contained more lime compared to Myanmar and Thailand teak. Bianchi (1936) stated that the technical quality of Java teak wood is in the same class as Myanmar and Thailand teak. Variations among populations is also reported by Eidmann (1934) based on seed origin comparisons: Java teak has a big leaf, 60-70 cm long with green and fresh surface, either without or having a very small petiole, and with a strong grooved internode; the Indian variety has a small and stiff leaf, 45-55 cm long, dark green up to the blush leaf with a shiny surface; the stem smaller, not so grooved, and the young internode often bluish-green in color.

            Gresser (1932) reported that smooth stem teak has a small seed with a diameter of less than 14 mm, and represents a desired variety. Murthy (in: Muniswami, 1977) also reported that in Java teak, good characteristics from difference races are related to seed size. Beekman (1949) recognized teak provenances based on the thickness of exocarp and mesocarp, as well as pericarp properties. Seed from Java and Muna has a thin exocarp and mesocarp; seed from India (Godavari, Madhya Pradesh and Malabar) has a very thin mesocarp; seed from Java and Myanmar is bigger than seed from India.

b)     Provenance trials

            Coster (in: Coster and Eidmann, 1934) described the teak improvement program as a preparatory activity, namely the study of the flowering biology and tree improvement activities, comprising: a) provenance trials; and b) mass selection. Due to the difficulties and the length of the time required to conduct controlled crosses and progeny tests, these activities were excluded from the program. A brief description of the material used in the provenance trials is presented in Table 1. The provenance and variety trials were conducted on two sites: Nglambangan (Bojonegoro) and Kesamben (Blitar), in eastern Java in 1932.

Substantial results and observations from these two experiments were reported by Daryadi (1959) after 25 years. The main points are summarized below (Soerianegara, 1974).

                    i.            Stem form and branching

            The best foreign provenance was from Lao, except for brown (Kouai) teak; the worst was from Godavari. The Malabar (India) variety has the greatest number of branches. Indonesia teak is of moderate quality, except for knotted stem teak. Progenies of the smooth stem teak from Ngliron (Randublatung) did not reproduce the properties of their parent trees.

                  ii.            Height

            Malabar (the best) and Lao, especially the Hinh (hard) and the Kouoc (white) teak provenances, attained average heights of over 28 metres. Indonesia teak types having similar growth rates were from Pati (streaked teak) and Cepu (smooth stem teak), especially in the Nglambangan (Bojonegoro) area.

                iii.            Girth

            Malabar, Lao and Thailand provenances all reached 110 cm (35 cm diameter) and over. Almost all the Indonesian types attained 110 cm girth; the most vigorous were derived from seed collected from Pati, Cepu, and Ponorogo, and also from streaked teak.

                iv.            Wood quality

            The wood quality of the varieties has still to be investigated. However, observations made at both of the experimental sites suggest that the appearance of the streaks in streaked teak depends on site conditions. At Nglambangan (Bojonegoro), where the soil is margalitic (black calcareous), the occurrence of streaked progenies is 100 percent, while at Kesamben (Blitar), on volcanic ash soil, it is only 37.5 percent.

            As a consequence of the Teak Sub-Commission of the Fourth Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) meeting in Bandung in 1957, the Forest          Research Institute (now, Nature Conservation and Forest Research and Development Center) at Bogor began a special series of FAO teak provenance trials in 1959. The purpose of the studies is to investigate the growth of different teak provenances on poor soil. Teak provenances under investigation are from India (Malabar), Myanmar, Thailand, Lao, Togo, and Cepu (Indonesia). Trees were planted at three locations in Cikampek (Western Java), Bangsri (Central Java), and Wonorejo (Eastern Java).

c)      Assignment of Seed Production Areas.

            The main purposes in assigning a Seed Production Area by Perum Perhutani are: 1) to obtain better quality seed; 2) to concentrate the collection of seed in a smaller area which can be specially managed so that seed collection can be arranged and supervised easily; and 3) to increase the seed collecting capacity at that site and improve the germination capacity of this seed (Wirjodarmodjo and Subroto, 1983).

            Seed Production Areas are selected from Compartments or sub-Compartments which have been assigned as seed stands. Actually, a Seed Production Area is a plus stand, or a young plantation of the required parent seed origin which will be upgraded and opened later after the removal of all unwanted trees, and managed as a seed source. Seed Production Areas can supply improved seed until seed orchards are capable of producing seed in sufficient quantities.

            Seed Production Areas were designated for selected stands in 1983: 453.3 ha in Central Java, 377.7 ha in East Java, 41.5 ha in Ciamis, West Java, 22.4 in Indramayu, West Java, and 10.6 ha in Purwokerto, Central Java (Satjapraja and Suhaendi, 1992). At present, Perum Perhutani had selected 3,700 ha teak Seed Production Areas (Perum Perhutani, 1995).

d)     Vegetative propagation

                    i.            Grafting

            Teak can be easily propagated through bud and cleft grafting (Sastrosumarto and Suhaendi, 1985; Satjapraja and Suhaendi, 1992). According to Hardjono et al. (1959), successful bud grafting of teak depends on the age of the bud donor. Bud grafting at 20-50 years age can give 70% success, whereas trees of 50 years age and over have a take of about 60%. Trials at the Forest Research Institute, Bogor, showed an 80% success, which indicates that a large-scale bud grafting programs is possible.

            Cleft grafting is also promising according to a study reported by Harahap (1972), which concludes that bud and cleft grafting can be recommended for establishing a teak clonal seed orchard. According to Muniswami (1977), the famous basic method for teak in India is bud grafting with two-open-flap. This method has been tried by Perum Perhutani in Indonesia. This material was used for establishment of a clone bank (Wirjodarmodjo and Subroto, 1983).

                  ii.            Tissue culture

            Since 1979, Perum Perhutani has cooperated with the Institut Teknologi Bandung (Bandung Institute of Technology) on teak tissue culture research (Wirjodarmodjo and Subroto, 1983). Noerhadi and Wirjodarmodjo (1980) reported research results on teak tissue culture as follows:

            1) Callus growth from stem and petiole gave a predominant type response. The explant after 3 weeks, and treatment with BAP hormone, was planted in a modification of JS and MS medium; hormone 2 4-D in concentration up to 3.5 ppm produced a better and larger callus compared with NAA hormone with concentration up to 10 ppm.

            2) A cut young leaf and pedicel also produced callus, but at a very low rate and not consistently, compared with callus from stem and leaf stalk.

            3) Root formation from the explant is noted after 2 months planting in the same medium, with additional NAA and BAP hormones of concentration 3.5 ppm and 0.25 ppm respectively.

e)     Establishment of Clone Banks

            Even though teak plus trees have been identified, they might be lost because of theft, forest fire, natural disasters, etc. To preserve genetic sources and their characters, it is important to make an archive, or copy tree, using vegetative propagation techniques. These copies of the plus trees are kept in a special site - a clone bank. The function of the clone bank, besides preserving genetic characters of the plus trees, is also to serve as a bud source when needed in vegetative propagation to establish clonal seed orchards. Clone banks are located in safe locations that are supervised, visited often, and on flat terrain.

            Perum Perhutani has 5 clone banks. In each one, there are ten replications of the plus trees, so every plus tree is copied 50 times. If/when the parent plus tree disappears, its genetic characters are safely preserved. Clone banks are located at Cepu and           Randublatung Forest Districts, Central Java, and in Bojonegoro, Parengan, and Saradan Forest Districts, East Java. Any selection of a plus tree is always followed by establishing it in a clone bank (Perum Perhutani 1992, 1995).

f)       Establishment of Clonal Seed Orchards

The establishment objective of clonal seed orchards is to obtain high genetic quality seed. The trees in clonal seed orchards are derived from vegetative propagation (bud grafting) of the sum of plus trees. The site of a clonal seed orchard must be remote from other teak forests to avoid pollen contamination, thus ensuring that pollination occurs only between plus trees in a completely randomized block design.

Clonal seed orchards of Malabar and Java teak have been successfully established by the Forest Research Institute at Kesamben and Saradan in Eastern Java (Hardjono et al., 1959; Soerianegara, 1974). Another clonal seed orchard of Java teak was established by Perum Perhutani in 1983. Perum Perhutani planned to establish 1,200 ha of teak clonal seed orchards, and by 1993, 1,139 ha were established at Cepu, Padangan, and Randublatung Forest Districts (Perum Perhutani, 1995).

When establishing a clonal seed orchard, buds from the plus trees are taken at the end of the dry season (August/September). Same-day grafting is made onto previously prepared rootstock, which is then planted in a plastic bag filled with soil and a little fertilizer. These bags are kept at the nursery for approximately three months, until December-January when they are planted in the orchard. Orchard planting is done by the taungya method with a spacing of 10×10 m. Additional tilling ground is provided for forest farmers to plant a second crop (Perum Perhutani 1992).

g)     Progeny testing

The first progeny test by Perum Perhutani took place in 1987 in the Cepu, Kendal, and Saradan Forest Districts. A total of 122 teak plus trees had been planted by 1991. Random block designs were used to analyze height and diameter growth, tree form, stem and crown and resistance to disease (Perum Perhutani, 1992). Another progeny test of 189 families was carried out in 1988 by the Faculty of Forestry, Gadjah Mada University, in Wanagama, Yogyakarta. Seed for this was collected from open pollinated parent trees from plantations in Java and Nusa Tenggara Timur (West Timor). At the age of three months, differences among families in height and diameter were significant (Hardiyanto et al., 1992).

             When one works with a product such as teak, which has a long-standing reputation for enduring qualities, it is easy to assume that others are familiar with the many reasons for its high rating in the outdoor furniture business. But unless you are in some way involved in the timber industry or another profession which requires technical knowledge of the quality of various woods, you probably don't know everything there is to know about teak. If you are looking for garden furniture, there are some interesting facts about teak and its use in the outdoor furniture market that will help you choose what type of furniture to specify.

Durability
            The most important characteristic of teak is its durability in all weather conditions. Teak is an extremely dense, grained hardwood that resists rot, warping, shrinking and swelling. Its high natural oil content continually preserves the wood so it can be left outdoors for decades.

How durable is teak when left outdoors? It is said that the first outdoor teak benches were actually made of decking from old sailing ships. The decking on these ships was in such good condition when the ships were about to be scrapped, the wood was recycled and remade into outdoor furniture. Public parks all over England are furnished with teak benches, some of which are nearly a century old.

Here in the United States, teak benches can be found in the tropical gardens of hotels in Hawaii. Tables and chairs made of teak provide maintenance-free outdoor dining for skiers in Colorado resorts, and teak steamer chairs can be found from the coast of Maine to the Arizona desert.

Aesthetics
            Teak furniture and handicraft are very smooth to the touch and does not splinter. Teak even smells good -- it has a faint, pleasant aromatic smell. Not only does teak have a warm appearance, but it also stays very neutral in temperature compared to plastic or metal furniture when exposed to the heat of the sun or cold winter days.

Teak also is one of the few materials that actually beautifies with age. The silvery gray patina that develops over time gives teak outdoor furniture a richness and stately appearance. The slow, natural weathering of teak results in outdoor furniture that blends in naturally to become part of its environment.

When untreated teak furniture and handicraft are used indoors (as in restaurants, office lobbies, shopping centers, etc.), the wood grain evens in tone, taking on a very rich, golden brown color.

Design that Works
            Outdoor furniture made of teak is usually very classic and simple in design. The natural appearance of teak wood lends itself to uncomplicated designs that subtly blend in with the surrounding architecture and landscape. The stateliness of Teak furniture and handicraft works equally well on the terraces of traditional country inns or in the lobbies of the most contemporary hotels.

Over the past 10 years, as designers and architects have become more acquainted with the versatility and durability of teak outdoor furniture, the range of available styles has grown. Along with the classic designs, more streamlined, contemporary designs have reached the market. While it is always good to have a broad range of styles to choose from, it is important to avoid styles so modern that they appear to be interior furniture brought outdoors.

When choosing teak outdoor furniture, look for styles that will enhance, but not overpower, the landscape or setting for which it is chosen. Attention should be paid to the scale of the surroundings. For example, vast, estate-like buildings require benches and dining groupings quite substantial in dimension and weight. In contrast, smaller, more delicate architecture needs lighter-weight furniture

Consider Comfort
            Well-crafted teak pieces have no sharp edges or angles—armrests, seat slats, back rests and back slats should be chamfered and sanded to round out angles. Similarly, all edges and corners of tables should be rounded. And although many outdoor tables have traditionally been designed with pedestal-type bases, outdoor dining is meant to be informal and relaxing. Stretching out one's legs underneath a table with a pedestal base is impossible—look for a simple base that allows plenty of legroom.

The number of back slats on a backrest can make a big difference in comfort—the closer the spacing, the better. Also, the front edge of benches and chairs should have an extra horizontal seat slat that prevents the vertical front rail from cutting into the back of legs. This requires additional material and workmanship, and is an important aspect to consider when comparing seating options.

Details in Workmanship
            Most (but not all) outdoor teak furniture and handicraft are manufactured with mortise and tenon joinery that provides extremely sturdy finished pieces and tight-fitting joints. The precision of the workmanship varies from manufacturer to manufacturer—joints should fit tightly together with no gaps whatsoever. Be wary of furniture patched with wood putty to hide defects in workmanship, as well as furniture that must be glued together—it will not withstand prolonged outdoor use. The use of dowels to secure the mortise and tenon joinery not only adds to the strength of the construction, but also allows for a perfect finished look with no visible hardware. Dowels should be made of teak to blend in with the furniture.

The quality of the fine sanding on the finished furniture is one of the most important details. This is where one can separate mass-produced pieces from handcrafted ones. Teak garden furniture should be extremely smooth to the touch, with no rough edges whatsoever.

The Value of Teak
            For years, teak has had the reputation of being costly, and from some sources it still is. However, competition in the market has brought prices down to more reasonable levels. Today, teak is one of the best values available in outdoor furniture. Be sure to consider design details, workmanship and comfort when comparing prices, and before specifying, to be sure you are getting the value you expect. Don't assume the quality is better if you pay more.