Teak Lumber in Houston – Overview

Teak Lumber

Specifications

  • Thicknesses (Commonly Stocked at Houston Hardwoods in): 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, and 8/4. We also offer custom milling to your exact specifications (e.g., 1×2, 1×4, 1×6, or other custom dimensions), as well as various options including S4S, S2S, S2S1E, and SLR1E.
  • Species: Tectona grandis
  • Hardness (Janka): 1,070 lbf
  • Color: Heartwood is a warm golden to medium brown, sometimes with darker streaks or a slightly variegated appearance. It weathers beautifully to a distinguished silvery-gray patina when left unfinished outdoors. Sapwood is yellowish-white and clearly demarcated.
  • Grain: Typically straight, though it can occasionally be wavy. Coarse, uneven texture with a good natural luster, and a distinctly oily or greasy feel due to its high natural oil content.
  • Workability: Moderately easy to work with hand and machine tools, but the high silica content can rapidly dull cutting edges; carbide tooling is recommended. Its natural oils can make gluing challenging, requiring proper surface preparation. Finishes well after appropriate cleaning.
  • Common Uses in Houston: High-end outdoor furniture, marine decking and boat building, exterior construction, luxurious interior joinery, and specialty items requiring exceptional durability.

What Makes Teak Unique

Teak is globally renowned as the ultimate outdoor wood, a reputation earned through centuries of unparalleled performance in demanding conditions. Its unique distinction lies in its extraordinarily high content of natural oils and silica, which render it virtually impervious to water, rot, insects, and harsh weather. This inherent resistance means Teak requires very little maintenance, weathering beautifully to a elegant silvery-gray patina without sacrificing integrity. Its combination of legendary durability, exceptional stability, and classic aesthetic makes it the benchmark for marine applications, luxury outdoor furniture, and any project demanding timeless resilience and beauty.

Why Choose Teak

  • Unrivaled Outdoor Durability: Naturally resistant to rot, decay, insects, and moisture, making it the premier choice for outdoor and marine applications in Houston’s climate.
  • Exceptional Dimensional Stability: Exhibits minimal shrinkage or swelling with changes in humidity, ensuring projects remain stable and true over time.
  • Beautiful Weathering: When left unfinished outdoors, it develops a highly sought-after silvery-gray patina, adding character and requiring no upkeep.
  • High Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Offers robust performance despite being relatively lighter than some other dense hardwoods.
  • Classic, Luxurious Appearance: Its warm golden-brown color and fine grain give it a timeless, high-end aesthetic that suits various design styles.

Why You Might Not Choose Teak

  • Very High Cost: Teak is one of the most expensive hardwoods available, limiting its use to high-budget projects and where its specific properties are essential.
  • Difficult on Tools: Its silica content is abrasive, rapidly dulling cutting edges; specialized carbide tools are often required, increasing wear and tear on equipment for woodworkers.
  • Oily Surface Challenges: The high oil content can complicate gluing and certain finishing applications, requiring careful surface preparation (e.g., wiping with a solvent before gluing).
  • Heavy Weight: While not as dense as some exotics, it is still a substantial wood, which can be a factor for large assemblies.
  • Dust Can Cause Irritation: The sawdust can cause skin irritation or respiratory issues in some sensitive individuals, necessitating good ventilation and personal protective equipment.

Teak in the Houston Climate

Acclimation for Best Results

Teak’s legendary stability and natural oil content make it exceptionally well-suited for Houston’s humid climate, particularly for outdoor applications. For interior projects, however, allowing the wood to acclimate to your workshop or the final indoor environment is still recommended. Our city’s often high humidity and warm temperatures necessitate this step to ensure optimal stability, especially for fine joinery or precision work, minimizing any potential for movement and preserving the integrity of your finished Teak pieces.

Unrivaled for Outdoor & Marine Performance

This wood is truly in its element in Houston’s environment. Its unparalleled natural resistance to moisture, rot, and insects makes it the ultimate choice for high-end outdoor furniture on patios in The Woodlands, marine decking and components for boats in Clear Lake, and durable exterior architectural elements that will stand the test of time against our sun and humidity. Indoors, it adds a touch of classic luxury to yacht interiors or unique bathroom cabinetry in West University Place, though its outdoor properties are where it truly shines.

Color and Grain Stability

The golden to medium brown color of Teak is stable indoors, but its most iconic characteristic is how it weathers outdoors. When left unfinished and exposed to Houston’s elements, Teak will gradually transform into a beautiful, silvery-gray patina, a highly prized aesthetic that requires no maintenance. If you prefer to maintain the golden-brown color outdoors, regular oiling is necessary. The grain is exceptionally stable, exhibiting very little movement. This combination of robust stability and graceful aging makes Teak a timeless and reliable choice for both classic and contemporary designs across Houston’s diverse architectural landscape.

Popular Teak Applications in Houston

Teak’s unparalleled durability, natural resistance, and classic beauty make it the gold standard for demanding applications among Houston’s marine professionals, luxury outdoor living designers, and high-end furniture makers. It is chosen when longevity, minimal maintenance, and a timeless aesthetic are paramount.

Popular Applications Include:

  • High-End Outdoor Furniture: Crafting outdoor patio sets, benches, and dining tables that withstand Houston’s heat and humidity while developing a beautiful, maintenance-free patina.
  • Marine Decking and Boat Building: The quintessential choice for boat decks, brightwork, and other marine components due to its superior resistance to water, rot, and marine borers, essential for vessels based in Clear Lake or Galveston.
  • Exterior Architectural Elements: Used for durable and elegant siding, trim, custom doors, and window frames on high-end homes and commercial buildings.
  • Decking and Porch Flooring: While not used for interior flooring, it’s a prime material for exterior decks and porch surfaces where durability and resistance to the elements are critical.
  • Luxury Interior Joinery: Employed for custom cabinetry, paneling, and fine furniture in upscale interiors where its classic appearance and stability are desired.
  • Outdoor Planters and Garden Features: Creating long-lasting and attractive planters, pergolas, or other garden structures that stand up to the Texas weather.

Current Design Trends Featuring Teak:

  • Luxury Outdoor Living Spaces: Central to designing sophisticated and durable outdoor kitchens, living rooms, and entertaining areas that thrive in Houston’s climate.
  • Coastal and Nautical Inspired Interiors: Integrates perfectly into homes that embrace a relaxed, high-end marine aesthetic.
  • Timeless and Classic Design: Continues to be a favored choice for projects emphasizing enduring quality and traditional elegance.
  • Resort-Style Residential and Commercial Projects: Frequently specified for high-end developments, hotels, and clubs around Houston for its durability and luxurious feel.

Looking for Teak for Your Next Project?

We stock this legendary and durable wood in 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, and 8/4 thicknesses and can custom mill to your exact needs. Whether you’re crafting a lasting outdoor furniture set, a marine masterpiece, or luxurious interior elements, our team is here to help you pick the right material.

Visit Houston Hardwoods or contact us to check availability, request a quote, or discuss your project plans.