Colour/Appearance:

Teak Wood tends to be a medium or light brown, with colour darkening with age.

Grain/Texture:

Teak Wood has a coarse texture with medium-sized open pores. The grain tends to be straight, though it can occasionally be wavy or interlocked. Teak also has a slightly oily or greasy feel due to its natural oils. American teak has the least oil content when compared to other origins like Burmese/African.

Rot Resistance:

Teak Wood has been considered by many to be the gold standard for decay resistance, and its heartwood is rated as very durable. Teak is also resistant to termites.

Workability:

Easy to work in nearly all regards, with the only caveat being that Teak contains a high level of silica (up to 1.4%) which has a pronounced blunting effect on cutting edges. Despite its natural oils, Teak Wood usually glues and finishes well; though in some instances it may be necessary to wipe the surface of the wood with a solvent prior to gluing/finishing to reduce the natural oils on the surface of the wood.

Odor:

Teak Wood can have a leather-like scent when freshly milled.

Sustainability:

Teak Wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.