Teak Flooring Pros and Cons

For long, teak has been conferred as the ultimate wood for all outdoor uses. Teak wood is acclaimed to be extremely high on durability, and being weather-resistant makes teak the most sought after expanse for fittings. An oily wood by nature, freckled with a fine close grain, it withstands weather and wear extremely well. Another feather in the cap is the longevity that teak boasts of. The fine grained texture of teak wood is maintained beautifully for years. Natural variation in hues and richly designed textures with exquisite grain patterns create flooring that exudes panache. Its subtly dramatic elegance lends a touch of sophistication to even an apartment that is modestly stuttered. Teak is grown in Burma and Thailand, and adheres to certain legal harvesting guidelines. If you are keen on installing a teak floor, apart from looking at certain teak flooring pros and cons, you must also ensure that the manufacturer from whom you make the purchase from, registers and strictly adheres to the harvesting guidelines.

Specifics About Teak Flooring

Color: Teak hardwood varies in color from being yellowish brown to dark honey chestnut brown. The teak sapwood is lighter, being a creamy pale yellow. The color of the sapwood darkens to a rich, dark brown when exposed to sunlight. This is indeed one color that most of us associate teak wood with.

Grain: Teak is close-grained. Apart from being packed with a grainy texture, it is accompanied with wide, and coarse straight lines. The dramatic coloring differences are emphasized by sanding and finishing. Teak is a popular choice for laying fashionable parquet floors, and also used in strip and plank flooring.

Teak Flooring - Pros and Cons

Teak being one of the most popular genesis of wood, has unique benefits as well as drawbacks. If you are keen to use teak for your flooring, you must look at some teak flooring pros and cons, before you get on board with the installation process. Here are the important factors that you may want to consider before you take the final step.

Durability (+)
The longevity that teak offers is one that can stand the test of time. You are sure to have teak look the same with its grainy ingredients in place and fine straight lines contributing dimension to your flooring. A great option for high traffic areas, also serving to be an excellent option for homes abuzz with children. It is the most resistant wood to scratches. If you have pets and allow them to run around the house, you would be glad to know that teak is also resistant to animal claw marks. In a nutshell, areas that prefer hubbub over peace could opt for nothing better than teak flooring.

Shine and Finish (+)
Teak makes for the best hardwood floor that withholds its natural oils. It is due to this reason that many people opt to leave it untreated, allowing it to age naturally. This could be an option if you are looking out for cost cutting tactics. It would be just fine if you decide not to apply a finish such as varnish or stain. Teak also has a faithful property, which is it does not splinter. All in all, you don't have to worry about sanding and you can let the finish go for a toss.

Water Resistant (+)
Teak is extremely water resistant. It is due to this helpful property of teak that it is employed in saunas, bathrooms and kitchens. The wood does not absorb moisture if and when exposed to water. You no more need to be concerned about the wood rotting if excessive moisture seeps in.

Insect Repellent (+)
The natural oils in teak not only lend a natural luster but the oils also act as a natural insect repellent. With teak flooring, you could rest assured that you would not find any termites and other creepy crawlies duct in the wood corroding the surface.

Dimensional Stability (+)
The dimensional stability of teak is very high. The amount of expansion and contraction caused by weather and moisture does not affect teak in the least, and thus teak fits easily in patterned wood floors.

Expensive (-)
Teak is one hardwood material that is more expensive than its veneered cousins that are offered in tempting prices in the market arena. This is due to factors that include the high demand for almost all variations of teak. Teak forests are decimated and are on the anvil of disruption, and there are scanty areas where teak will grow.

Endangered (-)
Dealing with endangered species of teak and buying or selling them in the open market is against the set and formulated rules. If teak flooring is what you want for your home, reclaimed or sustainable wood should be your preference. A certified teak consists of an FSC (Forestry Stewardship Counsel) certification on the teak flooring you purchase. You need to be sure that you have received the certification.

Maintenance (-)
Teak loses its oils as time lapses, and thus needs to be oiled sporadically in order to maintain the sheen and luster. Its ability to resist termites and other insects is also maintained when teak wood flooring is oiled or varnished. It would be to your advantage to use teak oil on it every 2 to 3 years to sustain its valued properties. Teak flooring is not an extremely high maintenance project to accomplish, however, you have to make up your mind if you are prepared to go through the oiling procedure to help keep it from changing colors.

Inexpensive teak wood flooring laminates start just over $1 per square foot. As far as authentic teak is concerned, the pricing starts at nearly $4 per square foot, and may rise in such a manner that the teak wood flooring may be priced at more than a dozen times of the said price. These were some of the most important teak flooring pros and cons that you must keep in mind before you embark on your mission to have flooring that looks swish and exudes paramount class.