Phil Scolari asked:


After i replace the warped wood, i would have some new wood and some old wood, i want to repaint the whole deck, can i do that? or do i have to wait for the pressure treated wood to dry out? Thanks!

ANDREA

Michael Ochoa asked:


You are contemplating your first purchase of Teak Furniture and you are wondering if you making the right decision? Well, you are and in this quick article, I will explain why I believe that.

If you already use Teak Wood in some of your favorite outdoor furniture, then this article will just be fun information for you to know and share with your friends when they ask you, “why did you buy Teak Wood” versus ?????.

It is no surprise, or it should not be, that Teak Wood has been the favored wood for generations. The secrets of this wood are out and they have been for a long, long time.

First, a little history lesson: (You will love this part)

It is not a well known fact, but is has been written that the Chinese have been renowned sailors for generations. Many of their ships were built and designed to not only sail in the oceans, but also to move up river. Much of the trade then, was done several thousand miles up river and not out in the ocean. These ships needed to be versatile, durable, and tough.

The wood used to build these early Chinese ships was Teak. It is also said that the Chinese shipbuilders would bury the wood logs in moist soil for years prior to building their ships. This made the wood much stronger and impervious to anything that could be encountered on the high seas, including enemies. Why was this important? It was important because approx. 600 years ago the Chinese were set out on a task by the Chinese Ming dynasty to sail to the edge of the world. Apparently they circumnavigated the world several times. But this is going off to another subject. Let’s get back to the subject at hand (I’ll bet you didn’t know that you would actually be learning something too?).

Later in years, British naval ships were made from Oak, also a very hard and durable wood. The British encountered two problems with oak: Wood Worms and a lack of Oak trees. Woodworms were destroying the ships in the British Naval Fleet. Woodworms were the scourge of wooden ships throughout history. It could take 850 oak logs to repair one ship. It took a little over 2000 oak logs just to build one ship. The British needed ships as they continued for some time to have maritime issues with the French, and to be able to go on to conquer and take control of British colonies. The British naval fleet was their primary means to accomplish this.

The Oak supply in Europe was being quickly depleted. They knew about the Teak wood used on the Chinese ships and how rugged they were after having run into them, literally in the shipping lanes. The British had learned how impervious these ships were to all of the elements at sea: Saltwater, ocean wind, and the blistering sun. It was also learned then that Teak was found to not to splinter when hit by gunfire or artillery fire. This was a very important issue as splintering wood was the chief cause of casualties among naval warfare in the eighteenth century.

Britain was very interested to grow and produce this wood. The British quickly realized they did not need to grow Teak Wood as they could annex those countries where the Teak wood was grown and have a plentiful supply. India, Thailand and Burma were quickly annexed into the British Empire. It is not to say this is why the British took over these areas, but it certainly helped to give reason. Myanmar (formerly Burma), which is just south of India, and Yangoon became the first places where Teak was being harvested for British ships. Calcutta was set up as another British shipbuilding site. All of the British merchant ships built in Calcutta were built with Myanmar Teak logs which were said to be the best. Once the wood was depleted from India, logs were harvested from Thailand and Burma.

Teak forests were quickly being depleted. Teak was now the preferred wood used for building ships, Yachts, Ocean liners and furniture. Under ocean conditions, the wood had very little shrinkage or warpage. This meant little maintenance. The wood was also impervious to wood rot and insects, like the mighty woodworm. The famous Ocean liner “Queen Mary” used no less than 1000 tons of teak when built. The British quickly realized the depletion that was taking place and developed a re-forestation plan. They appointed a leader to head this new bureau and began replanting Teak trees on what are now called Teak “plantations”. A set of very strict laws were enacted regarding who can cut Teak Wood and who can purchase it. Once these laws were set in place, one needed to have permission from the British Government to be able to cut a Teak Tree down and or export it.

Teak was also being used by the locals for huts, fence posts, and furniture. India is the third largest importer of Teak today, behind China and Japan. As much as 80% of India’s timber consumption is Teak. The wood is used in India today for local consumption; building homes, furniture, fencing, etc. It is the one wood that can withstand the monsoons, the blistering heat and the humidity. It is the wood that all other timber species are compared to.

Teak Wood contains natural oil and Silica (sand) which makes it impervious to insects, and wood rot. These substances also help it to maintain it luster for many, many years, but make it a little more difficult for the manufactures as their blades tend to dull sooner.

When many of the English ships of WWII were taken apart for salvage, the Teak Wood decks were re-manufactured into outdoor furniture like park benches. Even today they can be seen in many parts of Europe still functioning.

Most of the Teak grown today is grown on Plantations that are governed by the local governments. The demand for Teak is growing at an estimated 10% per year. Teak is a heavily regulated (and rightfully so) commodity, and is sold through the auction process. Teak is not very easy to get. There are regulatory permits that must be purchased and other expenses that go along with regulation. For example, once purchased, it is usually the purchasing companies’ responsibility to provide transportation if the wood is to be exported and certain countries have regulations on how many logs can be exported. Currently, Java, Indonesia is the largest exporter of Teak. There are several companies that are located in Java that will process and fashion the Teak into furniture, or planks for flooring or siding, and then export the finished item or semi finished item to countries around the world.

Teak grows very rapidly but still takes approx. 50 years to mature. Many countries are reviewing the possible rotation after 30 or 40 years. This is mainly due to the large demand for Teak. The consensus with this rotation is that the wood will not be inferior at that rate. There are some countries that are trying tree rotation after only 25 years. The results are timber that is smaller in diameter, color, and grain.

So, when add it all up, you get a much better understanding not only of what the hype about Teak Wood is all about, but the numerous qualities of Teak Wood and the supply and demand side of Teak Wood.

Many people for generations have been enjoying the warm benefits of owning Teak Wood products. Outdoor Teak Wood furniture is a Standard for many families and in many gardens, terraces, patios, verandas, ships, and yachts around the world. If you are investing in outdoor furniture, you really owe it to yourself to step into the world of Teak.



GIL

arturogondaro asked:


I have heard that rubber backed throw rugs are bad for wood floors. And I am purchasing some rugs for my new home, which has wood floors.

DONTE

Ed Terran asked:


There are many uses for wood in the home. One popular way of using wood is for beams on ceilings. They give the room a feel that is pleasing and it can reflect the rest of the décor of the room. The beams should be of a quality of wood that is mirrored in other aspects of the home.

Floor and door molding and window frames are often wood. The wood can either be painted to match the room or it can be left natural and have a glossy finish applied to help preserve the wood. These homes are quite beautiful and depending upon the type of wood used, the appearance can be quite sophisticated or can have a rustic feel. Many people use unfinished wood if they are going for the country motif. This can be quite impressive when combined with other pieces that are of the same general look.

Wood cabinets in your kitchen can be quite good looking. There are so many types of wood from which to choose. Cherry is often used for a look that is rich and deep. The look and feel of real wood is far more pleasing than the cheap imitation wood that can be purchased and it will last longer. Oak is another wood that is used for kitchen cabinets for those who prefer a lighter color in their kitchens.

Wood for cabinets and bases for sinks are often used in the bathroom as well. Here with the addition of wood towel bars, toothbrush holders, soap holder, and other accessories your look will be complete. The wood you use in your home will not only be pleasing to the eye but could raise the value as well.

Have you ever thought of having a wood mantel installed over your fireplace? This was used in many houses in the past and the look is stunning. The mantel can be a natural wood that has been covered with a finish for preservation or it can be painted to match the rest of the room. If you want to match it to other wood in the room, for instance, door frames and window frames or ever crown molding, this can create a truly beautiful look.

Speaking of crown molding, this is another use for wood in your home that gives the rooms such an expensive look. The wide array of crown molding that is available will allow you to match it up with just about any kind of wood you are using elsewhere in your home. It can be plain or can be carved with flowers, leaves, or any type of décor you choose.

Another item that is often made from wood is your entrance door. The door can be plain or it can have windows of just about any shape or style you want. The wood door can make a bold statement or it can be just a plain door. The oak door is one choice and with the right type of hardware, this can be a beautiful look.



CLAIR