UniqueAmericanTeak.com
Unique American Teak--Your Source for Environmentally
Certified Hardwood Flooring and Lumber.
In the mid-eighties, ecologists discovered that the "Tropical-Dry" climate on the west coast of Costa Rica was perfect for teak; teak that would reduce the harvest of "old-growth" forests in Asia. Thanks to consistent growth rates, plantation teak is now mature enough for commercial harvest and a new market is developing. What was once "too dark", "too expensive" or "only for boats", plantation teak is a beautiful, durable, alternative to irreplaceable American and Asian hardwoods that is AS STABLE AND DURABLE AS OLD-WORLD BURMESE TEAK. It takes more than 75 YEARS for an Oak to be mature enough for commercial harvest; our teak is marketable in 15!!
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS
Even though more customers become increasingly conscience of environmental issues, exotic hardwoods are still seen as prestigious and desirable; especially TEAK. By stressing the environmental advantages of FSC certified Materials, they can have both. It's important to you—it's important to your customers!
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Next to certain softwoods such as pine grown for paper and power production, Teak is one of the best suited trees for "farming". Properly managed, it can be ready for harvest in as little as 15 years while still providing a home for indigenous flora and fauna. In addition, due to the short harvest cycle, efficient land rotation reduces impact on the environment, provides for indefinite land use, and provides oxygen for the environment.
DURABILITY OF TEAK
Teak is one of the most durable timbers in the world. On some dry sites, it has lasted for more than seven hundred years. Even when in direct contact with the ground, it can remain serviceable for more than twenty-five years because of the natural preservatives present in the heartwood. Natural durability is one of the prerequisites that make teak a high quality timber for ANY application.
STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
As verified by a recent USDA US Forest Service study (CHARACTERISTICS OF TEN TROPICAL HARDWOODS FROM CERTIFIED FORESTS; USDA Forest Products Lab Study), Plantation Teak is virtually identical to "Burmese" or Old-World Teak in terms of dimensional stability. According to the study, it does not cup or warp due to changes in temperature and moisture. In fact, movement due to shrinkage is unrivalled among the timbers of the world. For this reason, teak can be glued directly to a properly sealed concrete slab.