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The decks of the Titanic were covered with teak and the wood is as good today as the fateful night in 1912, when she sank. Sunken logs recovered from the Rangoon River in Burma, under water for more than 150 years, were as durable as the day the tree was felled.
Teak is ideal In boat interiors where there is high humidity, for doors, hatches and cabinetry because it does not warp, twist or expand which could make opening doors and drawers impossible. Unlike most woods, teak does not crack when in contact with water because of natural oils and remains stable even under months in the hot sun or submersed in ocean waters.
Teak develops a unique non-skid property underfoot, even when wet due to a high silica (sand) content giving traction when walking on a wet teak deck. Teak needs no paint or varnish and over time will develop a silver gray patina. Snow storms, monsoon rains, tropical heat and even scorching desert conditions do not diminish the strength of teak. Teak has natural resins called techno quinines that repel termites, marine borers and resist rot.
Teak is not a tropical rainforest species and grows sparsely in mixed deciduous forests. In its natural environment there are only 1 to 5 trees per acre in the best growing areas. Burma established plantations in 1856 with some very farsighted foresters who saw the need to treasure trees for future generations. Teak seeds from Burma have been used to start plantations in Africa and Central America.
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