When it comes to Teak lumber, Wood-Chip offers carpenters and woodworkers consistent access to the finest quality boards available in North America. From our base in Fort Lauderdale, FL ‘The Yachting Capital of the World’, our company has been a leading supplier of Teak to marine professionals and boat owners since our doors first opened.  With competitive pricing, delivery options, and a commitment to long standing customer relationships, the experienced woodworkers at Wood-Chip are available to discuss your next teak project.  Call for current pricing. 

CURRENT TEAK AVAILABILITY:

• Teak Hardwood – We stock a massive inventory of boards in every length available. Widths from 1″ to 18″ in stock.
• FEQ Teak – Available in both Plain and Quatersawn
  • 4/4 FEQ Teak 6-12″ x 4-12″
  • 6/4 FEQ Teak 6-9″ x 8-12″
  • 8/4 FEQ Teak 6-12″ x 4-12″
• Teak Cover Boards
  • 4/4, 5/4, 6/4 & 8/4.  Widths:  14-20″ x 12-17″
• “Viking Teak” – Reconstituted Teak wood veneers (aka Friendly Harvest)
  • Old Viking & New Viking in stock
• We also have a wide selection of Teak Wood-Veneers and Teak Plywood

Every Teak board we sell has been hand-selected by our team of experienced woodworkers, and sourced from mills we have grown to know and trust over 27 years in the marine carpentry industry. Through our direct relationship we can carry a variety of sizes and thicknesses to suit our customers’ needs.  We carry many unusual sizes, including very wide (24″+) and very long (20’+) lumber to specifically serve the boating industry.

About Teak Wood

Apart from its natural beauty, Teak (Tectona grandis) is also one of the most valuable woods in the world, occurring  in commercial quantities in India, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, North and South Vietnam, and the East Indies. When Teak trees are cut, their sap helps preserve the wood, making it both durable and able to be restored.

The heartwood varies from yellow–brown to dark golden–brown and eventually turns a rich brown upon exposure to air. Teak wood has a coarse uneven texture (ring porous), is usually straight grained, and has a distinctly oily feel. The heartwood has excellent dimensional stability and a very high degree of natural durability.

Teak will show many colors when freshly milled, but with air and sun exposure it turns a lovely golden brown.

Teak requires little to no maintenance, regardless of the environment.  Because Teak does not cause rust or experience corrosion when in contact with metal, it is widely used in the boat-building industry, for tanks and vats, and for fixtures that require high acid resistance. In addition to its widespread use in the marine carpentry, it is used in the construction of furniture, flooring, decorative objects, and decorative veneer.

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 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.

Common Questions about Teak

What is FEQ Teak?

FEQ stands for First European Quality.  Vertical grain Teak is highly sought after for boat decking applications because of its consistent appearance, strength, and ease of matching across a wider surface. Wood-Chip only stocks premium FEQ Teak lumber with consistent color and grain patterns.

Whats the difference between South East Asian, South American, and general Plantation Teak?

With Teak lumber prices climbing ever higher and the wide variety of Teak being sourced from so many different regions, understanding the hardwood can be a bit confusing.  

Wood-chip features only true Burmese Teak grown in South East Asia.  On a trip to our warehouse you will find NO plantation or South American Teak.  Our sister company, Wood-Chuck Workshop only installs “First European Quality,” or FEQ lumber on the hundreds of yachts it sees in a year.  Southeast Asian Teak is far superior in color, consistency, and durability.

Why is it that the track record of Burmese Teak superior to that of Plantation Teak?

In a nutshell it has a lot to do with the amount of time in the soil and differences in harvest practices.  Naturally occurring Teak grows to over 100′ tall and can be over three hundred years old!  Natural Teak has a much tighter grain and far fewer visible defects.  All of these factors add up to near perfect silica and resin levels which makes natural Teak highly waterproof and very durable.  Simply put, no other hardwood is as well suited for boat building.

Conversely, plantation Teak is harvested every thirty to sixty years.  While these trees may grow as tall, they are certainly not as strong.  Plantation Teak is far less dense than natural Teak and not near as stable to machine.  Plantation and the South American Teak hardwoods are more prone to “checking” over years of use. This is attributed to higher starting moisture levels and the more “open” nature of the grain.