Deciding between acacia wood vs. teak can be frustrating because they are both gorgeous types of wood for home furnishings. But, having enough knowledge of both can help you easily pinpoint what you need.
Let our woodworking pros alleviate that frustration by showing you the teak and acacia wood difference.
Teak: Background, Characteristics, Pros & Cons
Geography and Origins of Teak
Teak is a genus of plants that originated in Southeast Asia (Burmese Teak) but has since spread to Africa and Central and South America (Brazilian teak).
Teak trees grow more than 130 feet in length in carefully managed plantations. It is a bulky hardwood that can live for centuries.
Despite their dense wood, it matures at a rapid rate. They only need about 25 years to fully mature. Furthermore, its light brown color, tight grain pattern, and natural oils make it good for indoor and outdoor use and quality furniture.
Appearance
Smell
Teak wood emits a robust, resinous odor that bears a resemblance to the scent of leather. Once you spend some time in a room with teak, even if you’ve never encountered its fragrance before, you’ll easily recognize its distinctive smell.
Color
Light brown with golden and dark brown streaks when freshly cut. The heartwood of the teak is highly prized for its durability and beauty. Staining wood is common among merchants due to its lighter shade.
But how about painting? Can you paint teak wood to achieve your desired color? Find out next.
Grain Pattern
A teak tree has a uniform, straight grain, and almost no knots. The design will be made up of parallel lines of varying shades of brown.
Weight and Density
Teak wood have substantial weight. Eventually, picking it up will give you a sense of the density. When purchasing teak, you’ll know that it has been substituted if the weight is significantly less than what it should be.
Water Resistance
Its natural oil makes it one of the world’s most expensive woods, and it also makes it naturally resistant to water and insects, making it a good lumber for rainy weather.
Raw teak has the highest natural moisture resistance due to its natural oils, which is why contact with metals does not cause it to crack, warp, or turn black.
Durability and Strength
- Its rich natural oils make it a gold standard for decay resistance. Therefore, it is a high-quality wood that can last for decades with minimal care.
- They are nature's hardest, most water-resistant dense woods.
- The typical Janka scale rating is 1,070 lb.
- Due to its dense grain and more natural moisture resistance, it is a very stable material.
Workability
- Despite its high-end reputation, working with it is a breeze. It cleans up easily and is ready for tooling.
- Its high silica content quickly dulls tools.
- To avoid damaging it, carbide blades are recommended.
- Nails require pre-boring.
Using Teak for Indoor Furniture
Its reddish-brown color and distinctive grain patterns make it a popular choice for indoor wooden furniture. However, teak furnishings are more expensive than acacia because of their durability.
Using Teak for Outdoor Furniture
Patio sets made of teak wood is more common than any other material. Its high resistance to water makes it ideal for outdoor use.
If you’re looking for an upgrade from plastic patio sets, consider a set made from teak wood. And it will last a lifetime if you take care of it.
Pros and Cons of Teak Furniture
Pros
Durable and long-lasting
Your furniture will look great for 50 to 70 years. Its impressive durability makes it a competitive alternative to plastic.
Nice weathering
Teak naturally improves with age and weather. Despite exposure to severe weather, it ages gracefully.
Cons
It doesn’t age well.
Aside from teak aging over time, prolonged exposure to sunlight and moisture can lead to an additional oxidation layer. However, some people still find the silvery-grey patina of old teak attractive.
Not cheap
The cost of teak is high. Since it is heavy, the increased weight also increases the cost of transportation.
Not waterproof
Teak is resistant to water but is not completely waterproof. However, it is resistant to moisture, rot, cracking, and warping.
(Check this guide for more facts about teak wood.)
Acacia Wood: Background, Characteristics, Pros & Cons
Geography and Origins of Acacia
Acacia trees are happiest in warm, humid environments. Species of all kinds can be found in every corner of the globe. Thailand, Hawaii (Hawaiian Koa), and some African countries are major exporters of exotic hardwoods.
Appearance
- The center of an acacia tree's trunk is typically a vibrant reddish-brown tint, while the outermost layer is bright amber.
- It has a grain that fluctuates between straight and wavy and a lot of color variation. It gives a stunning effect if beautifully finished in the right way.
- An acacia tree already has a beautiful grain pattern, so finishing it to a smooth, glossy finish is a simple process.
Durability and Strength
- Acacia has excellent durability ratings. If well maintained, it can last 40 years in the great outdoors.
- It has an inborn resistance to fungal infections and insect pestilence.
- Acacia is a durable wood ideal for flooring and work surfaces due to its high resistance to scratches.
- Acacia is not brittle and will not easily warp.
- To put it another way: incredibly sturdy.
Workability
- Even within a single piece of wood, there can be noticeable differences in density. Therefore, preparation can be difficult, resulting in a wood structure that is more rigid than desired.
- Acacia successfully combines two desirable characteristics. Raw is relatively workable and easy to shape; dried, it becomes hard and strong.
Using Acacia Wood for Indoor Furniture
There’s no other wood in the world that compares to the toughness of acacia. So, how hard is Acacia? In fact, it’s even more hard than teak, with a hardness value of 1700. Because of this, it’s ideal for usage indoors.
Both acacia and teak have a distinctive grain pattern that has come to be associated with elegance. When it comes to acacia vs. teak, luxury homeowners love acacia tables because of their stunning appearance. You can also stain acacia wood for a more beautiful look!
Using Acacia Wood for Outdoor Furniture
You can use both teak and acacia wood species outside, but you must protect them from the elements.
To maintain the longevity of your acacia patio furniture, our woodworking experts recommend that you keep it out of extreme heat and away from pools and jacuzzis.
Outdoor furniture like chairs and tables made of acacia and teak wood are stunning. In the colder and rainy seasons, it’s important to keep them covered. Acacia can be used to make outdoor furnishings, but you’ll need to maintain it more frequently than teak.
See Also: Maple vs Birch Plywood
Pros and Cons of Acacia Furniture
Pros
Durable
Acacia’s hardness depends on the species, but it’s generally considered hard. Acacia is a popular choice for coffee tables, dining tables, and other furniture because its hardness sets it apart from other kinds of heartwood [1].
Eco-friendly
Acacia lumber is a great wood for woodworking projects for sale because it is environmentally friendly.
Even in places where it is a threat to native species, it is not an endangered species. However, it develops quickly and may be collected without causing any harm to the surrounding ecosystem.
Resistant to water and heat
You can use Acacia furnishings in residential and commercial settings. When properly cared for, acacia wood can withstand exposure to both water and heat for an extended period.
Lightweight
Even if it’s lightweight, it is still very robust and can hold much more weight than it can put down. Acacia is a popular choice for home decor and tables because of its beauty and durability.
Cons
It could be high maintenance.
There are good acacia advantages; however, it is vulnerable to degradation because it is extremely pricey. It’s prone to scuffs and dings. As a result, if you don’t want to have your acacia refinished, you’ll need to take careful care of it.
Not good with water and humidity.
In the presence of water, the heartwood of acacia tends to shrink. As a result, it’s best to avoid utilizing this wood near water or other sources of high humidity.
Expensive
Despite being more durable, its price isn’t as low as expected. It is a little more expensive than other common woods, which is one a known drawback of acacia wood.
How to Distinguish Between Teak and Acacia
| Parameter | Teak | Acacia |
| Density (Janka hardness scale) | 2,330 | 1,100 to 4,070 |
| Price | Expensive | Cheaper |
| Appearance | Straight grain pattern | Straight lines to wavy grain |
| Smell | Distinct powerful smell | Smell upon cutting only |
| Workability | Hard to work on | Easier to work on |
| Botanical details | Tall tree | Bush-like tree |
| Suitability for outdoors | Good for outdoor use | Good for indoor use |
| Suitability for wood carving | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
We hope that this teak vs. acacia wood comparison helped you figure out which is the better option for you. You can use them interchangeably in your woodworking projects and receive the same results.
But to ensure you get your money’s worth, you need to know about the different species. You can use the information supplied here to ensure you’re utilizing the best for your woodworking projects.
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