There’s no mistake about it: We import Teak as a direct response to our boat-building customer requests. And it’s a pretty big deal for us: we’ve become the largest U.S. importer of FEQ Burmese Teak. But don’t think that means we don’t sell the Teak we have in our lumber yard to those in other industries; while we generally give boat builders “first dibs,” due to the extremely strict requirements of their industry, we retain a sizeable inventory of perfectly good Teak that simply doesn’t meet the needs of boat builders. The remaining Teak is ideal for use in other applications, including siding, high-end decks, docks, windows, and even interior flooring and trim.
Needs of Boat Builders
Did you know that boat builders often hand pick each Teak board from our lumber yard, with each board chosen with a specific use in mind? Every part of a yacht comes with its own unique challenges; both size and grain pattern must meet extremely precise requirements. For instance, when a series of boards is selected for use as stair treads, each board must include vertical grain face on both the face of the board and one edge of it. As striking as cathedral grain may be, a boat builder would have to pass on it, because of the particular type of boards they’re after. Perhaps another time, the same boat builder looks through a stack of mixed grain boards; the need is not for a specific grain pattern but for a certain number of boards to match one another. Maybe he takes 3. What was wrong with the other 7? Nothing. They just didn’t match the other 3.
Other times, the issue is different; a single pin knot can render a board unusable for boat construction; however, that board may work perfectly well for other applications. The moral of the story is that just because a Teak board doesn’t work for a boat builder doesn’t mean it’s sub-par for someone in another industry.
Benefits for Home Builders
Did you know that home builders actually benefit from the needs of boat builders? The rest of us can actually thank the boat building industry for bringing such a fabulous species to our shores. Without the boat builders requesting Teak (and rejecting a fairly significant percentage of it) we might not realize how stunning this golden beauty can be in other uses, providing a colorfast surface with stability that will allow it to stand up even to the harshest exposure to the elements.
While some Teak passed over by boat builders may still be FEQ Teak, some of it isn’t. In every load of Teak we receive, we end up with some that’s closer to B grade. While you’ll only save about 10% by opting for lesser grade Teak (a definite disappointment, if you’re used to other species), the fact is that we do have a good supply of it. All the way from Burma. And it’s yours for the buying.
